Plumbing

Plumbing buying guide

Veldkraft lists 581 plumbing, priced from R2 to R19 365, from brands including Belatori, Unitwist, C.t.d, Dutton Plastics. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Find plumbing supplies by job

Sort plumbing supplies by the system you are working on: water supply, taps and mixers, drainage or roof water. Supply work uses copper pipe, capillary elbows, brass running nipples, stop taps and thread seal tape. Taps include wall-type sink mixers and undertile mixers. Drainage covers polypropylene junctions, rubber flush pipe connectors and drain rods. Roof water covers PVC gutters, fascia and barge boards and rainwater harvesting first flush downspouts.

Match pipe size and fitting type

Measure the existing pipe's outside diameter and note any tap or valve thread before ordering. Copper pipe is sized in millimetres, such as 15mm and 22mm, and capillary fittings slip over the pipe and are soldered. Fittings that join copper to a thread are marked with both sizes, for example 15mm by 1/2 inch, and state whether the thread is male or female. Wrap threaded joints with seal tape in the direction the fitting tightens.

PVC pipe fittings or polypropylene drainage?

If you are searching for PVC pipe fittings, read the material in each title before you order. In this range, drainage junctions such as a 110mm by 50mm junction are polypropylene, while the gutters, fascia boards and barge boards are PVC. Do not join different materials without a fitting made to connect them. Size drainage by outside diameter: 110mm is the usual size for main soil lines, and 50mm for basin and sink waste branches.

Taps, mixers and stop taps

Choose a mixer by where it mounts. Wall-type sink mixers fix to the wall above the sink, while undertile mixers sit inside the wall with only the handle and cover plate showing, so plan them before tiling. A stop tap on each supply line, such as a 15mm Proclose stop tap, lets you isolate one fixture without shutting off the house. Confirm the connection size and whether your system is high or low pressure before choosing a mixer.

Gutters, fascias and rainwater harvesting

Plan gutters around the roof area that drains to each downpipe. PVC half-round gutters and fascia boards come in 6.0 metre lengths and barge boards in 4.0 metres, so measure each roof edge and round up to full lengths. Set gutters with a slight fall towards the outlet. If you harvest rainwater, a first flush downspout on the 100mm downpipe diverts the dirtiest first rain, keeping leaves, dust and droppings out of the tank.

Insulation, float valves and spares

Insulate hot water pipes to cut heat loss, and cold pipes exposed to frost. Slit, self-adhesive pipe insulation for 22mm pipe slips over existing pipe without draining the system. Float valve balls replace damaged floats in tanks and cisterns; check the thread, such as M8 or M10. Drain rods clear blocked drains, and rubber bungs seal the flush pipe to the pan. Keep seal tape, spare nipples and a stop tap on hand for small leaks.

Plumbing: common questions

What size copper pipe is used in South African houses?

Household water supply in South Africa commonly uses 15mm copper pipe to individual taps and fixtures, with 22mm for main runs and hot water feeds that need more flow. Measure the outside diameter of your existing pipe to confirm, and buy fittings in the same size. Copper pipe is listed in lengths such as 5.5 metres.

How do I fix a leaking threaded joint?

Turn off the supply, undo the joint and clean the old tape or paste off both threads. Wrap the male thread with fresh thread seal tape in the direction the fitting tightens, pulling it snug so it sits in the thread. Reassemble firmly without over-tightening, turn the water back on slowly and check for drips.

What is a first flush diverter?

A first flush diverter, or first flush downspout, sits in the downpipe between gutter and rainwater tank. It catches the first water off the roof, which carries most of the dust, leaves and droppings, and lets cleaner water flow to the tank once it fills. Empty and clean it regularly, especially after long dry spells.

How much do plumbing supplies cost in South Africa?

Veldkraft lists 581 plumbing products priced from R2 to R19 365. Small fittings such as seal tape, nipples and capillary elbows sit at the low end of that range. Price rises with material, size and length: copper and brass cost more than plastic, and full-length copper pipe, mixers and long PVC gutter and fascia lengths cost more than single fittings.

How do I measure for gutters and fascia boards?

Measure each roof edge in metres along the eaves, add the lengths together and divide by the board or gutter length, such as 6.0 metres, then round up. Count corners, joints, end caps and outlets separately. Allow one downpipe per section of roof, and position gutters with a slight fall towards each outlet.

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