TECHNICAL
33
The scourge of illegal geysers
By
Tanya Olckers and Rory Macnamara
Illegal geysers are still out there . On 15 October 2024 NRCS siezed almost 100 of them .
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All images by © Plumbing Africa
1-3 : Shoddy repairs on illegal geysers .
Last year , on 15 October , the National Regulator of Compulsory Specifications ( NRCS ) performed a successful raid on a house in Glenesk , Johannesburg . Almost 100 illegal geysers valued at around R400 000 were seized at the premises .
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The raid was one of several conducted by NRCS over the years . As we already know , these illegally refurbished geysers continue to appear , with the sole purpose of making money to the detriment of customer safety .
These geysers are acquired and subject to repairs which do nothing to enhance the product but add to weakening the product . We asked for a professional geyser manufacturer to comment on the ‘ repairs ’:
The short answer is that these repairs – if you can even call them that – are done with a flame torch and brazing rods . This damages the inner tank .
What this in turn can do is a series of rather nasty things :
• Potential explosions due to compromised structural integrity
• Water leaks from weakened or poorly repaired shells
• Acid exposure , as many of the geysers are acid-washed during the refurbishment process
• Contaminated water caused by residual acid , affecting water quality and safety
• Increased risk of electric shocks
• Inadequate insulation , leading to higher energy consumption and inflated electricity bills for consumers
It ’ s clear that these illegal geysers are sub-standard and , in a word , dangerous . These geysers , especially if they have been subjected to acid-washing , do not comply with VC 9006 , the compulsory specification for hot water storage tanks . Additionally , they lack a valid Letter of Authority ( LOA ), which is essential for the legal sale of such a product in South Africa .
“ The NRCS stresses that these products are extremely hazardous and should not be used in any households as they could cause severe damage to property and endanger human lives .”
January 2025 Volume 30 I Number 11 www . plumbingafrica . co . za