Cooking gas safety at home
LPG is safe to cook with and unforgiving of a bad connection. Almost every domestic incident traces back to the same short list of things, and all of them are checkable in a couple of minutes.
Before you connect a cylinder
- The cylinder is upright, on firm level ground
- The valve and its threads are clean, undamaged and not corroded
- The rubber sealing washer inside the regulator is present and not perished
- The hose is soft, uncracked, and within its replacement interval
- Both hose clips are tight
- Nothing is burning nearby — no stove, no candle, no cigarette
Testing for a leak, with soapy water
Mix a little washing-up liquid with water and brush it over the valve, the regulator and both ends of the hose with the gas turned on. Bubbles forming means gas is escaping. Turn the cylinder off, disconnect it, and do not use it until the connection is sound.
Never use a flame to find a leak. It is the single most dangerous thing a person does with a cylinder, and it is done because a flame is what happens to be in reach.
If you smell gas
- Turn the cylinder valve off.
- Open doors and windows.
- Touch no electrical switches at all — not lights, not fans, not the extractor. A switch arcs as it moves, and that is an ignition source.
- Do not light anything.
- If the smell is strong, leave and call your supplier or the fire service from outside.
Where to keep a cylinder
Upright, ventilated, out of direct sun, away from heat. Not in a basement, a pit, or a sealed cupboard — LPG is heavier than air, so a leak sinks and collects at the lowest point it can reach instead of dispersing. That is also why a gas cylinder does not belong below floor level in a room people sleep above.
What a delivery rider will and will not do
A Patride rider will bring a cylinder, place it, and connect it to a standard domestic regulator. A rider is not a gas fitter and will not alter pipework, move a fixed installation, or work on an appliance — and you should be wary of anyone delivering gas who offers to.
Fixed installations, pipework and appliance repairs are a qualified gas fitter’s job. If you need one, that is a trade you can book rather than a favour to ask of a delivery.
Common questions
How do I check for a gas leak at home?
Brush soapy water over the valve, the regulator and the hose connection while the cylinder is turned on. Bubbles mean gas is escaping. Never use a flame or a lighter to look for a leak.
What should I do if I smell gas?
Turn the cylinder valve off. Open doors and windows. Do not switch anything electrical on or off — including lights — and do not light a match. Leave the building if the smell is strong, and call your gas supplier or the fire service from outside.
Where should a gas cylinder be kept?
Upright, on a firm level surface, in a ventilated place away from direct heat and sunlight. Not in a basement or a sealed cupboard: LPG is heavier than air, so a leak collects at the lowest point rather than dispersing.
How often should a gas hose be replaced?
Hoses perish. Check for cracks, stiffness or splits regularly and replace the hose at the interval the manufacturer states — typically every two years, sooner if it looks worn.
How long does a cooking gas cylinder last?
It depends on the size and how much you cook. As a rough guide, a 12.5kg cylinder lasts a family cooking daily around four to six weeks. Weighing the cylinder is the only accurate way to know what is left.
Is it safe to lie a cylinder on its side?
No. A cylinder should be transported and used upright. On its side, liquid rather than vapour can reach the valve, which is not what the regulator or the appliance is designed for.
When it is time for a refill
Patride brings a full, safety-checked cylinder and takes the empty one away in the same trip. Read how a refill works.