My geyser installation is illegal

General Discussions
1

The flat I rent out on my property have a 150l geyser which was originally installed against the outside wall of the building, then at some stage they built on a lawndry room, so now the geyser sits inside the lawndry room against the wall, it’s how I bought the place.
This of course always worked just fine for me because should it burst, no water damage to ceilings etc. and it will be nicely accessible to work on.

Yesterday the geyser popped which is actually a blessing in disguise because it’s ancient, I always said it came with Noah on the ark. Anyway it used much more electricity than a modern geyser, for the last 6 months at times I contemplated to just pay and replace it myself.

Today the insurance plumber rocked up to replace it, I was not home so only got the story second hand, I was in meetings all day so couldn’t even discuss it with the guy over the phone, I know I probably would have argued with him.

Apparently where the geyser is currently mounted is illegal and it must be moved, in fact it must be moved to the outside on top of the flat roof. Because of this some electrical work has to be done so a electrician must come out as well, so the plumber is returning tomorrow with a electrician to install the new geyser.

The guy said the pressure relief valve and overflow is too close to the ceiling, so I did a quick Google and colour me surprised, it seams e is technically correct according to SANS 10254. Well actually it will be a bit of a struggle to remove the pressure relief valve but it will be possible with some effort, plus working on the geyser everything is accessible when standing on the ground or maybe a single 20, 30cm step.

I’m not sure if I should be impressed that he is so padantic, wanting to do work exactly according to code, or maybe it’s just a scheme to get his electrician buddy some work from the insurance company. I will call his interpretation of the regulations border line.

I will see what happens tomorrow, all I can say for now, you learn something new every day.

2

Get hold of the installer and have a chat with him.
Often you can come to an arrangement after bending each other’s ears…

3

I think they work exactly according to the regulations - and have to. Imagine you escalate this to the insurer and then lawyers get involved. Short term insurers do get taken to court. And the court case will revolve around whether or not everything was according to code and whether or not you properly declared to the insurer.

The easiest way, maybe the fairest, is just to apply the letter of the regulations.

This is what I believe about sports too. I don’t care about whether or not the ball just poppped out of his hands. Oh honest! I would never do a thing like that on purpose! Honest!

If the letter of the rules says you can’t do that then you can’t do that (and yes, I know cricket doesn’t have rules it has laws). Every body goes on about the spirit of the game and everybody has a different idea about what it is so the ref/umpire/steward must rule according to the letter of the regulations (or laws, or whatever).

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4

That could also save you money now but void your insurance as well. Stick with the reg’s.

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5

I also believe in doing stuff correctly and I really don’t mind, even if it costed me extra money to relocate the geyser.

I just didn’t think a insurance plumber will give a damn with such a swop out, usually for them it’s just a quick in and out 30 minute job.

As said though I think his interpretation of the rules is borderline in this case, you can still remove and service the pressure relief valve without having to remove the entire geyser from the wall, there is enough space to get in with tools, it’s just very tight.

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6

I would get a 2nd opinion, even a 3rd.

Recent gas installers and CoC’s, electricians and Initial CoC’s … I’m done with opinions UNLESS what they say can be shown to me, the exact regulation, that we can read it together.

7

I did read the regulation and as I said his interpretation and mine was slightly different, the regulation state there should be enough space to be able to service and specifically remove the pressure relief valve without having to remove the entire geyser from the wall. In my opinion there was enough space, with some effort you would have gotten tools in there to do what was necessary.

No skin off my back, R2k insurance excess to replace the geyser either way and I told the insurance company exactly what was going on, even that it doesn’t have to be moved in my opinion and I won’t pay anything extra if they insist on having it moved, so they can take it up with the plumber if they choose.

I highly doubt the plumber had anything but pure intentions, as said a streight swop out would have taken him 30 minutes, where with the move they were at my place for half a day between him and the electrician.

I believe plumbers make much more money for a call out / first hour of work on insurance jobs than for the rest of the time spent on a job, so spending half a day with me where he could have potencially done 2 or 3 quick geyser replacements wouldn’t really make financial sense.

8

Had a geyser replaced twice by insurance - that 5 years they tend to last.

New Co’s sent each time by insurer.

Both times the drip tray and some other stuff are replaced.
They have to they said.

Gathered it is to remove all and any other potential issues.
Insurers do have excellent stats.

I don’t care, insurer pays for it.