Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) has been a popular kitchen fuel for many decades in many homes and businesses because it’s very energy efficient, making it faster to cook food and is easier to control for precision cooking.
Despite the popularity of LPG as a convenient, reliable and cost-efficient fuel, recent news on LPG-related fires have increased people’s concern over the safety of their LPG tanks. However, these accidents are highly preventable if you have the right tank. Buying only from trusted LPG distributors and making necessary safety checks in the kitchen both spell a difference in preventing fires caused by LPG leaks and explosion.
Here are important points that should be checked to ensure that LPG tanks are in good condition:
Environment
While most people want to keep their LPG tank hidden in their kitchen cabinets, doing so can be unsafe. LPG tanks need to be placed in a well-ventilated area to make sure that if a leak does occur, there is a way for the gas to escape. Placing the LPG in an open area away from direct sunlight, rain, dust and heat, prevents the buildup of gas, which might cause an explosion if exposed to any ignition source, such as electrical sparks and flames.
O-ring
The O-ring, which is located inside the valve, primarily works to stop gas from leaking. It needs to be free from scratches or cracks to ensure that it does its job. If the O-ring looks damaged, customers should talk to their local distributor to get it replaced as its repair should only be done by certified personnel.
Regulator
The regulator that is placed onto your tank is a key part to making the gas usable for cooking. The LPG in the tank is stored at a high pressure so the regulator reduces it to a pressure that the appliances can handle. A faulty regulator could lead to damage to LPG accessories, which is why it is ideal to have it replaced every three years.
Regulator and valve connection
Making sure that the regulator is correctly connected onto the valve of the LPG tank is important to make sure that the LPG can flow to appliances without issue. One should also check that the threads of where the regulator is screwed are in good condition to ensure that the regulator is connected properly to prevent leaks.
Hose
The hose that connects the LPG tank to the appliance is a common weak point. A hose that is damaged or past its expiry date may cause a gas leak, that is why it is important to constantly check its condition and replace it every two years, even if it still looks fine. To help keep your hose in good condition, avoid a long hose to reduce bending as that can affect the gas and the sturdiness of the hose.
Hose connection
Metal clamps are used to secure the hose to both the LPG regulator and the appliance to tighten the connection. This keeps the hose from moving too much and keeps a tight seal on the whole system to prevent any gas from leaking out.
Flame quality
Lastly, one should also check if the burner is producing a blue flame. A blue flame indicates that the gas is being burned efficiently, meaning that the appliance is functioning properly, and the installation was done correctly.
