Plumbing advice and answers to your questions
What are you trying to sort out? A dripping tap, a geyser that's packed up or a drain that keeps blocking. We answer the plumbing questions homeowners ask us most.
We reply on the same working day.
Our articles explain the common plumbing problems in plain words, so you know what is going on before you decide. They help homeowners, landlords and guest house owners alike.
Latest articles
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What are some water saving ideas for my home
How to test for a hidden leak before spending on water saving fixes
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Why plumbers never pour baking soda and vinegar down a drain
Learn to read a slow drain before you try a home fix.
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Old galvanised pipes and low pressure
Why water pressure drops in homes with old galvanised pipework.
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What size geyser a family of five needs
Find out what really causes a family of five to run out of hot water
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Who pays when a leak pushes up your water bill
Shows who pays for a hidden leak, you, your tenant or the City, and how a rebate works.
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How to tell if your house has a hidden water leak
A free 15-minute meter test that shows if water is running somewhere it shouldn't.
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Will a blocked drain clear by itself
Tells you whether your slow drain will clear itself or needs a plumber.
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What to do when your geyser bursts
The exact order to follow in the first few minutes after a geyser bursts.
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Plumbing between tenants
Who checks what when a plumbing fault sits between two tenants.
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Grease trap upkeep for restaurant kitchens
The size, spot and schedule a grease trap needs to keep fat from clogging the drain.
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Heat pump or solar geyser
A plumber's honest take on heat pumps versus solar geysers
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What your insurer needs after a burst geyser
What your insurer needs to see before a burst geyser claim gets paid
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Why geysers burst in Cape Town
The real reasons a geyser wears out and splits, straight from a master plumber.
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Reline or dig up a drain
How a camera inspection decides whether your drain gets relined or dug up.
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What to do about low water pressure
The quick checks that tell a City dip from a problem in your own pipes
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Signs your sewer line has tree roots
How to tell if tree roots, not just old pipes, are behind a drain that keeps blocking.
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How often should you service a geyser
How to tell a routine geyser service apart from a real problem
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What your insurer needs for a geyser claim
The form, the quote, the photos and the serial numbers an insurer actually asks for
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How to read your water meter to find a leak
Check your own meter first, before paying anyone to tell you water is running
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Why drains block in older southern suburbs homes
Four reasons drains block in older homes, and how to tell which one is yours.
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Is a heat pump worth it in cape town
Four quick checks to see if a heat pump suits your household
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What is the most common cause of a dripping faucet
Why your tap drips and which worn part is really to blame
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Plumbing checks before buying a house in Cape Town
What a plumbing check sees on the day, and what it can't reach
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Kitchen sink drain smells bad but no blockage
Find out if it's a dry trap, bad venting or an old pipe causing the smell.
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What can you pour down the toilet to unclog it
What's safe to pour down a blocked toilet and the point where it's time for a plumber.
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Geyser leaking from overflow pipe
Tells you if that drip is normal or a sign of trouble, with a simple bucket check.
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Why is my geyser making a banging sound
Helps you tell sediment, a loose element or pressure trouble apart before you worry.
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Gas, solar or electric geyser: which suits your home
Works out whether gas, solar or electric fits your roof, household and access.
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Geyser blanket and timer Cape Town
Know whether a blanket and timer are enough, or if you need a heat pump or solar instead.
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