Guides · Emergencies
To a plumber, Muizenberg is two different places. The older village sits on the foot slopes of Muizenberg Mountain, close to the sea. Inland, the suburbs sit on lower ground beside the Zandvlei estuary. The two need different things, and this page covers both.
The old village
Muizenberg grew as a seaside resort from the late 1800s. The railway arrived in 1882 and the municipality was set up in 1895, and many of the buildings that remain date from the resort's heyday, a lot of them in the art deco style. A house that old has usually had its geyser, taps and pipework replaced more than once, and not always to the standard in force today.
The things we find most often in houses like these are old geysers that are well past their best, valves and drip trays that were never brought up to current standards, and fittings that salt air has worn out early. We explain the sea-air effect in more detail in our guide for Simon's Town, and the same applies here. If you live in an older house nearby, our guide to Kalk Bay and St James covers old galvanised pipes, geysers in tight roofs and heritage rules.
The flats towards the vlei
Inland of the village, the suburbs sit on lower ground beside the Zandvlei estuary, which meets the sea at Muizenberg. Marina da Gama, for example, was developed in the 1970s, so its original geysers and pipework are now decades old. We cover what living beside the vlei means for drains and damp electrics in our guide for Marina da Gama, Lakeside and Kirstenhof.
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 in Muizenberg, Steenberg or Diep River 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 Muizenberg
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 the plumbing certificate on the South Peninsula explains what is checked.
Plumbing around Muizenberg
We work in Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and St James, Marina da Gama, Lakeside, Retreat, Steenberg and Diep River, and across the South Peninsula and Southern Suburbs. 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 Muizenberg for emergencies?
Yes. Our office is in Fish Hoek, a short drive from Muizenberg, and 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 old Muizenberg houses have so many plumbing problems?
Age is the main reason. A house that has stood for many decades 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. Salt air near the sea also wears valves, taps and fittings out faster.
Do I need a plumbing certificate to sell a house in Muizenberg?
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.