Frequently Asked Questions

We operate Monday to Saturday and respond to genuine after-hours emergencies (burst geysers, major leaks, sewage backups) in our Sandton and Midrand service area. Phone Garth directly on 082 886 9119 — you'll speak to him, not a call centre.

Yes. Apple Plumbing & Electrical is a VAT-registered company with comprehensive public liability insurance. Our electricians are registered with the Department of Labour and our plumbers work to current SANS standards using SABS-approved materials.

For booked work we typically schedule within 24–48 hours. For genuine emergencies in Sandton, Midrand and surrounding suburbs we usually have a technician on site within 1–2 hours, depending on time of day.

Always — except for true emergencies where the priority is stopping damage. After an initial assessment we email you a transparent quote with parts, labour and VAT itemised. No work proceeds without your written approval.

Sandton, Midrand, Bryanston, Morningside, Lonehill, Fourways, Randburg, Sunninghill, Rivonia, Kyalami, Woodmead, Paulshof, Hyde Park and Dainfern — essentially all of Northern Johannesburg.

Straightforward burst-pipe repairs typically range from R750 to R2,500 depending on the pipe location, material (copper, PEX, PVC) and whether wall or floor reinstatement is required. We quote on site before starting.

Yes — that's our core advantage. Geyser swaps, solar installs and bathroom remodels often need both trades. We send a combined team so you only book one appointment and pay one callout.

Yes. Same-day geyser swap-outs on most popular brands (Kwikot, Heatech, Franke). Every install includes a drip tray, vacuum breakers, isolator switch and a Plumbing Certificate of Compliance where required.

A COC is a legal document issued by a registered electrician (or plumber) confirming your installation meets current SANS standards. It's required by law when transferring property and often requested by insurers. We issue both Electrical and Plumbing COCs.

Saturdays yes, 08:00–13:00. Public holidays we operate on an emergency-only basis at standard rates plus a callout premium.

Don't pour cooking fats down the kitchen sink, fit hair traps in shower outlets, never flush wet-wipes (even 'flushable' ones) and have a CCTV drain inspection every 3–5 years if you have mature trees nearby — root ingress is the #1 cause of recurring blockages in Joburg.

Yes — we are accredited Geyserwise installers and also fit EVT solar hot water and full PV solar systems. We can size the right combination for your household's hot water use and electricity bill.

We charge a small callout fee that is deducted from the final invoice if you proceed with the quoted work. This keeps prices honest and allows us to give you a proper on-site assessment rather than a phone-estimate.

Most callouts in Sandton, Midrand and Northern Joburg run R650–R950 (deducted off the invoice if you proceed). General plumbing repairs are typically R750–R2,500, geyser swap-outs from R5,500 installed including drip tray, vacuum breakers and Plumbing COC.

A standard non-invasive leak detection in Sandton or Midrand is R1,800–R2,800, including a written, insurance-ready report. Most insurers (Santam, Discovery Insure, OUTsurance, MiWay) reimburse leak-detection costs as part of a successful claim.

In Gauteng a Plumbing Certificate of Compliance is not always legally required like the Electrical COC, but most banks, conveyancers and home buyers now demand one before transfer. We issue Plumbing COCs across Northern Johannesburg within 3–5 working days.

Common causes in Joburg homes: clogged geyser inlet strainer, partially closed stopcock, scaled-up shower heads, failing pressure-control valve at the geyser, or a concealed leak dropping system pressure. We diagnose with proper pressure gauges before recommending parts.

Continuous overflow usually means the Temperature & Pressure (T&P) safety valve has failed, the vacuum breaker is faulty, or the geyser is over-pressurised by mains supply. Left untreated it floods ceilings — book a same-day geyser repair on 082 886 9119.

A modern compliant DB board upgrade for a 3-bedroom home in Sandton or Midrand typically runs R6,500–R12,500, including surge protection, labelled breakers, earth leakage and a fresh Electrical COC issued on completion.

Usually one of: an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance with internal short, water on an outdoor plug or pool light, or a worn earth-leakage unit. Proper insulation-resistance testing isolates the offender first time.

For most Joburg homes a 5kW hybrid inverter with 5–10kWh of lithium battery covers fridges, Wi-Fi, lights and TVs through stage 6 load shedding. Add solar PV when budget allows. Every install must include a Certificate of Compliance.

