Gas leaks, if undetected can be very dangerous in your home, threatening both your health and safety. In some cases, gas leaks can even be life threatening, which is why it is crucial that, if you use gas or gas appliances in your home, that you familiarise yourself with the signs of a gas leak. 

Here are some signs to look out for when detecting a gas leak in your home:

Sulfuric smell
Gas has a very distinctive, unpleasant, musty odour which can be easily identified. If you smell sulphur or rotten eggs, especially in locations near your gas appliances, you may have a gas leak. If there is an exceptionally strong odour it is critical that you turn off your gas supply immediately and consult a professional.

Hissing noise
A gas leak often makes a faint hissing or whistling noise as the gas escapes the loose connection. If you hear a hissing sound near a gas pipe or appliance, it is possible that you may have a gas leak. It is important to note, however, that not all gas leaks make a noise.

Check the flames 
Check the colour of the flames on your gas stove as this can be an indicator of a gas leak. The flames of a gas stove should be blue, if your stove flames are yellow or orange this could be as a result of a gas leak, which is causing the natural gas to not completely burn.

Check your houseplants
Plants need a steady supply of carbon dioxide to thrive and a gas leak could disrupt this supply. If you use gas in your home and find that your plants are inexplicably wilting, then this may be as a result of a gas leak. You can also keep plants near appliances that use gas in order to warn you of a potential leak.

Check your gas bill
Is your gas bill inexplicably high or are you running out of gas a lot faster than usual? This could mean that you have a gas leak, but it is important to compare these to your older bills so as to ensure that it is not just an increase due to colder weather.

How do you feel?
If you’re feeling unnaturally dizzy or lightheaded, this could be as a result of a gas leakage. If you are concerned that you may have a gas leak, check your gas outlets and appliances for any of the other aforementioned signs.

It is important that, in the event of a gas leak in your home, you consult a professional to assist you in locating the source of the leak and to assist in fixing the leak, rather than attempting to sort the problem out yourself, as this can be dangerous.

How gas cylinders are made? Did you know?

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Everyone has seen a gas cylinder at some point in their lives, perhaps even used one, but do you know how they are made?

We’re looking at the behind the scenes process of manufacturing gas cylinders:

Gas cylinders are usually made from welded steel, however other materials such as aluminium, stainless steel and galvanised steel can also be used.

• A gas cylinder starts out its life as a circular sheet of steel which is then fed through a hydraulic press which presses the steel into a half cylinder shape.
• In order to make the cylinder, the two separate half cylinder shapes are then welded together in a rotary welding station. Once the separate pieces have been welded together to form a single unit, the cylinder is then tempered in a furnace to ensure the correct hardness. 
• A hole is then punched into the cylinder, onto which the valve flange is then welded. A valve flange serves as the connection between the cylinder and the valve.
• Next, steel strips are punched into circular shapes, which will form the foot and neck rings on the cylinder. The foot ring is then welded onto the bottom of the cylinder, while the neck ring is welded onto the top of the cylinder. The neck ring also serves as a handle for the cylinder.
• The brass cylinder valve is then screwed on and tightened.
• Once the valve has been connected to the cylinder, the manufacturer will then use a hydraulic stamp to put their information on the cylinder, along with the date of manufacture, empty weight, water capacity and test station identification.
• Once the cylinder is completed it undergoes rigorous testing and safety and quality assurances before it is finally filled with gas.

Now, next time you see a gas cylinder, you’ll know the process behind its manufacturing.

Cage storage: important tips for storing your gas cylinders safely

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Gas cylinders are, when not handled or stored correctly, dangerous to you and your home. If your cylinder ruptures it could cause an explosion which could damage your property and anyone in it. It is therefore extremely important that you store your gas cylinders correctly. One of the best ways to store gas cylinders is using storage cages, however, to ensure your safety there are important guidelines for your cage storage to follow.

We’ve put together some useful tips you’ll need to take into account when setting up cage storage for your cylinders:

Make sure your storage cage has enough ventilation
In order to reduce any risks associated with leakage, your gas cylinders should be stored in a cage which has good ventilation, and which is located in a well-ventilated area. Leaked gas can be a serious health and safety hazard, which is why ventilation is so important as it prevents a build-up of any leaked gases.

