Everything you need to know about Calor gas bottles

Everything you need to know about Calor gas bottles

Where do I take my empty gas bottle to make an exchange?

If you’re looking to exchange your empty gas bottles, this can be done at any Calor Centre, independent retailer or via their online shop. You can exchange your existing gas bottle for any other bottle within the same category, using your Cylinder Refill Agreement. Alternatively, you can exchange it with a bottle from a different category, by purchasing a new Cylinder Refill Agreement

 

How do I legally manage my gas bottles?

It’s important to know that gas bottles must be disposed of in the correct and legal way. For example, only people authorised by Calor, such as their nominated retailers or Calor centres, are allowed to be in possession of empty cylinders and to handle or dispose them. If you are unsure, please call your local Calor Distribution Centre for assistance.

 

How do I dispose of an empty gas bottle?

For safety and legal reasons, it is of utmost importance that customers return their unwanted or empty gas bottles to one of the many Calor Centres across the UK. Non-business customers can get back up to 70% of the original Cylinder Refill Agreement charge if the paperwork is presented. Alternatively, if you don’t have the paperwork, they offer £7.50 for each gas bottle returned at a Calor Centre. Calor are able to collect unwanted gas bottles, but please speak with your local Calor Centre regarding the refund as their drivers don’t carry cash

 

How do I store gas bottles?

We get lots of questions about Calor gas bottle storage and this is something which should always be given plenty of consideration. Cylinders should always be stored outside in an upright position within a well-ventilated area and well away from any sources of heat and ignition.

To reduce the risk of injury or damage to property, gas bottles need to be stored, handled and used properly. Here are guidelines on how to safely store your gas bottles wherever you are:

What to do

Always store and use gas bottles in an upright position

Store gas bottles in a well-ventilated place

Ensure gas bottles are stored away from sources of heat and ignition

Make sure gas bottles are stored outside, away from building entry/exit points and drains

What not to do

Store or use gas bottles below ground level

Store or use gas bottles lying down

Use gas bottles in places where gas is prohibited, such as high-rise flats

Keep gas bottles near corrosive, toxic or oxidant material

How much gas can I store?

Here are the guidelines on how much gas you can store safely

For residential properties, you can store up to 30kg of butane (2 x 15kg gas bottles) inside

Propane should always be stored outdoors; and in the case of fixed installations, propane should be sited outside. Calor stockists and commercial/industrial premises may use propane indoors on a temporary basis, for example whilst using a blowtorch, but the LPG should be stored outdoors and in accordance with the UKLPG Code of Practice No 7 "Storage of Full and Empty LPG Cylinders and Cartridges".

 

What’s the difference between Propane and Butane?

Propane and Butane are both forms of LPG, but they both have their own specialist uses that differ slightly. Propane is commonly used for off-grid domestic heating, BBQs, gas cookers and many other commercial appliances, however Butane is perfect for powering indoor heaters, single burner cooking appliances and ideal for camping.

So you’ve been told that both propane and butane are different forms of LPG gas, but what does that mean?

 

Propane has a boiling temperature of -42°C, whilst butane has a higher boiling point at -2°C. As propane functions well in lower temperatures, it is usually used for outdoor use. Conversely, butane is typically used indoors due to its higher boiling point. Butane is perfect for any of your portable gas heaters and single-burner cooking appliances.  Also, butane produces more energy per cubic metre than propane.

 

Propane is the favoured choice for commercial use; particularly for operating tools, ovens or forklift trucks, for example. It’s also well suited for providing heat and cooking fuel for caravans, or even powering a patio heater.

 

What size of gas bottle should I purchase and why so much choice

First question…………………… Where or for what purpose will you be using the gas bottle for?

 

Indoor

15kg Butane gas bottle

Ideal for indoor portable heaters.

Specification for the 15kg Butane gas bottles

Product Code       110150

Cylinder Type       Medium

Cylinder usage     Portable Heaters

Cylinder Colour    Blue

Capacity 15kg

Height    580mm

Diameter               318mm

Tare weight (empty)          12.7-21.9kg

Gross weight (full)               25-35kg

Rec. offtake (approx)          9.9Kw

Home cooking appliances

19kg Propane gas bottle

Features

The 19kg Propane gas bottles have a wide range of uses and are the perfect solution for heating and cooking for your home, touring and static caravans. They can also be used for heating and cooking on narrow boats and catering vans.

Specification of the 19kg Propane Gas Bottles

Product Code       210190

Cylinder Type       Large

Cylinder usage     Patio Heaters, Caravans and motorhomes, Light commercial use, Exterior domestic use

Cylinder Colour    Red

Capacity 19kg

Height    800mm

Diameter               315mm

Tare weight (empty)          17.3-30.5kg

Gross weight (full)               43kg

 

Cooking and Heating

47kg Propane gas bottle

 

Features

The 47kg Propane gas bottle has a wide range of uses including home energy supply for customers who do not have the space for an LPG tank. It is the perfect solution for outdoor and light commercial use. They can also be used for commercial heating and drying.

Specification of the 47kg Propane Gas Bottle

Product Code       00002

Cylinder Type       Large

Cylinder usage     Caravans and motorhomes, Commercial heaters, Light commercial use, Exterior domestic use

Cylinder Colour    Red

Capacity 47kg

Height    1290mm

Diameter               375mm

Tare weight (empty)          29.5-57.7kg

Gross weight (full)               95kg

Rec. offtake (approx)          34Kw

 

Table Top/Small BBQs/Pizza Ovens

5kg Patio gas bottle (Propane)

The 5kg Patio (propane) gas bottle is the perfect choice for powering your small & medium BBQs (3 burners or less), pizza ovens or table top heater.

