You’ve chosen your gas bottle type, size and regulator. Your car, caravan or camper van is packed up. You’re ready to head off on a spectacular adventure.
But before you go, take a moment to refresh yourself on camping gas safety. Because whether you’re cooking breakfast on a stove, heating a caravan, or firing up a gas BBQ at a campsite, following the basic camping gas safety rules will make sure your trip stays enjoyable from start to finish.
Here are our top tips for camping gas safety, to ensure your outdoor escape goes smoothly and without incident.
- Never use camping gas appliances inside a tent, awning, or enclosed space. LPG burns oxygen and produces carbon monoxide – a dangerous gas that’s colourless and odourless. Carbon monoxide poisoning causes headaches, nausea and sickness, dizziness, confusion and shortness of breath, and can be fatal. So, it’s vital that you always cook and heat outdoors, or in well-ventilated areas. Take a carbon monoxide alarm with you to be doubly sure
- Always check your equipment before you connect it. Look over the cylinder for dents or damage, check the regulator’s rubber washer for cracking or perishing, and inspect the hose for splits, stiffness or abrasion. If anything looks worn, replace it before use.
- Do a leak test every time you connect a new cylinder. Brush a 50/50 mix of washing-up liquid and water onto the regulator-to-cylinder connection, then open the valve slowly. If bubbles appear, close the valve immediately and re-fit or tighten the connection. Never use a naked flame to check for leaks.
- Store cylinders upright, outdoors, and away from heat sources. Never store a gas cylinder inside your tent, car boot, or caravan living space. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from sources of ignition. A ventilated outdoor locker or a shaded, upright position away from the pitch is ideal.
- Turn the cylinder valve off before you turn off the appliance. When you’ve finished cooking or heating, close the cylinder valve first and let the appliance burn off the residual gas in the hose, then turn the appliance off. This prevents gas from sitting in the hose between uses.
- Make sure your regulator matches your cylinder and appliance. Butane and propane run at different pressures (28 mbar and 37 mbar respectively) and use different valve fittings. Using the wrong regulator can result in no gas flow, a dangerously weak flame, or an unsafe connection. If you’re unsure, check the appliance’s data plate or ask us
- Replace hoses every five years – or sooner if they show any damage. Gas hoses degrade over time, especially outdoors where they’re exposed to UV light, heat and movement. A split or perished hose is a serious fire and explosion risk. Check the date stamp on the hose and replace it if it’s out of date.
- Keep cylinders and appliances away from naked flames, BBQ embers, and heat sources. This sounds obvious, but it’s easy to position a gas cylinder too close to a BBQ grill or campfire. Keep the cylinder in a shaded spot at a safe distance, never directly next to the heat source.
- Know what to do if you smell gas. If you detect a gas smell, don’t touch any electrical switches or light sources. Close the cylinder valve immediately, move everyone away from the area, and ventilate if possible. Don’t attempt to relight or investigate until the source has been identified and fixed. If you’re concerned, move the cylinder to open air and contact your supplier or the Gas Emergency Service (0800 111 999).
Camping gas safety doesn’t have to be complicated. A quick check before you connect, the right equipment for the job, and a few sensible habits around storage and ventilation are all it takes to stay safe wherever your adventures take you.
If you’re not sure which cylinder, regulator or hose is right for your setup, our gas for camping guide covers everything you need to know, from butane vs. propane to choosing the right regulator for your appliance. Or if you’d rather just ask us, get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Ready to stock up before your next trip? Browse our camping gas range here.