GASE Admin 
There is a 9 kg gas cylinder in almost every South African home. It lives outside the kitchen door, behind the braai, or in the boot on the way to the campsite. It is so familiar that we stop thinking about it — until the flame dies halfway through the chops.
This is the short, practical guide we wish every new cylinder owner had. No chemistry degree required.
What a 9 kg actually means
The “9 kg” is the gas capacity, not the weight of the whole cylinder. A full 9 kg weighs roughly 18 kg: about 9 kg of gas and 9–10 kg of steel. That is why lifting one is a two-hand job, and why the bathroom scale is a surprisingly good gas gauge.
The cylinder stands about 480 mm tall and uses a POL valve — the left-hand-thread fitting that most South African braais and stoves expect. If your regulator screws on the wrong way, it is probably the right one. Hand-tight is enough; do not force it with a spanner.
How long will it last?
It depends entirely on the burner. A medium braai burner running at full tilt uses roughly 0.18–0.22 kg per hour, so a 9 kg cylinder gives you about 40–50 hours of cooking. A small two-plate stove used for one pot of pap a day can stretch for weeks. A patio heater is thirstier: expect 10–15 hours on the same cylinder.
Weigh the cylinder. A full 9 kg is around 18 kg; an empty one around 9 kg. If it is below 10 kg, start planning the exchange. Never test for a leak with a flame.
The exchange, explained
“Exchange” means you hand over an empty cylinder and receive a full one of the same size. You are not paying for a new cylinder every time — you are paying for the gas inside and the safety check around it. Your empty goes back into the pool, is inspected, tested and refilled.
At GASE, every cylinder is weighed, valve-checked, leak-tested and sealed before it goes on the van. If you do not have an empty, we charge a refundable deposit: R450 for a 9 kg. Return the cylinder whenever you like and the deposit comes back.
Looking after it
- Store it upright in a shaded, ventilated spot — outside is best.
- Never store LPG indoors, in a basement or under a staircase. Gas is heavier than air and will pool at floor level.
- Keep it away from heat, sparks and anything electrical.
- Check the hose for cracks or stiffness before every braai. Replace it every five years, or sooner if it looks tired.
- Transport it upright and secured. Not loose in the boot, not lying on its side on the back seat.
When to exchange
Swap the cylinder if the valve is damaged, the body is deeply rusted or dented, or the test date on the collar has passed. Our drivers reject cylinders that fail these checks — not to be difficult, but because a cylinder is a pressure vessel and the rules exist for a reason.
If the flame is weak but the cylinder still feels heavy, check the regulator and hose first. A blocked or tired regulator can mimic an empty cylinder, and it is a lot cheaper to replace than a full refill you did not need.
Need a swap? Order a 9 kg exchange online or send us a WhatsApp. We will bring the full one and take the empty off your hands.
