Geyser Repairs & Installations - What You Need To Know

Service your geyser – don't wait for disaster to strike
A routine service typically includes checks on key components (thermostat, element, valves), inspection for leaks, and addressing sediment where relevant.

👉 Rule of thumb: if your geyser is ageing, making noises, or your hot water performance has changed, schedule an inspection before it becomes an emergency. Prevention will cost you less than a replacement.

Keep temperature sensible
Many guidelines reference hot water at or above ~60°C for hygiene reasons, but your household also needs scald protection (especially children and older adults). A qualified plumber can advise on safe settings and whether a thermostatic mixing valve is appropriate.

Make sure a drip tray is fitted and correctly positioned
A drip tray won’t prevent a failure — but it can reduce damage by directing water to an appropriate discharge point.

Don’t hide warning signs behind ceilings and walls
If discharge pipes aren’t visible, you can miss early warning drips that would have prompted a quick valve replacement instead of a major claim.

Puzzled by water dripping or pouring from your geyser overflow pipe? Read our essential guide to overflowing geysers.

When a geyser fails, most of the damage comes from how long it’s left leaking — not the fault itself. A serious leak can soak ceilings, run into light fittings, and damage floors surprisingly fast. Because a geyser problem is both a water and an electrical risk, it’s worth treating serious leaks like an emergency. 

The goal is simple: make the area safe, stop the water, then get a qualified plumber to take over. If you’re not comfortable doing any of the steps below, skip them and call Alpha Plumbing — we're available 24/7 for geyser repairs or replacement across Johannesburg and Pretoria. And we never charge more after hours.

Step-by-step instructions (in this order)

1. Switch off the power at the DB board (not just the wall switch)
   Water + electricity is the biggest risk, especially if there’s ceiling leakage
    
2. Shut off the water supply to the geyser
   This limits further damage immediately.
    
3. Keep people away from hot water discharge points.
   Hot overflow or discharge can scald— especially during sudden changes in temperature.
    
4. Open a hot tap briefly after power is off.
   This can help relieve pressure.
    
5. Call a qualified geyser plumber to diagnose properly.
   What looks like “a leak” could be a valve failure, thermostat issue, element problem, or a tank fault — and the fix depends on the true cause.

A compliant geyser installation protects safety, warranty, and insurance processes—and reduces repeat failures.

You’ll see SANS 10254 referenced widely in the industry as a key standard for fixed electric storage water heaters (geysers), including installation, replacement, repairs and maintenance.

❓ Do you need a Certificate of Compliance (CoC)?

CoC requirements can be confusing because standards and practices evolve, and different bodies describe them differently.

• PIRB guidance indicates that CoCs are required in various plumbing contexts and that licensed plumbers must issue them as part of PIRB requirements.
   
• IOPSA notes that changes to SANS 10254 (June 2022) removed any universal requirement in standards/acts for a CoC for geyser installations and repairs, but some municipalities still require them via by-laws, and insurers can still demand them.

🎯 Practical homeowner rule: always use a properly licensed plumber, and ask upfront what compliance documentation you’ll receive — especially if you may need to prove compliance for an insurer, body corporate, or warranty.