16 FEATURE
A properly designed system can accommodate different household requirements, including multiple bathrooms and higher hot-water demand.
High-pressure systems are also particularly compatible with modern plumbing fixtures, including pressure-balanced mixers, thermostatic mixers and other fixtures designed for pressurised water supplies.
Disadvantages of high-pressure solar geysers A high-pressure system generally has more components, including more pressure-related control devices that may eventually require servicing. It can therefore have a higher installation cost than a basic low-pressure system. Pressure-reducing valves, non-return valves, expansion-control valves and temperature-and-pressure safety valves all need to be correctly selected and installed.
More components also mean more potential maintenance. Valves and control devices can eventually require inspection, servicing or replacement. High-pressure geysers are particularly sensitive to incorrect installation. Incorrect valve selection, incorrect pressure settings, poor discharge pipework or incorrect plumbing can result in leaks, poor performance or potentially dangerous conditions.
The incoming water pressure is also important. If the property ' s mains pressure is too high, it needs to be controlled before entering the geyser. Conversely, if the incoming pressure is too low, simply choosing a high-pressure geyser will not magically create higher pressure. Higher operating pressures place greater demands on pipes, fittings, valves and connections. Existing plumbing should therefore be checked before converting from a low-pressure system.
Expansion must also be properly managed. Water expands as it is heated and, in a closed high-pressure system, this expansion needs to be controlled correctly. If the expansion-control system is incorrectly installed or fails, pressure can increase significantly. A failed safety valve, pressure-control valve or expansion-control component should not simply be ignored. Regular inspection and maintenance are important.
It is also important to remember that higher pressure does not necessarily mean lower energy consumption. Energy savings are determined by the solar system, insulation, water usage and temperature settings – not by the fact that the geyser operates at high pressure.
www. plumbingafrica. co. za November 2026 Volume 32 I Number 09