Dealing With A Burst Geyser

  • Geyser maintenance

So, your geyser has just burst? Here are the best steps to take in order to minimize the damage as much as possible before a plumber arrives.

  1. Locate the water isolation valve in your home. If you have a water meter, it is generally located before or after the meter.
  2. Turn the electricity supply to the geyser off. Generally it is marked on your board; if you cannot find it, turn the mains off.
  3. Empty the water heater. After the power and water are isolated from the geyser, you need to empty it as much as possible. The quickest way to do this is to open all the hot taps / faucets in your home.
  4. Deal with any water spills. If the water has leaked into the house through the ceiling, keep the floor dry using towels.
  5. Get a plumber in quickly to help the problem. You have done everything you can to minimize the damage in your home.

Warning

  • Please note that the water coming out of the geyser is extremely hot. Please avoid direct contact with it at all costs.
  • If the water has leaked out the drip tray and is leaking into your home, please do not go into the roof to assess the damage as you could run the risk of serious injury.

Tips to avoid the cost involved in a burst geyser:

  1. Have your geyser assessed by a qualified plumber before the winter period rolls in.
  2. Get homeowners’ insurance to cover structural damage to your home caused by a burst geyser (damaged flooring or ceilings).
  3. Get home contents insurance to cover damage to property (furniture, appliances and clothing).
  4. Check your insurance policies to make sure you’re not under-insured.
  5. Install a geyser blanket to reduce heat losses. The temperature of the water inside the tank will also be more consistent. And it offers yet another cost saving ‒ your electricity bill will be lower ‒ because your geyser won’t be working quite as hard and using as much energy to keep the temperature of the water constant.
  6. Install a drip tray under the geyser ‒ the outlet pipe on a drip tray will carry away most of the water should your geyser burst. This helps to limit water damage to carpets, walls and other home contents. – Regularly check that the over-flow pipe is not blocked.

As a precaution get a qualified plumber to service your geyser every three years. This involves:

  • A thorough check of the geyser’s components.
  • Checking the tank and valves for leaks.
  • Removing lime scale and sludge from the tank and element.
  • Checking the thermostat is functioning correctly.
  • Making sure the thermostat isn’t set too high ‒ 60 0C is the recommended temperature.

 

 

 

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