Make sure your cylinders are stored vertically
Your gas cylinders should be stored upright within the storage cage so as to prevent residual liquefied gas from coming into contact with the cylinder valves. Storing the cylinders upright helps prevent the cylinders from being damaged.

Make sure your cylinders are secured
Storage cages can accidentally be bumped or knocked over, which is why gas cylinders need to be secured within their cages. A bump could cause a cylinder to collapse or rupture, which is a huge safety hazard. To ensure your cylinder will remain upright, secure it with rack, or a strap or chain that is non-abrasive.

Make sure your storage cage is away from sources of heat or ignition
Never store any other objects or products in your storage cage, especially products which are flammable such as fuel, oil or other corrosive liquids, as this could result in an explosion or other safety hazards. You should also keep your cylinders out of direct sunlight and away from other sources of heat such as stoves or fireplaces.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be able to ensure that your gas cylinders are stored in a way which minimises any risks and prioritises safety.

Why you should get a gas braai for your patio?

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As we bid farewell to winter and say hello to spring, we all migrate out onto our patios to enjoy the warmer weather and soak up some sun. There’s nothing better than to have a braai outside on your patio and with Heritage Day coming up you’ll definitely need to be braai ready.

When it comes to getting the perfect braai for your patio, a gas braai is should be your first choice,and this is why:

Gas braais are quicker to heat up:

Gas braais heat up a lot faster than traditional braais, which cuts hours off the braai-ing process. Gas braais also come with a built-in temperature gauge which enables you to accurately keep track of the temperature and allows you to choose what temperature you want to braai at. This is super convenient because different meats cook at different temperatures.

Gas braais produce less smoke:

Gas braais produce little, if any smoke in comparison to traditional charcoal/wood braais. This makes them the perfect braai to have on your patio as you won’t have to worry about your patio area getting smoky as you try and cook your meat.

Gas braais are safer to have in smaller areas:

With a gas braai there is no open fire, which makes it better suited for a patio than a traditional braai. Open fires can lead to flare ups, making them dangerous, especially in smaller areas such as patios.

Gas braais are easier to clean:

Gas braais are a lot easier to clean than a traditional braai, as you don’t have to worry about getting rid of the bit of charcoal and the ash and fat mixture which accumulates at the bottom of a traditional braai. All a gas braai needs is a warm soapy water wipe down and you’re ready for action, making it the perfect addition to your patio.

In honour of Heritage Day, we’ve found a delicious, proudly South African braai recipe from https://drinksfeed.com/10-of-the-very-best-braai-recipes-for-heritage-day/ to enjoy with your friends and family. 

The ultimate braai day sosatie

You’ll need:

50 ml olive or cooking oil

2 large onions, both sliced into broad rings

One green pepper cut into approx. 2.5 cm squares

3 tbsp of smooth apricot jam

15 ml wine vinegar

1 tbsp brown sugar

2 crushed bay leaves

2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

1/2 tbsp salt

1/2 tsp of pepper

1 tsp turmeric

1 tbsp curry powder (mild korma to hot madras – the choice is yours

500 g boned leg of mutton or chicken, cut into 2.5 cm cubes

125 g dried apricots

Method

1. Heat the oil in a frying pan and sauté the onion rings and green pepper blocks until very lightly cooked, making sure the onion rings remain intact. Drain them on absorbent paper.

2. Combine the apricot jam, vinegar, sugar, bay leaves, garlic, salt, pepper, turmeric and curry powder in a ceramic or glass bowl and add the onion rings and green pepper.

3. Add the meat to the mixture and marinate for 24 hours in the fridge, stirring two or three times.

4. If the apricots are not soft, soak them in a little water until plump. You might also want to soak the skewers so that the exposed ends do not burn to charcoal during the cooking process.

5. When you are ready to cook, thread the cubes of meat, apricots, onion rings and peppers onto the skewers. Your braai’s temperature should be 375 degrees or a medium heat. The recommended cooking time is 6 minutes per side with a half turn at three minutes.

6. Pour the marinade into a saucepan, bring to a boil and keep warm to serve with the sosaties. 

So sit back, relax and enjoy your Heritage Day – gas braai style!

Why you can’t influence gas prices...

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