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There are several plumbing training schools and colleges in Gauteng, South Africa. The schools offer certificates and equip plumbing students with practical skills in solving plumbing problems. Student plumbers train in the trade of working with water pipes, tubing and plumber fixtures for clean water supply and dirty/wastewater disposal.

The plumbing training also includes hot water pipes. Graduates from plumbing training can work in construction and building as well as in building maintenance services. Plumbing courses enable students to qualify as plumbers, and even offer young people to start small businesses.

Here is a list of some of the plumbing training schools and colleges in Gauteng, together with the plumbing courses they offer. The list is in no way an indication of priority, the plumbing student to be should search further data to decide on which plumbing college to attend.

In addition, I list only 5 colleges with a high online presence, and by no means meant to refer them as the best. Again, plumbing student to be should do more research to choose the plumbing college of his/her choice.

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Plumbing companies in Gauteng

Other maintenance service providers

The PCD College plumbing school centre (Montana, Pretoria)

CETA accredited assessors and moderators

Courses:

• The Basic Plumbing Course
• Advanced Plumbing Course
• Solar Geyser installation course
• National Plumbing Course
• Trade test plumbing

Contacts:  +27 12 335 5793 or info@plumbingschool.co.za

Nomanzi Plumbing School (Pretoria)

(ETDP SETA, NAMB, QCTO, PIRB)

Courses:

• 4-Year plumbing apprenticeship programme.
• Beginner Plumbing Courses
• Advanced Plumbing Courses
• Plumbing Apprenticeship – Cost and Content
• Other plumbing short courses

Contacts:  +27 12 941 1833 office@nomanziplumbingschool.co.za

The Plumbing Academy (Johannesburg)

Registered with CETA as a training provide

Courses:

• Basic plumbing skills (NQF level two)
• Advanced plumbing skills (NQF LEVEL FOUR)
• Solar installation
• Contractor development

CONTACT

Tel: 011 049 4386

Email: info@plumbingacademy.co.za

admin@plumbingacademy.co.za

Olifantsfontein Trade Test (Johannesburg)

An accredited (QCTO) Trade Test Centre for plumbing and electrical.

Courses:

• Preparation plumbing and electrical
• Trade test on site

Contacts:

Cell: 081 400 7203 / 065 816 3916

email: admin@olifantsfonteintradetest.com

Tilers are almost always a need when it comes to new buildings finishing and renovation of existing buildings and rooms.

A well laid out floor or wall makes a huge difference on the overall look of a room. Therefore, the need to get good tile installers is of great importance.

A tiler or tiling contractor who has skill and experience to work on edges, corners, and to maintain accurate lining is what you need.

To summarize, good tile installation ensures the following qualities: –

Even laying of tiles throughout the surface.

Proper lining of tiles.

Durable tile fitting.

Even gaps between tiles.

Neat and accurate fit of tiles on intersections and edging.

Book a tiler

Find a maintenance contractor

Factor to consider for tiling.

Professional tilers use proper tools for each of the tasks involved.

In fact, a good investment in the proper tools and machinery is a must for any trade.

Additionally, good tile installers have reference for their work, and are eager to flaunt their work around in picture format.

Top tile installation providers know the difference between laying different tile types and format sizes. For instance, they are aware of the difference in the level of difficulty associated with format size.

Large format wall tile installation requires more skill and time, and hence the preparation is not the same.

A good tiling installer is one able to install all forms of tiles: –

Bathroom wall tile installation

Ability to perform neat tile removal if needed, before placing new tiles.

Wall tiles fitting

High skill in laying adhesive and comfortable in all tile grouting service.

The tiler’s skill and reference should reveal the skill needed for the specific job. For instance, for bathroom tiling, one would expect a tiler with good command in laying mosaic tile sheets. These are some of the details that are obvious to the eye, and if mistakes prevail, they tend to affect the overall appeal of the entire tiling installation.

Professional conduct: – tiling pros are upfront in their pricing, so expect a quotation with detail and proper price breakdown. Like any other quote in maintenance services, quote should clearly show price for laying tile and price for tile material.

Others will add up all costs and simply work out the tile installation cost per square meter, inclusive of labour, material and any other costs linked to tile installation.

Firstly, a burst geyser is one that is leaking due to the tank itself having given up. It is to not the same as the usual slow dripping of water that occurs daily on a geyser. Therefore, when we talk of burst geyser causes and signs, we speak of a serious leak or corrosion. A burst pipe in some cases can be referred as such.

