No one likes living without a geyser. But all water heaters are prone to develop common geyser problems at some point in their lifespan, which could be the result of:

• Capacity issues
• Hard water deposits
• Faulty temperature settings
• Excessive dripping 
• Overheating 
• Tripping the main switch

If you spot these problems early on and have a plumber in your area sort them out, you might be able to avoid replacing the unit. But the key here is to identify geyser problems early on.  

GEYSER SERVICE

Regular geyser services will, however, avoid many expensive geyser problems. Most professional plumbers recommend that a geyser should be serviced every 3 to 4 years in areas with good quality water. However, if you have hard water or low-quality water with for example a lot of sediment or mineral particles, your geyser should probably be serviced every second year. 

Servicing your geyser could save you a lot of money in the long run. A professional plumber will check the anodes, the valves, the vacuum breakers and the element. The thermostat will probably only be replaced once it breaks. 

Fortunately, identifying geyser problems is quite easy. Knowing the signs and contacting the best plumber in your area as soon as you spot them can potentially prolong the service life of your unit. 

NO OR LOW HOT WATER

If your geyser is not heating the water up despite the electric supply being normal, there might be a problem with its heating element or the thermostat. 

Most geysers have two heating elements. If one, or both of them malfunction, your water will remain cold or tepid. Likewise, thermostat failure will lead to water not heating up to a high temperature or running completely cold. So check to see what the setting on your geyser’s thermostat is. It should be between 55 degrees (summer) to 65 degrees (winter). 

If your thermostat is faulty – it won’t show the red light that is usually an indicator that the water has heated up. If the pressure release valve is faulty, you’ll probably hear boiling inside your geyser. This could be a dangerous situation – call Drain Surgeon immediately. This is one instance where you do not want to save money by attempting to do the job yourself. Many insurance companies will also not pay out damages if the geyser was not professionally serviced and installed.

So regardless of where the problem is, get a professional plumber in your area for the correct diagnosis. It could be a case of replacing a part, instead of the whole unit.  geyser service geyser service geyser service

WATER LEAKAGE

One common spot where geysers leak, is the temperature and pressure relief valves.

These valves are installed to maintain the temperature and pressure inside the geyser at safe levels. Therefore, you may see water dripping from them all the time. A little bit of dripping from these safety valves is a good thing. 

But if more than just a little bit of water drips, then the leakage might be pointing towards more serious problems, for example, high water pressure that could lead to your geyser bursting.

In some instances, a leak may be due to corrosion inside the geyser tank. And if that’s the case, you’ll notice the geyser leaking from the bottom.

Bends and other connections along your water system may also fail, leading to leakages which, in some cases, may be hidden behind the wall.

If you are experiencing leaks or signs of leaks (moisture, odd smell in the roof or attic or unexplained mildew), reach out to Drain Surgeon and get your geyser checked before it is too late.

WEIRD NOISES

Small hums and whizzes are normal for a geyser. However, if these harmless hums turn into chaotic bangs, pops and whistles, it could be your geyser asking, or rather screaming, for help.

A geyser could make weird noises for multiple reasons, most of which tie back to sediment accumulation or water pressure issues. 

So if you hear loud bangs and pops coming from your geyser, it could be accumulated sediment. If not cleaned soon, the sediment may lead to other, more complicated problems.

Whistling and screeching sounds, on the other hand, might be indicative of increased internal pressure. If this is the case, turn the geyser off immediately and call for a professional plumber to check it out.

WATER DISCOLORATION

Water discoloration can be an early indicator of geyser damage. Cloudy, bad-smelling water is often a sign of sediment accumulation, while orange or brown-coloured water could indicate rust in your geyser. But only if your hot water taps have this problem, if your cold water also shows discolouration, it’s a broader issue. If you spot hot water discoloration in time, you could resolve the underlying issue before your geyser is damaged. 

While checking for geyser problems is a DIY kind of job, fixing these problems isn’t. Geyser problems can be complex, and many insurance companies will not pay out claims resulting from unqualified workmanship to a geyser. Therefore, it is best to talk to professional plumbers as soon as you spot any of the signs mentioned above.

WHY DEAL WITH DRAIN SURGEON

With many companies offering the same service, what makes Drain Surgeon different? Well, in a nutshell, it’s our service attitude. Our whole operation is geared toward providing a first-class service, with efficiency, dependability, and customer satisfaction our utmost concerns.

We offer all general and specialised plumbing services, 24/7. 

• We only contract security-screened plumbers and electricians, so you are safe when we work on your premises. 
• We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Your call will always be answered by our helpful staff – never an answering machine.
• You do not pay extra for services outside office hours.
• We keep you informed throughout the process.
• Our technicians will always be professional, highly competent and wear our recognisable uniform.
• The Drain Surgeon vehicles carry all the equipment to complete most jobs immediately.
• We leave all work areas clean and tidy.
• We always aim to solve your problem quickly and professionally.