REGULARS 33
Can you fix it ?
Can you fix this ? Please send any of your strange adventures in plumbing pictures to us on tanya @ interactmedia . co . za with subject : Can You Fix It Submission . Include any details you can and let us know if you fixed it – and let us see the before and after pictures .
Eric Gayiya from Siyazama Plumbing Services submitted these pictures . He outlines the issues and tells us how he would fix it .
These are the problems Eric discovered : Geyser installation was non-compliant and appeared to have been fitted in a rush . There were no bonding strips on both pipes and earth wires ( 2.5mm ). The safety valve was not connected to outside wall with metal pipes ( 22mm ). The element cap and thermostat were opened . Wood legging was placed in an incorrect manner . The Pressure Control Valve advance was connected straight to the geyser and no Tee before inlet drain-cock . The relief valve outlet was placed inside drip tray and there was no lagging on copper pipes .
Fix 2
Gayiya stated that the property owner unfortunately did not have enough funds to purchase material or pay for labour . However , this is how he would have fixed the problem :
1 . |
Fit wood legging in a correct way and re-align the drip tray and |
geyser cylinder . |
2 . |
Fit vacuum breaker 300mm each side . |
3 . |
Fit thermal lagging on all copper pipes . |
4 . |
Fit safety valve and connect metal pipe to outside wall . |
5 . |
Install PCV outside the first main water supply for cold water |
and add relief pipe , 15mm . |
6 . |
Reconnect electrical wiring to power source . |
7 . |
Patch all wall openings and test all pipe work . PA |
Fix 3
Fix 4
All images supplied by Eric Gayiya
Fix 1 Fix 4
April 2025 Volume 31 I Number 02 www . plumbingafrica . co . za