Most geysers do not fail without warning. They give signs for weeks or months first. Catch them early and you are booking a repair. Miss them and you may be replacing a ceiling as well as the geyser.
1. Water marks on the ceiling
A brown ring or bubbling paint under the geyser means water is already escaping. Do not wait for it to dry out. Call a plumber the same day.
2. Water dripping from the overflow pipe
A drip from the overflow pipe on the outside wall usually points to a faulty pressure valve or thermostat. A constant stream is more urgent.
3. Lukewarm water, or none
If the water takes far longer to heat, or never gets hot, the element or thermostat is often on its way out. Both can usually be replaced without changing the whole geyser.
4. Rumbling or banging noises
Sediment builds up at the bottom of the cylinder over the years. When it heats, it rumbles. It also makes the geyser work harder and wear out sooner.
5. Rusty or discoloured hot water
Brown hot water, when the cold runs clear, can mean the inside of the cylinder is corroding. A corroded cylinder cannot be fixed and will eventually burst.
Geyser burst? Switch it off at the distribution board, close the cold supply valve to the geyser or the main stopcock, and call us. Keep away from wet ceilings near light fittings.