How to receive and use lpg cylinders at home

By ramadoss

In this article, I would like to share my knowledge and experience with respect to receiving and handling of LPG Cylinders at Home.
I am confident that these simple tips will help the users/ consumers a great deal in not only ensuring their Safety but also not taken for a ride by the distributors.

Things You'll Need

What you need is only common sense and awareness at the tiome of receving the LPG cylinders at home. Following the steps given below is just enough to get a safe and hassle free LPG usage.

Steps

Receiving LPG CYlinders at Home:
Please ensure that the delivery boy is in uniform and possess the proper ID card issued by the LPG Distributor. If not call the distributorship and confirm the delivery boy's name.

Ensure that the cylinder is in proper shape and looks neat. Ensure that the Plastic (PVC) seal is irremovably fastened to the safety cap (White in color) and has to be torn before removing the cap for fitting the regulator.

See the Alphabet and 2 digit number stenciled on the inner stay of the cylinder. The year is divided into 4 quarters. A represents Jan-MAr and B- Apr-Jun, C JUl-Sep and D Oct-Dec. If the stencil reads 'B 10', it means the Test date for the cylinder falls between Apr-Jun 2010 ie. the last 2 digits represents the year. Every cylinder has to get tested for suitability for use once in 7 years at the LPG Bottlign Plants or at authorised testing plants. IF the test due date is found expired at the time of receiving the cylinder, the consumer can reject the same and demand the delivery to deliver a fit cylinder

Even if the cylinder delivered is not going to be used immediately, the consumer can still ask the delivery boy to open the seal and safety cap and connect the regulator to check for any leak and whether the LPG flows properly. This will ensure that there are no Valve and O Ring (Fitted inside the valve) leaks which may cause panic at the time of usage.

As per the requirement, the delivery boy needs to carry his weighing scale and weigh the cylinder for correct weight before delivery. The weight is total weight ie. Tare Weight (Empty weight of the cylinder) and the LPG weight ie. 14.2kg. If he is not carrying the weighing scale, the consure can get the cylinder weighed at his home or else where before taking the delivery. A variation of +/- 150 gms is allowed per cylinder. If variation is below this, the consumer can ask the delivery boy to deliber a correct weight cylinder or can complain to the authorities.

Tips

Be awake, Be Aware and Get the proper service for which you are eligible.

Caution

Tips for delivery boys are entirely consumer's choice and no delivery boys can demand the same. In case of demanding, the same can be reported to Customer Service Cell or to the Sales Officer or web complaint can be lodged in Oil Co's Website.
Domestic cylinders are purely meant for domestic purpose. If one finds anyone misusing the same for comercial purpose, the same can be reported to Customer Service Cell/Sales OFficer/Vigilance dept of respective Oil CO's for suitable action.
LPG IS SAFE IF USED SAFELY.

Comments

How to receive and use lpg cylinders at home

On April 9th, 2010 - sairam29760 said:

Very very useful and pretty informative but do the consumers have the patience to check list these details , i am sure they do .
K prakash

thanks a lot

On July 4th, 2010 - Vandana Rana said:

I searched a lot for this information........ and thanks to you i have come to know about what i can ask for to the delivery man...... your information is great..it would have been better if there were some pictures to see the whole procedure... well i found the whole thing very informative and useful

rampant use of Domestic LPG for commercial purpose

On March 18th, 2012 - S. Dutta said:

Please let me know the address (postal, e-mail) of the departments of different Oil Companies, Customer Service Cell, Sales Officer concerned with vigilance on use of subsidised domestic LPG for commercial purpose such as driving of Pool Car in Kolkata, West Bengal. I hope it is a punishable offence.