Most residential Electrical COC inspections in Sandton, Midrand and Bryanston are completed in 2–4 hours. Defects are quoted on the spot; the COC is issued the same day repairs are done. Allow 3–7 working days end-to-end.

Most concealed-leak hunts on residential properties take 2–4 hours, including the written and photographic report. Slab leaks and underground mains can take longer; we give a clear time estimate before starting.

Yes. We service office parks, retail premises, restaurants, schools and residential estates across Northern Johannesburg — including planned maintenance, after-hours emergency cover, COCs and energy-saving upgrades.

A standard drain machine clearance in Sandton or Midrand runs R850–R1,650. High-pressure water-jetting of a main sewer line is R2,200–R3,800. Recurring blockages are best diagnosed with a CCTV drain inspection (R1,500–R2,400) so the underlying root or collapse can be fixed permanently.

Yes — blocked toilets and drains are one of our most frequent same-day callouts in Sandton, Midrand, Bryanston and Fourways. We carry electric drain machines and high-pressure jetters on every van.

Yes. Burst pipes are a genuine emergency — phone Garth directly on 082 886 9119 and we'll talk you through shutting off the main supply while we dispatch. After-hours response across our Sandton and Midrand service area is typically 1–2 hours.

A like-for-like geyser swap in Sandton or Midrand is usually completed in 3–4 hours, including drip tray, vacuum breakers, isolator switch, pressure-control valve and Plumbing COC. Solar geyser conversions take a full day.

Yes. We push a self-levelling colour CCTV camera up to 60m down sewer and stormwater lines and provide a USB or video file showing roots, bellies, cracks or blockages. Reports are insurance-ready.

Yes — we handle first-fix pipework, second-fix mixers and fittings, waterproofing oversight and final Plumbing COC for bathroom renovations across Sandton, Bryanston, Morningside and Midrand. We work with your builder or project-manage the trades.

Yes. Where municipal pressure is genuinely too low (common in parts of Midrand, Fourways and Kyalami) we size and install pressure pumps with small accumulator tanks. Typical install R8,500–R14,000 with a Plumbing COC.

Yes. We are accredited Geyserwise installers and fit the full range — Geyserwise Max, MSW and PV-ready models. A typical install is R3,500–R4,500 fitted and saves 25–35% on geyser running cost.

Yes. Cracked or collapsing polycop supply lines between the municipal meter and the house are a common cause of pressure loss and hidden leaks. We replace with HDPE pipe to current SANS standards, including a Plumbing COC.

Yes. We supply detailed leak-detection reports, itemised invoices and photographs in the format required by Santam, OUTsurance, Discovery Insure, MiWay, King Price and Hollard. Most policies cover leak detection and burst-pipe repair after the standard excess.

Yes — gutters, downpipes, gullies, stormwater lines, garden taps, outdoor showers, irrigation main lines and pool top-up plumbing. Common across Sandton and Bryanston where mature gardens block stormwater every rainy season.

Yes. All workmanship carries a 3-month warranty as standard, and SABS-approved parts carry the manufacturer's warranty (typically 5 years on geysers, 5 years on quality mixers).

Mechanised drain cleaning uses an electric drum machine that spins a flexible steel cable with a cutting head down the drain to shear through roots, fat, scale and debris that hand-rodding can't shift. We recommend it for recurring blockages, main sewer lines, and anything more than 5–6 metres from the access point.

Rodding punches a hole through the blockage; jetting scours the inside walls of the pipe clean with water at 3,000–4,000 psi. Jetting is the right tool for kitchen-grease build-up, sand and silt in stormwater lines, and full-bore restoration before a CCTV survey. It costs more but the drain runs like new afterwards.

For most Northern Joburg homes a preventative drain clean every 18–24 months is plenty. Properties with mature trees (oak, jacaranda, ficus) over the sewer line should jet and CCTV every 12 months. Restaurants and busy guest houses typically need kitchen-line jetting every 3–6 months.

In 95% of cases, yes. We work from existing inspection eyes (IEs) and rodding eyes using drain machines, jetters and a CCTV camera. We only excavate when CCTV confirms a collapsed pipe, severe belly or off-set joint that physically can't be cleared in-line.

