That patch of water under the geyser, or the steady drip from a pipe outside, is your geyser trying to warn you. Some dripping is completely normal; some is the early sign of a failure that ends in a collapsed ceiling. Here is how to tell them apart.
Normal: a little overflow while heating
As a geyser heats, water expands, and the temperature-and-pressure (T&P) safety valve releases a small amount through the overflow pipe outside. A bit of dripping during the heating cycle is the safety system doing its job.
Not normal: constant or heavy dripping
If the overflow drips constantly — not just during heating — the likely causes are a faulty T&P valve, excessive water pressure, or a valve that has simply worn out. Left alone, a stuck valve wastes a surprising amount of water and signals a fault that worsens.
A warning sign: water in the drip tray
The drip tray under the geyser catches leaks. Water pooling there is not expansion overflow — it points to a leak from the cylinder, connections or valves. Because geysers sit in roofs and ceilings, a slow leak quietly soaks insulation and plasterboard until it fails. Get it checked within a day or two.
When it is an emergency
Active streaming water, a bulging or dripping ceiling, or a fast-filling tray is an emergency: switch the geyser off at the DB board, close the geyser isolation valve if you can reach it, and call a plumber. See pressure valve replacement and geyser repairs, or our emergency plumber for active leaks.
The cheap fix that prevents it
Where high pressure is the culprit, a pressure reducing valve usually stops the constant dripping and protects the geyser for years. Ask us to take a look.