Be safe this winter with LPG.

Be safe this winter with LPG.

With winter already upon us, now is a good time to read and remind yourself about proper safety precautions that need to be observed when using an LPG cabinet heater.

The LPG Association in conjunction with Energy Safety and the Environmental Risk Management Authority are launching the annual LPG cabinet heater safety campaign. Campaign leaflets are being handed out by all LPG filling stations and by major heater retailers.

The campaign explains that there are few points you need to check to ensure your LPG heater is in a safe condition.

1.The first point is when connecting a new or refilled cylinder, you should apply soapy water to the cylinder connections and turn on the cylinder. This is a simple way to test if you have a leak. If bubbles appear you should close the valve immediately and contact an LPG service agent.

2. It is also essential that you keep your LPG heater at least 1 metre from anything that could catch on fire. If you have young children at home you should also put a safety guard around your heater.

3. Opening a window by 2cm when your heater is on removes emissions, reduces condensation and keeps the air fresh. Make sure that you never use an LPG heater in your bedroom(s) or bathroom(s) for issues of safety.

4. If you smell LPG you should turn off your heater and cylinder straightaway and contact an LPG service agent.

5. A final smart safety step is to take your heater and cylinder to an LPG service agent and have it checked yearly. They will let you know if your heater is in a safe condition for the winter. For details of where your local LPG service agent is, ask your local LPG refiller.

Using LPG cabinet heaters with a little thought and planning can be a safe and effective way to keep warm this winter. For more information about LPG safety visit the Energy Safety website www.energysafety.govt.nz , the LPGA website www.lpga.org.nz or phone 0508 377 463

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