Yesterday, we looked at how the number of bathrooms and your household's usage help determine the right gas geyser size. Today, let's take it a step further and measure your actual hot-water flow rate. Here's a simple way to get a clearer picture of your demand. Grab a bucket with litre markings (a 10-litre bucket is a practical choice) and a timer. Run your shower at your usual temperature and flow, then collect the water for a measured period. Check how many litres you collected and calculate the flow rate in litres per minute. For example, collecting 6 litres in 20 seconds works out to 18 litres per minute. The calculation is litres collected ÷ seconds taken × 60. If you use more than one hot-water outlet at the same time, measure their combined flow while they're running together. This helps you understand the demand your geyser may need to handle. Your flow rate is an important piece of the puzzle, but the right model also depends on its specifications and operating requirements. Follow HABCO for more practical guidance on choosing the right gas geyser for your home. Need help? DM us or contact HABCO. 011 900 1421 083 657 3924 www.habco.co.za

A burst geyser can cause far more than a plumbing problem. Water damage can affect your ceilings, floors and belongings, while the insurance claim and replacement costs leave you with decisions to make quickly. If your geyser burst tomorrow, would you know what to do first? Here are five things every South African homeowner should know before facing a geyser replacement. 1. FIRST, LIMIT THE DAMAGE Keep clear of wet electrical areas and unsafe ceilings. If it's safe, shut off the water supply and switch off the geyser's electrical supply at the distribution board. Never enter a wet roof space. Contact a plumber and notify your insurer. Photograph the damage where safe, and keep records of what happened. 2. DOES THE WHOLE GEYSER NEED REPLACING? Not every fault requires a new geyser. A thermostat, heating element or valve may be repairable, but a leaking tank caused by corrosion will usually need replacing. Here's a useful technical detail: many conventional storage geysers contain a sacrificial anode that helps protect the steel tank from corrosion. It gradually wears down, which is why following the manufacturer's maintenance recommendations matters. If your geyser is relatively new, check its warranty before agreeing to a replacement. 3. CHECK YOUR GEYSER INSURANCE AND EXCESS Your insurance excess, policy limits and the cause of the failure can all affect your claim. Sudden damage may be treated differently from gradual deterioration, rust or wear and tear. Ask whether your insurer needs to inspect the damaged geyser before removal, whether you must use an appointed service provider, and what photographs or documents are required. Remember, damage to ceilings, flooring and belongings may be assessed separately from the geyser itself. 4. WHAT DOES "LIKE FOR LIKE" MEAN? "Like for like" generally means replacing the damaged item with something of a similar type and specification, rather than automatically paying for an upgrade. You may also encounter the term "betterment", which refers to improving or upgrading something beyond its previous standard. Insurance terms vary, so check your own policy before committing to a replacement. 5. COMPARE THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT QUOTE Two geyser replacement quotes can look similar but cover very different things. Check whether the price includes the geyser, labour, removal, installation materials, valves and additional work. For conventional electric storage geysers, SANS 10254 requirements may affect what needs attention, depending on the installation. Ask what's included, what's excluded and why extra work is necessary. The cheapest quote isn't always the cheapest job. FINALLY, CHOOSE WHAT WORKS FOR YOUR HOME A burst geyser is stressful, but it can also be an opportunity to reconsider your hot-water options rather than automatically replacing like for like. Consider your household's hot-water needs, installation requirements and total cost. If you're weighing up an electric vs gas geyser, make sure the system and installation location are suitable for your property. HABCO offers outdoor LPG gas geysers in different models and capacities, giving you options to explore when considering an alternative. Explore the HABCO gas geyser range: https://habco.co.za/ Hopefully, your geyser keeps working for years to come. But if it fails, you'll know what to check, what questions to ask and what to consider before spending your money.

Choosing the right size gas geyser starts with understanding your household's hot water needs. How many bathrooms do you have? How many showers, basins and kitchen outlets need hot water? And could more than one shower be running at the same time? As a starting point, more bathrooms and outlets can mean greater hot water demand. Choosing a geyser that's too small may leave you struggling when several outlets are used together, while the aim is to match the unit to your household's actual needs. HABCO offers a range of models for different household requirements, from single-outlet applications to homes with multiple bathrooms. Tomorrow, we'll look at flow rate and why it matters when choosing the right size. Not sure which model suits your home? DM us or contact HABCO for guidance. 011 900 1421 083 657 3924 www.habco.co.za

Solar water heating is a clever way to use the sun's energy for everyday hot water. But what happens when the sun hasn't provided enough heat, or your household uses more hot water than the system has stored? If you already have solar, there are ways to get more from your setup. And if you're planning a solar installation, it's worth understanding your options. One solution is a solar-to-gas diverter valve, which combines solar water heating with gas backup. Solar collectors capture heat from the sun and transfer it to water stored in a tank. That heat is available later, but it isn't unlimited. Showers and other hot water use gradually replace hot water with colder water, while heat is also lost through the tank and pipes. Cloudy weather, tank size and household demand all affect how much hot water is available. This is where the diverter valve comes in. The thermostatic valve responds to the temperature of the water leaving the solar system. When the water is hot enough, it flows directly to the house, bypassing the gas geyser. When it cools below the valve's set temperature, the valve diverts it through the gas geyser for additional heating. Depending on the valve, this changeover may be set around 45°C or 50°C. Instead of relying entirely on stored solar heat, you have a system that can make use of that heat first, with gas providing additional heating when needed. And because warmer water requires less energy to reach the desired temperature, the gas geyser may need to do less work. For existing solar owners, it's an option worth exploring. For anyone planning a new system, it's another way to think about keeping hot water available through changing weather and household demand.

