L.P.G. heatinga fast, efficient alternative for winter warmth

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 51

L.P.G. heatinga fast, efficient alternative for winter warmth

L.P.G. is unarguably the most i convenient fuel alternative to electricity. Although I it is not as cheap, I it has the advantages of being clean, efficient, and perhaps most importantly, quick.! L.P.G.i,creates no pollution. What it does create is humidity, which means the air in a room does not dry out as: it heats and the stifling ] atmosphere created by many forms of heating is avoided.; i It is also convenient, safe and easily available. The L.P.G.I Centre, in Byron ; Street,: has a full range of fixed and portable gas | heaters, i waterheating I systems, cookers, cook-tops and! refrigerators. J I I ; -I P. I ■ I They are currently; promoting J the : Gasmaster Super Ser portable cabinet heatdr. It I features a catalytic burner; which means there is no visible flameJ It also means a'99 per cent heat-producing : efficiency level.: I J Those who are. wary of storing and using; such a flammable gas in’ their homes can rest assured. Modern gas appliances come fitted with enough safety devices to get them through just about anything bar Armaggedon. Most! have either a flame failure device, so that if the pilot flame goes out the 1 flow of gas is automatically stopped, or an automatic re-ignition device,:' so that 1 if the flame [is blown j out the element ‘jvill spark and I 'light itself again.! jl' This| cuts out; any chance of unburned gas ] buildirig (up in a Irodm. The domestic cylinders i | in which the ( L.P.G. is kept are built to the same standards of strength and I (safety ‘ as the huge: tanks j the L.P.G. Centre uses to

store Jits bulk supplies. ! Each is fitted with a Cosan (safety valve, so that no gas can escape from the cylinder until it has been jl connected to the regulator of the appliance, even II if the valve lis opened. ; The! cylinders are fillfed ] to only. 80 per cent of ; their capacity, allowing plenty of room for the gas to expand if the temperature lof 1 the cylinder lis increased. I They j can withstand anything,! with the possible (exception of direct (flames — in which case (another j safety valve slowly releases the gas before j its pressure reaches banger level. When j L.P.G. first became popular as an alternative fuel during the oil crisis] of the early 80s, many South Island people ]were also put off by the I then ; erratic supplies I of I the gas. I I ■ This, too, has ceased to (be a;problem. The WoblsIton Depot, which supplies all trie L.P.G. to the vari--1 ous retail companies, | alI ways; has| enough for three months supply. I The L.P.G. Centre offer la free home delivery serI vice 1 for] cylinders, and guarantee to deliver ! within 24 hours of an ( order being made. Many (people choose to I buy j two cylinders with 1 their appliances so that I thtey) are never without 1 gas,'and:the L.P.G. Ceptre 1 can (offer a second cylin--1 der a| a reduced price. Gas heaters, apart from j being a j more immediate i source iof heat than I ’others, are made in] far I more powerful models. I the dP.G. Centre have portable] gas heaters ]capable of I producing up to ■ 4.1 kilo Watts of heat,l and i fixed heaters with outputs ’ II I I - ’ I

ranging frjom 21 to BkW. The maximum output of a portable electric heater is 2.3 kW. I j I 1 •: , Water-heating]; is another area in which the immediate!; heat of lan L.P.G. flame is’an advantage. Gas I hot-water storage systems have a much quicker rate of recovery than their I electric counterparts. 11 I: | Instantaneous gas hot water heaters, which heat the water as it is (used and require no storage area, are also available at (the L.P.G. Centre. : I ; The choice between an instantaneous system and a storage system depends on individual]! i circumstances and preferences, i The L.D.G. Centre have sales people and technicians to help with these and any (other decisions facing the L.P.G. buyer. They offer a free home trial service for their more portable appliances, such as the heaters, so that a first-time buyer can actually feel the effects of having a gas heater in their home. They also have a fully equipped ser-’i vice department. The L.P.G. Centre is] the only South Island outlet in] a nationwide chain I of L.P.G. and appliance - retailers, and are one of; the largest Christchurch suppliers to commercial land] industrial L.P.G. users, i