I recently discussed the steep rise in the cost of geysers in this column but I have thought it prudent to revisit this important household appliance and focus on the issue of quality.
Personally, I don’t think modern geysers are that high quality – at least they seem to need regular replacement.
I have lived in my house since 1975 and have only had to replace the geyser once.
Geyser prices, like I have said before, have shot up quite significantly.
It’s therefore very important to check the cover that you have for it because it’s important to be insured for the right amount.
Always keep your replacement values up to date or you may risk paying the excess plus the difference between the insured amount and the real cost.
It is actually possible to make a geyser last longer if you replace the anode rod at least every two years.
However, not many people know what an anode rod is.
Essentially, the anode rod helps protect the geyser from getting rusty.
It is a small piece of metal inserted at the top of the geyser and is sometimes referred to as the sacrificial anode rod.
According to Landmark Home Warranty www.landmarkhw.com, the anode rod is the only reason water from your geyser doesn’t come out rusty.
It is made up of magnesium or aluminium.
Scientifically, magnesium and aluminium corrode or rust quickly in water compared to the steel or iron used to make the geyser.
For more on this, read: ‘What Is A Sacrificial Anode Rod And Why Is It In My Water Heater?’ (landmarkhw.com)
I suggest you check with your plumber if they can replace this rod as it extends the life of your geyser considerably.
A burst geyser can cause a lot of water damage from any leakage and it makes sense to move a geyser to an area where it cannot cause this damage, such as over your bath or in a special box hanging from the outside of your house or unit.
- Mike Spencer is the founder and owner of Platinum Global. He is also a professional associated property valuer and consultant with work across the country as well as Eastern Europe and Australia.