LP gas safety
Safety is
the whole job.
LP gas is safe when it is stored, connected and handled properly. These are the basics we want every customer to know — no jargon, no scare tactics.
Smell gas? Stop, ventilate, call.
Do not switch lights or appliances on or off. Put out naked flames. Open doors and windows if it is safe. Turn off the cylinder valve if you can reach it. Get everyone out and call 012 555 0148. If there is a fire or a serious leak, call the emergency services first.
The non-negotiables
Six rules that
keep everyone safe.
Print them, stick them in the kitchen, and check them before the first braai of the season.
Store upright, outdoors.
LP gas cylinders belong upright in a shaded, ventilated space — never indoors, in a basement, under a staircase or in a sealed cupboard. Gas is heavier than air and pools at floor level.
Ventilate.
Any gas appliance that burns fuel needs oxygen. Cook with a window open or extraction on. Never use a braai, camping stove or patio heater in a closed room, tent or caravan.
Check with soapy water.
Brush soapy water on the valve and connection. Bubbles mean a leak. Never use a flame to test. If it bubbles, close the valve, ventilate and call us.
Transport it upright.
Secure the cylinder upright in a bakkie or trailer. Never loose in the boot, never on the back seat, never lying down. Remove it as soon as you get home.
Check the hose and regulator.
Look for cracks, stiffness or a cracked regulator body. Replace the hose every five years, sooner if damaged. Use the correct LP gas regulator and a hose rated for LPG.
Respect the test date.
A cylinder past its test date should not be filled or used. Check the collar. If it is damaged, deeply rusted, dented or has been in a fire, take it out of service and call us.
If you smell gas
Five steps.
In order.
Do not panic, but do not wait to see if it clears. A gas smell is a stop-everything moment.
Call 012 555 0148- 01Stop.
Do not switch lights, plugs or appliances on or off. A spark can ignite the gas.
- 02Flames out.
Put out cigarettes, candles, pilot lights and any open flame — if it is safe to reach.
- 03Ventilate.
Open doors and windows, if you can do so without passing through the leak.
- 04Valve off.
Close the cylinder valve if it is safe and reachable. Do not try to repair anything.
- 05Get out. Call.
Move everyone away, keep ignition sources clear, and call us. For a fire or serious leak, call the emergency services first.
The details
The things people
ask us most.
Storing LP gas at home
Store cylinders upright outdoors, on a firm base, shaded and away from ignition sources. Keep them away from drains, basements and low-lying areas where gas can collect. Never store a spare cylinder indoors.
Keep the cylinder valve closed when it is not in use. Check the hose and regulator before every use. A hose that is cracked, hard or past its date should be replaced.
Using a gas appliance indoors
Use appliances only for their intended purpose and in a ventilated space. A gas stove is for cooking, not for heating a room. A patio heater is for outdoors — never in a closed room, garage, tent or caravan.
Carbon monoxide is the silent risk. If anyone develops a headache, dizziness or nausea in a room with a gas appliance, turn it off, get everyone outside and seek medical help.
Transporting a cylinder
Transport cylinders upright, secured and with the valve closed. Ideally use a ventilated bakkie or trailer, not the passenger cabin. Never leave a cylinder loose, and never leave it in a parked vehicle in the sun. Remove it as soon as you get home and store it upright outdoors.
For a 19 kg or 48 kg delivery, make sure someone is available to show the driver where to place the cylinder. We position it safely and take the empty with us.
Cylinder checks and test dates
Every cylinder carries a test date. A cylinder that is past its test date should not be filled or used. Look for deep dents, gouges, heavy rust or a damaged valve. If in doubt, bring it in and we will check it.
Never attempt to repair a valve or body yourself. Never use a cylinder that has been in a fire, even if it looks fine.
Not sure about your setup?
Send us a photo of your cylinder, regulator and hose, or ask us to check the connection on your next delivery. We'll flag anything that looks past its best.