Budget Insurance says the winter months increase the number of claims for one crucial househould item by 30%.
South Africa sees a substantial increase in the number of geyser-related insurance claims during winter.
Despite Eskom somewhat improving its generation capacity over the last few weeks, winter is still generally described as dark and cold – load shedding or not.Moreover, 98% of these claims are due to the geysers bursting or overflowing, failing pipes or faulty equipment. “Expansion and contraction of the geyser tank and its components occur during normal usage when hot water leaves the geyser and is replaced with cold water,” said Tyrone Lowther, Head of Budget Insurance.
“However, in winter, the temperature difference between the cold water entering the geyser and the hot water leaving the geyser is much greater than during the summer. This increases the rate of expansion and contraction, which can lead to geyser failure, especially if the geyser is older or the valves or thermostat are faulty.”Tip-top shape:
Experts recommend that geysers are serviced by a qualified plumber every three years. A geyser service would entail draining and checking its components, including the anode, element and thermostat. Limescale and sludge should be removed from the tank and element, and the whole system should be checked for leaks. The plumber should also check that the thermostat temperature on the geyser isn’t set too high. 60C is the recommended temperature.
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