Gas Cylinder Safety

This summer, if you stay in a caravan or boat, you may use gas cylinders. Here are some tips for gas cylinder safety.

Gas Cylinder Safety

Safety is vital when using gas cylinders. Here is some advice if you have a gas cylinder powered appliance in a motorhome, boat or caravan.

• Have a gas detection system installed if possible.
• Keep the area where the appliance is situated well ventilated when it is in use, to avoid a build-up of carbon monoxide gas, which is highly poisonous.
• When you have finished using the appliance, turn off the gas cylinder first, then turn off the controls of the appliance itself – this uses up any gas that is remaining in the hose and pipework.
• When you are changing a gas cylinder, make sure that all the cylinder valves and gas taps are turned off fully before disconnecting it. Never change a cylinder indoors – always in the open air.
• Do not over-tighten gas joints.
• Return your used cylinders to the supplier. Never throw them away. Even if they seem “empty” they can still contain gas. If you are not sure what to do, then contact your nearest gas cylinder stockist.
• If the appliance is on a boat, regularly hand-pump the enclosed areas at the inner bottom of the hull (bilges) to remove any vapour.

Hoses

• Only use hoses marked with BS 3212 or stainless steel convoluted hoses marked with EN10380.
• If you are connecting directly to a cylinder or the outlet pressure of the regulator is greater than 50 mbar use a hose with the marking ‘High-Pressure LPG’.
• Make sure the length of hose is as short as possible but long enough that it is not pulled tight.
• Replace a damaged hose if it shows signs of wear, soft spots, stiffness or cracking.
• Always keep hoses away from hot surfaces.

L&W Heating and Plumbing

If you need a qualified gas engineer, call L&W Heating and Plumbing – we are the experts at gas safety in the Warrington, Wigan and St.Helens areas. call LW Heating and Plumbing today on one of our regional numbers below:-

Newton Le Willows Central Heating Engineers 01925 394260
Wigan Central Heating Engineers 01942 417220
Warrington Central Heating Engineers 01925 394260
St Helens Central Heating Engineers 01744 776140