Guides · Emergencies
Claremont is one of the oldest suburbs in the Southern Suburbs, and its plumbing shows it. This page covers what that usually means for a geyser, a pipe or a certificate, and who to call when something goes wrong.
An old suburb, built in waves
The railway line from Cape Town to Wynberg opened in 1864, which spurred the subdivision of the farmland, and Claremont became its own municipality in 1886 before being incorporated into the City of Cape Town in 1913. Homes went up in several waves: estate subdivisions in the 1890s, a building boom in the 1900s, and more in the 1920s and 1930s. Claremont also sits on Main Road, a busy mixed-use strip, so homes and businesses stand side by side.
A house that has stood for close to a century has usually had its geyser, taps and pipework replaced more than once, and not always to the standard in force today. The problems we look for first are old geysers well past their best, valves and drip trays that were never brought up to current standards, and pipework from different decades joined together. Our guides for Wynberg and Newlands and Rondebosch cover the neighbouring older areas.
Houses, flats and who fixes what
If you live in a flat or a sectional title scheme, whether a leak is yours or the body corporate's depends on where it starts. Our guide to geysers and drains in flats explains the usual split, and what to tell your insurer.
Burst pipe or geyser: the first ten minutes
- Close the water at the main valve or the meter. For a leaking geyser, closing the cold water valve into it is enough.
- Switch off the geyser at the distribution board, unless the board is wet. If water is near plugs or lights, stay away and call us.
- Open a tap to drain the pipes, protect furniture and electronics, and take photos for your insurer.
Our guide to a burst geyser at night has the full steps, and what to tell your insurer.
Whose side of the meter is it?
As a rule, the City of Cape Town looks after the supply up to and including the meter, and you look after the pipes after it. If the water is coming up through the pavement or the verge, or the meter itself is leaking, report it to the City. If it is inside your boundary, it is a plumber's job. After a City shutdown, pressure can return suddenly: open a tap to let the air out, and check under sinks and around the geyser once the supply is back.
Selling in Claremont
If you are selling, the City requires a plumbing (water) certificate of compliance on transfer. We arrange plumbing, electrical, gas and beetle inspections together and give you a written report with photos and the standard behind every finding, so you know what to fix before a buyer finds it. Our guide to gas and beetle certificates in Claremont, Rondebosch and Newlands covers the other two certificates, and our estate agents page shows how a transfer runs with us.
Electrical maintenance as well
We now do electrical maintenance in-house too, so one company can look after both the plumbing and the electrics in your home or rental. If your distribution board trips, a fitting has failed or an older house needs its wiring looked at, ask for it when you call. Our guide to old wiring in historic homes explains the signs to look for.
Plumbing around Claremont
We work in Claremont, Newlands, Rondebosch, Kenilworth, Wynberg and Bishopscourt, and across the Southern Suburbs and South Peninsula. For anything that isn't an emergency, WhatsApp us on 074 490 3100 or email enquiries@lightningfast.co.za. Office hours are Monday to Friday 07:30 to 17:30 and Saturday 08:00 to 13:00.
Common questions
Do you have a plumber in Claremont for emergencies?
Yes. We take emergency calls day and night on 074 490 3100. Emergencies carry no after-hours charge. On the phone we tell you how soon someone can be with you.
Why do older Claremont houses have so many plumbing problems?
Age is the main reason. Much of Claremont was built between the 1890s and the 1930s, so a house here has usually had its geyser and taps replaced several times, and each replacement is a chance for valves, drip trays and overflows to fall behind current standards.
Do I need a plumbing certificate to sell a house in Claremont?
Yes. In the City of Cape Town a water installation (plumbing) certificate of compliance is required when a property is transferred. We arrange plumbing, electrical, gas and beetle inspections together, and give you a written report with photos.
Whose job is a leak at the water meter?
Generally the City of Cape Town looks after the supply up to and including the meter, and the owner looks after the pipes after it. If water is coming up through the pavement, report it to the City. If it is inside your boundary, call a plumber.