The Complete Geyser Buying Guide for South Africa

Your geyser accounts for 30-50% of your home's energy bill. With Eskom tariffs rising and load shedding disrupting daily life, choosing the right water heating solution is one of the most important decisions you'll make for your home.

The Three Main Options

Gas Geysers: Instant Hot Water, Zero Eskom Dependence

Best for: Load shedding resilience, instant hot water, reducing electricity bills

How they work: Heat water on demand using LPG gas - no storage tank needed, no waiting for water to heat up.

Advantages:

• 100% load shedding proof - works during any stage
• Instant endless hot water - never run out mid-shower
• 60-70% cheaper running costs vs electric
• Compact size - perfect for apartments and townhouses
• No standby energy loss

Considerations:

• Requires LPG gas supply (9kg bottle lasts 4-6 weeks for average family)
• Professional installation essential for safety
• Higher upfront cost than electric

Our range: GenX 18L (R1,999) and GenX 20L - perfect for 2-4 person households.

Solar Geysers: Free Hot Water from the Sun

Best for: Long-term savings, eco-conscious homes, sunny locations

How they work: Solar panels heat water in a storage tank during the day. Most include electric backup for cloudy days.

Advantages:

• Lowest long-term running costs - sun is free
• Reduces electricity bill by up to 40%
• Eco-friendly and sustainable
• Government rebates may be available
• Works during load shedding (if installed correctly)

Considerations:

• Higher initial investment (R4,999+)
• Requires roof space and correct orientation
• Performance varies with weather
• May need electric backup in winter

Our range: Hi Tech Solar Geyser Kit 100L Low Pressure (R4,999) - ideal for small to medium households.

Electric Geysers: Traditional Reliability

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers, rental properties, backup systems

Advantages:

• Lowest upfront cost
• Simple installation
• Widely available parts and service

Considerations:

• Highest running costs (R400-800/month)
• Useless during load shedding without backup power
• Standby heat loss wastes energy

Sizing Your Geyser

Choose capacity based on household size:

• 1-2 people: 50-100L
• 3-4 people: 100-150L
• 5+ people: 150-200L+

Gas geysers are sized differently - 18-20L/min flow rate suits most 3-4 person homes.

Load Shedding Reality Check

Gas geysers: Work perfectly during any load shedding stage - your best resilience option.

Solar geysers: Work during the day if properly installed. May need backup power for electric element.

Electric geysers: Require backup power (inverter + batteries) to function during outages. A 150L geyser element draws 2-3kW.

Return on Investment

Example for a 4-person household (based on current Eskom rates):

Electric geyser: R600/month = R7,200/year
Gas geyser: R200/month (LPG) = R2,400/year → Save R4,800/year
Solar geyser: R50/month (backup only) = R600/year → Save R6,600/year

Gas geyser pays for itself in 6-12 months. Solar in 9-18 months.

Installation Matters

Professional installation is critical for:

• Safety (especially gas systems)
• Warranty protection
• Optimal performance and efficiency
• Compliance with regulations

We work with certified installers nationwide.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose gas if: You want immediate load shedding protection, instant hot water, and fast ROI.

Choose solar if: You have roof space, want maximum long-term savings, and can handle the upfront investment.

Choose electric if: You're renting, on a tight budget, or have reliable backup power already.

Ready to Save on Hot Water?

Our team can help you calculate your specific savings and recommend the right solution for your home, budget, and load shedding situation.

Shop Geysers →