Category
Water Quality & DIY
Smelly water, hard water, low pressure and safe DIY fixes you can try before calling a plumber.
Toilet Flapper vs Flush Valve: Which Is Wasting Your Water?
A silent toilet leak wastes 200 L a day. The fix is R80 if you know which part is failing. Here's how to tell.
23 July 2026 · Plumbers On Duty
Chlorine vs Chloramine in SA Tap Water: What It Does to Your Plumbing
Rand Water uses chloramine. Cape Town uses chlorine. Both kill bacteria, but they attack your fittings differently.
23 July 2026 · Plumbers On Duty
Backflow Preventers on SA Boreholes: Why the Municipality Cares
If your borehole is cross-connected to municipal water without a backflow preventer, you can be fined and disconnected. Here's the rule.
23 July 2026 · Plumbers On Duty
Do You Need a Pressure-Reducing Valve in South Africa?
Municipal water pressure in SA can spike above 900 kPa, killing geysers and taps. Here's when a PRV is worth it and what it costs.
23 July 2026 · Plumbers On Duty
My JoJo Tank Water Smells Bad - Is It Safe to Drink? (2026)
Smelly JoJo tank water in South Africa is usually algae or stagnation. Here's how to know if it's safe, how to clean a tank, and the chlorine ratio that works.
23 June 2026 · Plumbers On Duty Editorial
Borehole vs Municipal vs JoJo Tank: What Actually Works for an SA Home? (2026)
Compare borehole, municipal supply, and JoJo backup tanks for South African homes in 2026: costs, yields, filtration, and DWS registration.
23 June 2026 · Plumbers On Duty Editorial
Pool Auto-Fill Float Valve Stuck Open? The Hidden Cause of Massive Water Bills
A R200 brass float valve on your pool can leak 30,000 litres a month — silently — and the first you hear about it is a R6,000 municipal bill. Here is how to spot it and fix it.
8 June 2026 · Plumbers On Duty
Septic Tank Maintenance in South Africa: Pump-Out Frequency & Costs
Septic tank pump-out costs, frequency, and the warning signs of a failing system in rural and peri-urban SA properties.
6 June 2026 · Plumbers On Duty Editorial
Hard Water in Gauteng: Limescale, Geyser Damage & Treatment Options
Joburg and Pretoria water is moderately hard — enough to halve geyser-element lifespan and scale your taps. Here's what to do.
5 June 2026 · Plumbers On Duty Editorial
Backflow Prevention & SANS 10252: What Every SA Homeowner Should Know
Backflow contamination is rare but catastrophic. Here's what SANS 10252 actually requires and where most older SA homes fall short.
4 June 2026 · Plumbers On Duty Editorial
Greywater Diversion in Cape Town: What's Actually Legal in 2026
Day Zero left a lot of grey laundry pipes draining into garden beds. Here's what the City of Cape Town's current bylaws actually require — and what gets you fined.
31 May 2026 · Plumber on Duty Editorial
Coastal Salt Air Is Killing Your Plumbing Fittings: Coastal SA Survival Guide
Plumbing fittings that last 25 years inland fail in 4–7 years within 5 km of the SA coast. Material choice — not brand — is what saves you.
31 May 2026 · Plumber on Duty Editorial
Borehole Iron Staining: Why Your Laundry and Baths Turn Orange
Rust-coloured stains from borehole water are a ferrous iron problem. Here's how to diagnose, treat and stop the damage to baths, basins and white washing.
31 May 2026 · Plumber on Duty Editorial
Pinhole Leaks in Copper Pipes: Why Joburg's Water Is Eating Your Plumbing
Random pinhole leaks in 15-year-old copper pipes are spiking across Johannesburg. The cause is a chemistry change at Rand Water — and the fix isn't more copper.
31 May 2026 · Plumber on Duty Editorial
Why Your Garden Tap Vacuum Breaker Sprays Water Every Time You Use It
That little brass cap above your garden tap that sprays you when you open the tap isn't broken — but it might be the wrong device for the job.
31 May 2026 · Plumber on Duty Editorial
Smelly Guest Bathroom? It's Probably a Dry P-Trap
That eggy, sewer-like smell from a rarely used bathroom isn't a plumbing fault — it's a 30-second fix that almost no homeowner knows about.
28 May 2026 · Plumbers On Duty Editorial
Why Does My Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs?
A rotten-egg smell from your taps usually points to your geyser or bacteria in the system. Here is how to track it down.
25 May 2026 · Plumbers On Duty
Is Drain Cleaner Bad for Your Pipes? What to Use Instead
Caustic drain cleaners corrode pipes from the inside and are genuinely dangerous at home. Here are the safer alternatives.
25 May 2026 · Plumbers On Duty
Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable? The Truth for SA Homes
Flushable wipes are a leading cause of blocked drains and sewer problems. Here is why you should never flush them.
25 May 2026 · Plumbers On Duty
10 Warning Signs Your Plumbing Is About to Fail
Discoloured water, slow drains, low pressure — the early warning signs of plumbing trouble, and what to do before it turns into a flood.
23 May 2026 · Plumbers On Duty Editorial
Sewer Smell in the House? 5 Causes and How to Fix Them
Dry P-traps, cracked vent stacks, failed wax rings — track down where the smell is really coming from.
23 May 2026 · Plumbers On Duty Editorial
Low Water Pressure in Your Home: 7 Causes and Fixes
From clogged aerators to municipal supply issues and faulty PRVs — diagnose low water pressure room by room.
23 May 2026 · Plumbers On Duty Editorial
Drain Jetting vs Drain Snaking: Which One Do You Actually Need?
High-pressure jetting clears roots and grease that a snake can't touch — but it costs more. Here's how to choose.
23 May 2026 · Plumbers On Duty Editorial