Safety tips

If you can smell LPG (smells like rotten eggs) inside, or suspect there is a gas leak:

• Keep flames and cigarettes out of the room and away from the area
• Turn off all gas appliances – if safe to do so
• Turn off the gas supply at the meter or LPG cylinder – if safe to do so
• Open doors and windows
• Leave electrical appliances or switches as they are – a flick on or off could cause a spark and ignite the gas
• Don’t use your phone in the area
• Contact a registered gas fitter to check the installation. Use a phone away from the gas leak
• In an emergency, call 111
• If the smell persists, go outside to a safe place away from the building.

You can use soapy water on the gas pipes or connections to find leaks. This will make growing bubbles if any gas is leaking. A spray bottle is really good for this.

For more information about keeping yourself safe with gas visit gassafety.org.nz/gas-emergencies.html

Read on for more tips on keeping safe with gas.

LPG is a great form of energy. Make the most of it by using it safely. Learn more about LPG health and safety from our LPG Safety Data Sheet.

In case of emergency dial 111.

LPG appliance safety

• Good ventilation is very important. If you are using an unflued portable gas heater, always keep a window or door slightly open
• Never use a LPG cabinet heater in bedrooms or bathrooms. Ventilation cannot be guaranteed, no matter how big the room is
• LPG can cause some natural rubber and plastics to break down, so always use hoses especially designed for LPG. In New Zealand, hoses are marked with the letters ‘LPG’ as well as other specifications – so always check
• Keep the hose from your heater or BBQ gently curved to avoid kinks and damage
• Sometimes gas fails to ignite properly. If that happens, turn off the supply and wait a couple of minutes, to let unburnt gas disperse before you try again
• Never connect LPG to appliances that have been set up for natural gas – it could damage them

It is important to have your appliances serviced regularly to ensure they are running safely and efficiently. Get a registered gasfitter to check all your gas appliances at least once every two years.

Gas water heaters

It is important that you keep your gas water heater clean by removing dust, lint or sawdust that could block the air intakes at the bottom of the tank.

If you insulate your water heater:

• Keep the insulation blanket well off the floor so it does not cut off the air supply to the pilot light
• Use non-flammable insulation or commercial pipe wraps to insulate the hot water pipe that extends from the top of the hot water cylinder

LPG cylinder safety

We will always run a safety check on your 45kg cylinders when we come and swap empty cylinders for full ones, but here are some important safety tips you should follow for large and small LPG cylinders.

• Always keep LPG cylinders upright – if you lie them down the safety valve will be compromised
• Always secure 9kg cylinders when you are moving them in your vehicle – never let them roll around
• Don’t expose cylinders to excessive heat and never leave them in a vehicle in the sun
• Keep the hose from your heater or BBQ gently curved to avoid kinks and damage
• Make sure your 9kg cylinder has a current test date stamped on the neck. Gas cylinders need to be certified every 10 years. Your local refilling station will show you where the test date is written
• Use soapy water to check if your cylinder is leaking. If you see bubbles then there is probably a leak. Turn off the valve, move the cylinder to a ventilated area, then contact your gas supplier. NEVER USE A MATCH to find a leak
• Activities that might cause a spark, such as welding or grinding, need to be done well away from LPG cylinders

Safety when connecting your bottle

Connecting and disconnecting any LPG bottle needs to be done carefully and safely and we recommend you read our safety information sheets.

• Read this information sheet before connecting forklift bottles – Connecting a forklift cylinder information sheet.
• Read this information sheet before connecting and disconnecting other types of bottles – Connecting and disconnecting LPG bottles information sheet.

BBQ safety

• Position your BBQ at least a metre away from any objects
• Check the connection between the gas bottle and fuel line is secured to avoid leakage
• Never use a match or open flame to check for leaks
• Ensure all hoses and valves are fully secured and not split or leaking and check them regularly