A gas geyser is an instantaneous heater: no stored cylinder, water heated as it flows. Gas Geyser Repairs Cape Town covers a completely different fault set from an electric geyser, and gas work is regulated separately.
Gas installations in South Africa fall under the Pressure Equipment Regulations, and work should be carried out by an installer registered with the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Association of Southern Africa. Ask for the registration number before anyone touches a gas appliance.
Tell us the make and what it is doing, and whether it is LPG bottled or reticulated gas.
Get Gas Geyser QuotesGas-Specific Faults
| Symptom | Likely cause | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Will not ignite at all | Dead battery, empty bottle, closed valve, failed igniter | Check the battery and the bottle first. It is free |
| Ignites then cuts out | Flame failure device, poor gas pressure, blocked flue | Do not keep restarting it. Get it checked |
| Only heats at high flow | Flow sensor or water valve diaphragm | Classic on older units |
| Only heats at low flow | Undersized unit for the flow being drawn | Not a fault. A sizing problem |
| Temperature swings during a shower | Inconsistent water pressure, scaled heat exchanger | Common where mains pressure fluctuates |
| Yellow or sooty flame | Incomplete combustion. Stop using it | A ventilation or burner fault, and a carbon monoxide risk |
| Smell of gas | Leak. Close the bottle valve, ventilate, do not switch anything | Urgent, and not a DIY job |
A yellow, sooty or lifting flame, or any smell of gas, means stop using the appliance. Close the bottle valve, open the windows and get a registered installer out. Incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide, and gas geysers are only safe when they are correctly ventilated and flued.
Sizing, Not Faults
A large share of gas geyser complaints are sizing rather than defects. Instantaneous units are rated in litres per minute at a given temperature rise:
- 12 L/min. One outlet at a time. A single shower, comfortably.
- 16 L/min. A shower plus a basin, or a large shower head.
- 20 L/min and up. Two outlets simultaneously, or a bath filling at speed.
Two showers on a 12 L/min unit will not work no matter who repairs it. Winter makes it worse: colder incoming water means a bigger temperature rise for the same output, so a unit that coped in February struggles in July.
Get quotes from registered gas installers covering your suburb.
Compare Local QuotesWhat Gas Geyser Work Costs
| Job | Indicative range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Service and clean | R750 – R1,800 | Burner, heat exchanger, filters, flame check |
| Diagnosis and call-out | R550 – R1,200 | Registered installer |
| Igniter or flame sensor replacement | R750 – R2,200 | Common repair |
| Water valve or diaphragm kit | R900 – R2,600 | The classic 'only heats at high flow' fix |
| Gas regulator replacement | R550 – R1,500 | Wear item |
| Descale heat exchanger | R900 – R2,400 | Where temperature is erratic |
| Gas certificate of conformity | R850 – R2,500 | Required on transfer of the property |
| New gas geyser supplied and installed | R6,000 – R18,000 | Varies with flow rate, flue and pipework |
Indicative Cape Town ranges, not a quotation. Flue and ventilation work moves an installation price more than the appliance does, and older installations frequently need it to comply.
Compliance and the Certificate
- Gas installations require a certificate of conformity, and a new one is required when a property changes hands.
- Installation, servicing and certification should be done by a registered LPG installer.
- Ventilation and flueing are not optional details on a gas appliance. They are the difference between a working geyser and a carbon monoxide risk.
- Bottle location, clearances to windows and boundaries, and bottle securing are all regulated.
If your geyser is electric or solar rather than gas, the fault lists are entirely different. Start from Geyser Repairs Cape Town and work from the symptom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't my gas geyser ignite?
In battery-ignition units the most common cause is flat batteries, followed by an empty or closed gas bottle. After that, a failed igniter, a failed flame failure device, or insufficient water flow to trigger the unit. Check the free things first.
Why does my gas geyser only heat when the tap is fully open?
The unit needs a minimum flow rate to fire, and a worn water valve diaphragm or a sticking flow sensor raises that threshold. It is a common repair on older instantaneous heaters and it is not usually expensive.
Do I need a certificate for a gas geyser?
Yes. Gas installations require a certificate of conformity issued by a registered installer, and a new certificate is required when the property changes ownership. It is separate from any plumbing or electrical certificate.
Is a gas geyser cheaper to run than electric?
Usually, because you only heat water you actually use and there are no standing losses. Whether it works out cheaper overall depends on the LPG price against the electricity tariff and on how the household draws hot water, so compare running cost rather than assuming.
What size gas geyser do I need?
Rated in litres per minute: roughly 12 L/min for one outlet at a time, 16 L/min for a shower plus a basin, and 20 L/min or more for two outlets together. Winter incoming water is colder, so size for July rather than for February.
Are gas geysers safe indoors?
Only when correctly installed, ventilated and flued by a registered installer. Incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide. A yellow or sooty flame, soot marks around the unit or any smell of gas means stop using it and call someone registered.
Related Geyser Services
Geyser Repairs Cape Town is a free quote-matching service. We do not repair, install or replace geysers ourselves. Every quote comes from a LEADERR APPROVED local contractor, and your contract is with the business you appoint. Assess each quote on its own merits before appointing anyone.
Tell us the make and the fault, and get quotes from registered gas installers.
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