What Homeowners need to know about Gas Installations?
Having gas installed in your home can be quite daunting if you don’t know what to expect. But as more and more South Africans are choosing to make the leap to gas, now is a great time to learn more about what the various regulations around gas installations and what to do when it comes to safety. In this article, we provide a comprehensive online guide to what homeowners need to know about gas installations.
At Budget Gas, we are well known as the best gas depot in centurion and for our helpful advice. Along with our wonderful range of affordable gas products, we also deliver for those who need it. Offering the best 9kg gas price for those who either have their own bottle or who wish to make us their preferred gas supplier.
What you need to know about gas installation in your home
Paperwork Regulations
Although it can be tempting to just go with any old installer, and to skip various aspects of the regulatory process, just to escape from the clutches of Eskom and its inability to provide customers with a service, when it comes to safety and to ensuring that everything is above board, it is important that things are done the right way.
According to the South African Qualifications Certification Committee for Gas, when it comes to installing a gas system in any home, it is up to the homeowner and not the installer to ensure that they have a gas CoC or Certificate of Compliance.
Without a Certificate of Compliance, the insurance company will not cover any damages, either to the appliances or to your home, should the worst come to pass. Besides, the Pressure Equipment Regulations in Occupational Health and Safety stipulates that all gas installations need to have a CoC which specifically states that the installation has been given the once over and is both safe and leak-free.
These certifications are provided by a person who has been authorised by the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Association of Southern Africa. Gas CoCs are valid for 5 years and they cover gas braais, ovens, geysers, and stoves.
Safety Considerations
Gas is, when professionally installed, incredibly safe and unlikely to ever give you problems. But this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be anything less than incredibly vigilant and in the know when it comes to gas safety. Here are some safety points to keep in mind:
- It is always safer to keep larger gas bottles as well as spare bottles outside, and if you do need to have a bottle inside, ventilation is a must.
- Gas bottles are never completely empty, unless they have been washed out with water, so there is always a chance that even an empty cylinder can leak gas.
- When installing your gas setup, make sure that the installation process includes creating a suitable flat space for your cylinders, especially if you are using the larger, heavier kind.
- The pipes leading to and from the gas bottles should be correctly installed and they should be consistently checked for cracks and other issues that might lead to the gas leaking.
- The clamps used to connect the hose pipe to the gas bottle should be regularly checked, as they should not be too tight. If they are too tight they can cut into the pipe and cause a leak.
- You should make sure that the shut off valve is within reach and can be easily accessed. And if you are worried about having to deal with a fire, you should think about investing in a small fire extinguisher.
- When you have gas installed you should commit to regularly checking your gas bottle and the pipes leading into the house for any signs of damage. And every couple of years, think about bringing out a team to give the entire set up a once over.