South Africa's solar boom is changing the way we think about energy. Between July 2022 and June 2026, the country's estimated solar capacity grew from 2.26 GW to 9.11 GW. That's more than quadruple in less than four years. The growth spans both commercial installations and private systems, reflecting a broader shift towards generating electricity beyond the traditional grid. But generating electricity is only part of the equation. If you've already invested in solar, or are planning to go solar or move towards off-grid living, it's important to consider whether your system can meet your household's energy needs throughout the year. In 2022, Stats SA estimated average energy consumption at around 12 gigajoules per person across different energy sources. This gives us a broader picture of how much energy we rely on in everyday life, and why looking beyond electricity alone matters when considering a home's total energy needs. One important part of those needs is water heating. It accounts for a significant share of household energy use, and demand can change considerably with the seasons. Earlier South African research recorded an increase of approximately 70% in hot-water demand from summer to winter in a Johannesburg study. That's why energy efficiency matters. Getting more from your solar system isn't always about generating more electricity. It can also mean finding smarter ways to meet your household's needs while reducing the demand placed on your system. At HABCO, we believe water heating deserves a place in that conversation. This week's product spotlight is our Zero Start range. With off-grid ignition, it offers a practical hot-water solution for solar-powered and off-grid homes. By using LPG gas to heat your water, you can reduce the demand water heating places on your solar electrical system, leaving more electricity available for other household needs. What's your plan for hot water?

Welcome to HABCO's Commonly Asked Questions series! We'll be sharing helpful answers to questions about our products to help homeowners understand their options and make informed decisions about hot water for their homes. Let's kick things off with a question we often hear: Can the HABCO 18L Fan Forced run on solar? It is possible with a suitable inverter supplying 220–240V AC. Here's the good news: LPG does the actual water heating, so electricity is only needed to run the fan and electronic controls. In other words, you're using gas to heat the water, not electricity. One important factor to consider is runtime. This depends on your inverter's output, battery capacity and the power available from your system. Some customers have reported getting up to an hour of runtime using a standard 2000VA PC UPS. While this isn't guaranteed for every setup, it's a practical example of how the unit can provide hot water during a power outage without relying on electricity to heat the water. Not sure whether your solar or backup power system is suitable? Send us a message or give our office a call. We'll gladly discuss your setup and help you explore your options. For general enquiries: 011 900 1421 Monday–Friday, 08:00–16:30 Visit www.habco.co.za for more product information.

Getting the best performance from your HABCO geyser isn't only about the geyser itself. A few simple adjustments around your home can make a noticeable difference to your hot water experience, energy use and overall performance. Here are 7 practical ways to get the best out of your gas geyser. 1. Set your water temperature correctly A starting temperature of around 38–42°C is generally comfortable for everyday use. Setting the temperature unnecessarily high can mean using more gas and adding cold water to bring it back down. 2. Understand how water flow affects performance Your geyser heats water as it flows through the unit. Higher water demand means the geyser has to work harder to maintain the required temperature. If several outlets are used at the same time, you may notice a change in temperature or flow. 3. Keep showerheads and filters clean Limescale and dirt can restrict water flow through showerheads, tap outlets and inlet filters. Regular cleaning helps maintain consistent water flow and allows your geyser to operate as intended. 4. Insulate your hot water pipes Long or exposed hot water pipes can lose heat before the water reaches your tap or shower. Pipe insulation helps reduce heat loss, particularly where pipes run outside or through colder areas. 5. Maintain a stable LPG supply Your geyser needs a suitable and consistent gas supply to perform correctly. Incorrect gas pressure, undersized pipework or a low gas supply can affect heating performance. 6. Service your geyser regularly Like any gas appliance, your geyser needs proper maintenance. Regular servicing helps identify potential issues, keeps components in good condition and supports safe, reliable operation. 7. Keep the installation area clear Make sure the area around your outdoor geyser remains clear. Ventilation openings and the exhaust outlet must never be obstructed. Always keep the installation compliant with the manufacturer's requirements. Small adjustments can make a big difference. www.habco.co.za

WATER PRESSURE: HAVE YOU GOT ENOUGH? A borehole, a water tank or a municipal connection can supply your home with water. But will it provide enough pressure for your gas geyser? Here's what you need to know. MUNICIPAL WATER Most homes in Gauteng should have sufficient municipal water pressure for a gas geyser, but pressure can vary depending on your area and supply conditions. It's always worth checking the requirements for the specific model you're considering. WATER TANKS Water pressure comes from the height of the water above your geyser. As a rough guide, every metre of vertical water head provides about 0.1 bar of pressure. For the HABCO models shown, the minimum inlet pressure is around 0.25 bar for Zero Start and 0.15 bar for the 18L Fan Forced. That's roughly 2.5 m and 1.5 m of water head respectively, before allowing for pressure losses. The important measurement is the water level above the geyser, not just the height of the tank stand. BOREHOLES AND PUMPS A borehole doesn't automatically guarantee enough pressure. The pump needs to suit the borehole's yield and your household's water demand. If gravity alone can't provide enough pressure, a suitable pressure or booster pump may be needed. The right setup depends on your water source, pipework and how many taps or showers you use at the same time. For more information about HABCO gas geysers: 011 900 1421 083 657 3924 www.habco.co.za