LPG Cylinder Tips

What is LPG?

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a mixture of hydrocarbons, which are in gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure but these are liquefied under pressure for easy storage, handling and transportation in pressurized vessels. It is obtained through Crude Oil refining or from Natural Gas through fractionation. Butane and Propane are the main constituent hydrocarbon's in LPG. Others present in traces or small fractions are Iso-butane, butylene, n-butane, propylene etc.

Getting a new domestic (14.5 kg/5 kg cylinder) connection

LPG is available for domestic use in 14.2 Kg capacity cylinders and also in 5 Kg capacity cylinders in select few cities primarily in hilly / rural areas in the country. New LPG Connections are now Available on Demand across the country. In case you do not have an LPG connection from any of the PSU Oil Companies in your name and you have a separate cooking area in your house you can have an Indane domestic connection in your name. For a domestic connection, you can visit your nearest LPG cylinder distributor serving your area with a valid proof of residence. Any one of the following documents can be produced for proof of residence:-

Ration Card
Electricity Bill
Telephone Bill
Passport
Employer’s Certificate
Flat allotment / Possession letter
House registration papers
LIC policy Voter’s Identity Card
Rent Receipt
PAN card issued by the Income Tax department
Driving License

Accessories/Deposits

The LPG connection will be released to you immediately. However before release of an LPG connection, you should be in possession of an ISI mark Hotplate conforming to IS-4246 and a Rubber Tube conforming to IS- 10908, so that after release of your LPG connection, it may be installed at your residence immediately. For release of your LPG connection you will be required to pay security deposit at the prevailing rates.

Hotplate

For availing of an LPG connection, a customer should be in possession of an ISI mark hotplate and rubber tube. All LPG distributors do maintain a range of ISI mark hotplates for its ready availability for the prospective customers. However it is not incumbent upon you to purchase it from the distributor only. Incase you have an ISI mark hotplate available with you, the distributor shall check it at your premises against a nominal payment. The distributor has to complete such an inspection within 7 days from the date of such a payment by the customer.

Checks after refill

You may undertake simple checks at the time of your refill receipt:-

Check the seal of the cylinder.
Check the safety cap. It should not have any cracks.
Remove safety Cap and check for leakage from the valve. Usually in case of any leakage from the Cylinder valve, the safety cap will pop off at the time of removal. This can be further reaffirmed by placing your thumb on the cylinder valve.
Get the new cylinder connected with the hotplate and make sure that no leakage is observed. Have it removed, fit the safety cap on the cylinder valve and store it aside at a safe cool place.
Reconnect old cylinder in use Pay the cash and acknowledge the 2nd copy of the cash memo / refill voucher

LPG installation maintenance

Clean the hotplate after each cooking.
Clean the rubber tube with wet cloth after cooking.
Check rubber tube for any cracks. Close the pressure regulator knob.
Clean up the choked holes of the burner, but once it is cooled off lest you hurt yourself touching a hot burner.

Domestic installation safety checks

The safety audit of the domestic installations should be carried out once in every two years. Your cylinder distributor’s trained mechanic should conduct such an audit at your place. You will need to pay a nominal charge to your distributor for this. You should ensure that the mechanic carries an identity card with him confirming his identity as an authorized person from your distributor for carrying out such an inspection. In case of doubt, it is advisable to seek confirmation from your distributor to rule out any imposters.

Transferring Connections

In case you are shifting your residence, you may follow either of the following options :-

Within the same distributor's area of operation- Just advise your distributor your new address with supporting proof of residence so that he effects the change in his records and your future supplies shall then be sent to your new place of residence.

Within the same town In case your present distributor does not service your new place of residence, then simply approach your distributor with your original Subscription Voucher (SV). The distributor shall prepare a Transfer Termination Voucher (TTV) for the place of your new residence. You can then approach the nearest Indane Distributor serving your place of residence along with proof of residence. The distributor shall prepare a Transfer Subscription Voucher (TSV) against your TTV and shall provide you a new consumer number. These details shall be updated in your DGCC booklet, so do carry your GCC booklet along with when you visit your new Indane Distributor. In this case of a shift of residence within the same town you are not required to surrender your equipment. Hence you may carry your Indane domestic cylinder and pressure regulator along with you to your new residence.

While getting transferred out of town - In case you are transferred outside the town, you are required to surrender your equipment viz. cylinder and pressure regulator to your distributor. In such a case, you may approach your distributor with your Subscription Voucher (SV) or Transfer Subscription Voucher (TSV) as the case may be & Domestic Gas Consumer Card (DGCC) along-with your Cylinder/s and Pressure Regulator. The distributor in turn will prepare a Termination Voucher (TV) in your name for your new place and refund the deposit held against the Cylinder/s and Regulator. You will also be guided to the nearest distributor for future service. At the new place you can approach the nearest distributor for resuming your supplies.

Sweating on the cylinders

If the rate of withdrawal of LPG is higher than the designed rate, the cylinder starts sweating and you would see condensation on the body of the cylinders. If the cylinders in the manifold are regularly sweating, it is advisable to check your LPG consumption rate vis-à-vis the Cylinder manifold design. Consult your nearest Area Manager or a technical consultant, you may require to increase your cylinder manifold bank.