Yes — we install JoJo and equivalent SABS-approved water tanks from 750L up to 10,000L for residential and commercial properties. A typical 2,500L backup install with pressure pump, pre-filter, automatic changeover and Plumbing COC runs R14,500–R22,000 depending on plinth, pipework and electrical work.

Rule of thumb in Joburg: 200L per person per day. A family of four wanting 3 days of backup needs roughly 2,400L. Add 50% if you have a pool top-up or irrigation on the same tank. We size on site free of charge and recommend the right tank, plinth and pump combination.

A float-switched changeover valve (or a pressure-sensing controller) detects when the municipal supply drops below a set pressure and silently switches the house onto the backup tank and pressure pump. When the mains returns, it switches back and the tank refills automatically — you never notice the outage.

Municipal water stored in a clean, opaque, properly-vented food-grade tank stays potable for 2–3 weeks. For longer storage or rainwater we recommend a 5-micron sediment filter, a carbon block and either a UV steriliser or chlorine dosing — we install full purification trains as part of the tank package.

A standard residential backup install (single tank, pressure pump, automatic changeover, pre-filter) is usually completed in one working day. Larger systems with multiple linked tanks, concrete plinths or trenching for the pump cable can take 2–3 days. We always quote in writing first.

Any new connection to the potable water supply legally requires a Plumbing Certificate of Compliance. We issue the COC as standard on every backup water tank installation — it's required by most insurers and by the bank if you later sell the property.

In 2026, a standard plumber callout plus the first hour of labour in Gauteng typically runs R650 to R1,200, with the exact figure depending on the job and whether it is an after-hours emergency. Drain clearing runs R650 to R1,800, leak detection R1,800 to R2,800, and a geyser replacement from R5,500 including the COC. Always get a written quote before work starts.

Apple Plumbing & Electrical installs and replaces geysers across Sandton, Midrand, Fourways, Bryanston and the East Rand, usually same-day for failures. As a combined plumbing and electrical contractor we handle the plumbing and the wiring and issue the Certificate of Compliance in one visit. Call Garth on 082 886 9119.

Common causes are a partially closed or faulty main valve, a clogged or failing pressure-reducing valve, scaled-up or corroded pipes, a hidden leak, or simply low municipal supply pressure. A plumber can test the pressure and pinpoint which it is, often fixing it with a valve replacement or a booster pump.

Turn off every tap and water-using appliance, then check your water meter. If the dial is still moving, you have an active leak. A sudden jump in your water bill, damp patches, or the sound of running water are other signs. For hidden leaks, a plumber uses acoustic and thermal equipment to pinpoint the spot without breaking up floors.

A simple blocked toilet or basin costs R650 to R1,200, a mechanised main-line clear runs R1,400 to R2,800, and a CCTV drain inspection R1,800 to R2,800. We quote in writing on site before any additional work proceeds.

A Plumbing Certificate of Compliance certifies that a property water installation is safe and compliant — no leaks, a SANS 10254-compliant geyser, correct water connections and drainage. Only a PIRB-registered plumber can issue a valid one. You need it for property transfers, after geyser work, and for many insurance claims.

An Electrical Certificate of Compliance certifies that the fixed electrical installation meets SANS 10142 safety standards. It must be issued by a registered person, is generally valid for two years if no work is done, and is legally required when selling or transferring a property and often for insurance claims.

Replace a geyser when it is past about ten years old, when the cylinder itself leaks (as opposed to a valve), when it repeatedly fails, or when rust appears in the hot water. Under eight years old with an element, thermostat or valve fault, a repair is usually the better spend. We will advise honestly which way to go.

The best plumbers are PIRB-registered, insured, quote in writing before starting, use SABS-approved parts, issue valid COCs and have recent, genuine reviews. Apple Plumbing & Electrical is owner-managed by Garth Blair with 16+ years across plumbing and electrical work in Sandton, Midrand and Northern Johannesburg, handling both trades in-house.

During operating hours, Apple Plumbing & Electrical typically reaches Sandton within 60 to 90 minutes and Midrand within 45 to 75 minutes, with parts on the van for a first-visit fix. For burst pipes, geyser failures and sewage backups, call Garth directly on 082 886 9119.