Tips for gas and geyser safety

A burst geyser or leaking gas installation can cause havoc in the home. Take note of these tips to help you avoid geyser grief or a gas-tastrophe.

Geyser safety

It’s important to make sure that your geyser is installed according to South African Bureau of Standards 10254 regulations. Vacuum breakers should be installed to your geyser: these are small brass components that prevent water from siphoning out of the geyser.

If no vacuum breakers are installed and there’s a water cut in your area, there is a risk that the water will be drained, meaning that the geyser cylinder will not contain any water and will keep trying to heat up. If there’s no water going into the geyser cylinder, the element could overheat and damage the cylinder’s interior. In such a case, your geyser might experience element and thermostat failure. It also means that other plastic components are exposed to dry (and not wet) heat and could fail as a result.

On the topic of water cuts, it’s also a good idea to slowly open taps after water is restored. When there’s a water cut and your water pipes run dry, air gets trapped in the pipes. So when water is restored, the trapped air is forced out of pressurised water pipes, causing shuddering. Shuddering, in turn, could lead to failure at the pipe connections, joins and tap washers.

Here are some suggestions to take care of your geyser and prolong its lifespan:

Make sure that the water heating systems are installed according to South African Bureau of Standards 10254 regulations
Switch the geyser off during water cuts
Release air from pipes in a controlled manner - slowly
Make sure that all trapped air is out of the water system before switching the geyser on again.

Gas appliance safety

According to the Pressure Equipment Regulations under the Occupation Health and Safety Act (number 85 of 1993), all gas installations must have a Certificate of Conformity. This certificate is only issued by an authorised person who is registered with the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Association of Southern Africa (LPGAS).

If your home is damaged or destroyed because of a defective gas appliance or installation and you do not have a valid certificate, the insurance implications could be disastrous, simply because an insurer could legally reject your claim.

The types of gas installations that require this certificate include: gas fires or braais, gas stoves and ovens, as well as water systems heated by gas. If in doubt, you can contact a local LPGAS installer.

The Occupation and Safety Act stipulates that if you buy a home with existing gas installations, you must also have these inspected and maintained regularly by a registered installer. Also request an inspection certificate every time you have gas fittings checked.

Here are some more tips:

Always use a qualified gas dealer
Always use a verified and tested gas product
Always check the seal on a cylinder matches the brand of the cylinder
Always check gas appliances before use.
Always ensure that gas bottles bigger than 19kgs are not stored in the household to avoid larger explosions and fire

For more information on gas safety and the storage of gas cylinders, visit Afrox Gas South Africa.