So, to sum it, the usual daily slow dripping of water is due to the normal function of the pressure relieve valve (T/P valve). A TP valve regulates the internal pressure of the geyser as the temperature changes. It therefore gives relief to the pressure within a geyser whenever it rises to unsafe levels.

However, if you see a continuous drip or flow of hot water from the overflow pipe (more than 4 litres per day), that means something is wrong with one of the components.

It is easy to identify the normal drip we are talking about, as the water comes out of a smaller pipe, such a 15mm copper pipe or 22mm copper pipe.

Geyser installers 

Insurance geyser service providers

Geyser repairs

Call for any general plumbing maintenance service

Common signs that show your geyser has burst or is about to burst includes the following: –

Low water pressure

An unusual buzz-like sound from the geyser

Presence of water marks or water dripping near the geyser

Water pouring outside of the building, usually from the drainpipe coming out of the ceiling (the white PVC pipe about 50mm diameter)

Presence of water or marks on the ceiling.

Brownish or rusty water coming out from the hot water faucet

Unfortunately, No

However, for this reason, most people take home insurance cover that includes cover for geyser repairs and replacements.

If you have a home insurance, take time to check if geyser is covered. In addition, some of the burst geyser causes can just be age, as most geysers would reach an age where they break.

Replacing a geyser is expensive and therefore insurance cover is beneficial. However, if you do not have cover, you can still get low-cost geyser installers in your area.

Either way, a burst geyser needs urgent geyser replacement to avoid geyser damage, such as water damage on ceiling and your other property valuables.

In addition to having cover, proper geyser maintenance and care can go a long way to save you money from fixing geysers and from attending to geyser water damage.

• Call a geyser maintenance plumber to inspect the geyser every three to four years. Plumbers perform geyser maintenance services like clean out geyser, replace finished anode and check for overall geyser health.
• Set your geyser thermostat between 50 degrees in summer and 60 degrees in winter, higher settings should be avoided.
• Use geyser timer switch and geyser blankets to save on energy use.

Switch off the valve that supply water to your property or to your geyser if there is one just before the geyser.

Turn off the geyser switch on your main DB board.

Call a geyser plumber or an insurance geyser installer for geyser immediate replacement.

Have a plumber inspect the geyser every three to four years to make sure components like anode rods are in good condition.

Don’t set the thermostat above 70 degrees Celsius – ideal settings are 50 degrees in summer and 60 degrees in winter.

Limit the damage as much as possible using buckets and cloths.

Underground locator services: This is a must-have for a wise construction project manager. Sub-surface utilities detection can solve key aspects of a building projects or a home improvement jobs. Therefore, home improvement contractors, building managers, and property owners need to consider the service if there is any digging planned. Here are a few points to note: –

• Safety – to know and locate underground utilities before any trench digging is a wise move that can save workers from injuries resulting from contact with live lines
• Cost – In the event of damage to underground lines during digging, cost to repair may also result in other cost overruns
• Delays and disruptions of to project
• Better designs with the aid of underground utilities maps.

For private property, property owners have the responsibility to request private underground utility locator services before any digging can take place. Likewise, public sector should ensure a public utilities locator service has been done before any digging takes place. Similar to other trades that has short names, the term locator is common for people who perform such work.

Alternatively, names like underground utilities detective can be used to describe a utilities surveyor.

Another common additional term is pipe locator.

Book underground utilities surveyors 

More on underground utilities services

First, to identify and classify type of utility

Then to locate the utility precisely

Additionally, to document findings for purpose of designs, for purpose of guidance in construction work, and for future referencing.

Key structures

Home improvement projects that need digging to take place

Housing estates and apartments

Places of learning, such as schools, colleges, and universities

Health facilities like hospitals and schools

Business and industrial areas

Other public and government facilities.

Key Resources

Water lines

Gas lines

Sewer lines

Electrical lines

Storm water lines

The Underground Detective finds and maps utilities using high level machinery to make the digging and excavation easy, cost effective, and free of injury. The machinery includes ground penetrating radars, CCTV cameras, thermal scanning, and electromagnetic induction.

After taking measurements and scanning the area, the underground utilities surveyor produces reports, which can take on several different types. However, the client usually specifies the data format he/she wants as a final product.