Buying Patio Gas
It is essential to choose the correct gas for your patio to meet your requirements. This will ensure safety and longevity for the bottle.
Gas regulators reduce the pressure of gas when it leaves cylinders. It can be clip on or screw on and is dependent on the cylinder size and type.
Propane
Propane is a clean burning, highly-efficient alternative fuel that can power everything from barbecues and patio heaters to gas fireplaces and complete standby generators. It also offers many environmental benefits, including the reduction of greenhouse gases as well as air pollutants. It is also safe, nontoxic and suitable for outdoor and indoor use.
Propane also comes with the benefit of being a low-cost option to heat homes in areas in which natural gas isn't available. Propane tanks can be delivered directly to your residence and connected to a range of different appliances. This method of delivery is usually less expensive than installing a new natural gas line installed and often results in lower annual energy bills.
If you'd like to purchase a propane tank for your home or swap your current tank for a new one, you can locate a propane dealer near you who can provide the assistance you require. The process of purchasing propane is dependent on the size of the tank. It is usually an initial purchase followed by a second refill and exchange.
Grills and patio heaters are usually powered by smaller propane tanks such as 20-pound cylinders. They are widely available from a variety of retailers, including hardware stores and convenience stores and also the majority of gas stations. You can also buy propane tanks that are already filled at some home centers for one-stop shopping.
These larger propane cylinders can be used for home heating, water heaters and backup generators. These larger cylinders are usually rented out on a long-term basis, and are usually stored underground or in other secured places. They are generally called LP-gas or LPG and are available to rent or purchase at many propane suppliers.
Propane is a secure and efficient source of energy that is available in various ways which makes it a great solution for homeowners who require the energy to power a variety of appliances and activities. Selecting the right propane supplier for your requirements will be determined by factors such as the cost of propane in your area, your preferred delivery frequency and the amount of energy that you usually use each year.
Butane
When purchasing propane for your patio, you'll need to consider whether you want propane or butane. Both are safe and clean energy sources for outdoor appliances, such as patio heaters and BBQs. Propane is the preferred fuel for patio heaters because of its lower boiling temperature. It is typically sold in cylinders of 5 kg. Propane-fueled heaters can operate even at temperatures that are as low as -4degC. Butane, on the other hand, will struggle to vaporize under these conditions.
outdoor gas patio heater is usually found in 15 kg cylinders. It is a more robust option that is frequently used in camping, caravanning and domestic appliances like gas cookers. Like small gas patio heater is a non-toxic and efficient source of energy and has the advantage of being less volatile than propane.
Regardless of which type of gas you prefer, you'll need purchase a gas bottle for your patio and a regulator for your device. Patio gas bottles are specifically designed to work with regulators, which allow you to connect your gas bottle directly to the propane or butane outlet of your BBQ. Patio gas bottles are available at most supermarkets as well as some hardware and DIY stores.
Gas bottles for patio use tend to be smaller than other kinds of gas bottles, making them ideal for heating patios and BBQs. The bottles are made of sturdy and durable material that can stand up to a lot wear and tear. The most commonly used type of patio gas is a red or blue however, you can also find bottles in other colours too.
Horticentre offers a convenient and seamless shopping experience when you purchase gas for your patio. Our online platform provides detailed product descriptions and specs and lets you compare different products and select the best one to meet your needs. We have propane and butane gas in different sizes, from 5 kg cylinders up to larger options of 13 and 15kg to ensure that you never run out. With free delivery on all orders shopping with us couldn't be more convenient.
Gas Bottles
When buying patio gas, there are a few things to think about when deciding which bottle size to buy. What will you use your gas first? This is important because both have their own unique applications. Propane, due to its low boiling temperature of just -42 degrees is perfect for BBQs and garden equipment, while butane works best for indoor portable heaters, single-burner cookers and other appliances.
If you're looking to power a caravan or motorhome appliance then you will have to choose the correct bottle size to meet your needs, since these larger appliances consume more energy. Flogas offers both green Patio gas cylinders and butane Campingaz cylinders that are suitable for these kinds of applications.
Another thing to consider is where you will keep your gas bottle. Generally speaking, we recommend that you keep your gas bottle outdoors since this will decrease the likelihood of any leaks occurring and give you peace of knowing your appliance is safe to use. This is particularly important because the propane or butane bottles will contain gas that is highly pressurized. It must be stored in a location where it is not likely to break, leak or otherwise be damaged.
All of our gas bottles come with regulators. This is an essential safety feature that reduces the pressure under which your barbecue or heating device for your patio receives gas. The type of regulator you will require will depend on the type of gas that you are using and the size of the cylinder The green patio bottles work with a 27mm clip-on regulator as well as butane Campingaz cylinders have an internal regulator screw (link to learn more about this).
Gas bottles are subjected to high pressures, which is why special safety regulations apply which include the chaining of bottles to stop them from falling. There are also rules about how to store them, and warning signs to inform people of the dangers. It is not recommended to buy gas in bottles. Instead you can lease it from a Gas Supply Company in order to use it with a specific gas appliance. This allows for regular cylinder tests to ensure that the quality of the gas cylinder is maintained and that it is in compliance with all relevant standards.
Regulators
Gas regulators are required to connect the gas bottle to a propane patio heater or BBQ, or any other propane-powered gas appliance. They reduce the high-pressure gas supply from a gas cylinder into a more stable and controlled propane pressure as required by your appliance. There are a variety of different types and styles of regulators available each with different pressure settings and connections based on the application.
Liquefied petroleum gas is typically bottled in either Butane or Propane bottles, with Butane bottles usually being blue, and Propane being red. Propane bottles have a screw-on regulator, and requires a spanner to tighten. Butane bottles use a clip-on with a standard valve size of 21 millimeters. Propane and Butane are not compatible. It is possible to connect Butane appliances to Propane bottles however not vice versa.
The gas pressure regulator has three primary operating components working together to control the gas's pressure delivered. A loading mechanism determines the delivery pressure while a sensing component (usually diaphragm) senses the force of the spring against it and an element of control is responsible for the reduction of the pressure at the inlet to the downstream pressure. Atmospheric pressure, dependent on the elevation above sea level that your building sits can also influence the gas's pressure as it is transported through the regulator. It is crucial to select the right regulator for your application. This will ensure that you don't starve your propane barbecue of gas at low pressure, which could cause it to burn out prematurely or to have erratic operation.