The gas bottle has been designed to be light, easy to carry and convenient to store.

The 5kg Patio gas bottle is fitted with the innovative Gas Trac® indicator that lets you know how much gas you have remaining.

Specification of the 5kg Patio gas bottle (Propane)

Product Code       210051

Cylinder Type       Patio

Cylinder usage     BBQs, Patio Heaters, Camping

Cylinder Colour    Green

Capacity 5kg

Height    390mm

Diameter               300mm

Tare weight (empty)          7-7.5kg

Gross weight (full)               15-17kg

Rec. offtake (approx)          10Kw

 

Patio and larger BBQs

13kg Patio gas bottle (Propane)

Ideal for patio heaters and large BBQ's with 4 burners or more

The 13kg Patio gas bottle is fitted with the innovative Gas Trac® indicator that lets you know how much gas you have remaining.

Specification of the 13kg Patio gas bottle (Propane)

Product Code       210131

Cylinder Type       Patio

Cylinder usage     BBQs, Patio Heaters

Cylinder Colour    Green

Capacity 13kg

Height    580mm

Diameter               315mm

Tare weight (empty)          12.7-21.9kg

Gross weight (full)               25-35kg

Rec. offtake (approx)          15Kw

 

Camping

4.5kg Butane gas bottle

Ideal for camping and single-burner cooking appliances.

 

Specification for the 4.5kg Butane gas bottle

Product Code       110045

Cylinder Type       Small

Cylinder usage      Camping

Cylinder Colour    Blue

Capacity 4.5kg

Height    340mm

Diameter               240mm

Tare weight (empty)            4.1-8.6kg

Gross weight (full)               9-10kg

Rec. offtake (approx)          5Kw

 

Caravanning

6kg Propane gas bottle

Ideal for fuelling heating and cooking in your caravan or motorhome.

 

Product Code       210060

Cylinder Type       Small

Cylinder usage      Caravans and motorhomes

Cylinder Colour    Red

Capacity 6kg

Height    495mm

Diameter               256mm

Tare weight (empty)            7.3-10.9kg

Gross weight (full)               15-17kg

Rec. offtake (approx)          11Kw

 

Gas Hob/Freestanding Cooker

13kg Propane gas bottle

Ideal for home domestic cooking, light commercial use, such as heating and cooking for both touring and static caravans.

Specification for 13kg Propane gas bottle

Product Code       210130

Cylinder Type       Medium

Cylinder usage     Light commercial use

Cylinder Colour    Red

 

Small Burners and Blowtorches

3.9kg Propane gas bottle

Ideal for a wide range of industrial uses and DIY tools including small industrial burners and blowtorches.

Specification for 3.9kg Propane gas bottle

Product Code       210039

Cylinder Type       Small

Cylinder usage     DIY

Cylinder Colour    Red

Capacity 3.9kg

Height    340mm

Diameter               240mm

Tare weight (empty)          4.1-8.6kg

Gross weight (full)               9-10.5kg

Rec. offtake (approx)          7.5Kw

 

 

 

What gas is in patio gas bottles?

Patio gas stored in green cylinders is propane, which is ideally for use in outdoor areas. This is specifically called Patio gas because it is designed to power outdoor appliances such as gas barbecues and patio heaters, and these bottles are compatible with a 27mm clip on regulator.

 

What BBQ gas bottle do I need?

Many people will be wondering what type of gas bottle they need to power their grill. The size and type of gas bottle you need is often determined by the type of ‘regulator’ that comes with your barbeque, whether it’s ‘screw-in’ or ‘clip-on’. We’ve produced a guide below giving you all the information you need so that you can find the ideal gas bottle for your barbecue and create some amazing al fresco food in the warm weather.

 

What sort of gas do I need?

Gas barbeques run on LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).

 

There are two types of this gas, butane and propane. Butane is stored in blue cylinders and is ideal for camping, single burner cooking appliances and indoor portable heaters. Propane on the other hand is stored in red cylinders and predominantly a commercial heating and large appliance fuel, also ideal for heating and cooking in catering vans. Patio Gas stored in green cylinders is propane which is ideal for outdoor living appliances such as barbeques and patio heaters. 

 

Which Propane gas bottle do I need?

As mentioned, there are two kinds of propane gas bottles:

 

Patio gas

This is specifically designed to power outdoor appliances such as BBQ’s and patio heaters and the benefit is that it is compatible with the 27mm clip on regulator. It also features a Gas Trac Indicator, which is useful for determining when your gas is running low. We sell Patio gas in 5kg and 13kg bottles.

 

 

Propane cylinders

Propane cylinders come in a wider variety of sizes, from 3.9 kg to 47kg. However, you would require a screw in high-pressure adjustable propane regulator to attach this bottle to your barbeque.

 

How do ‘clip on’ and ‘screw in’ regulators work?

A ‘clip on’ regulator is pushed onto the top of your gas bottle, whereas a ‘screw in’ regulator threads into the top of your gas bottle. The type of propane bottle you need will depend on what regulator your barbeque comes with.

 

Why do you need a regulator on a gas bottle?

The gas bottle is always attached via a regulator. This performs an important safety function, as it controls the pressure at which the gas moves from the bottle to the appliance. It is important to ensure that you have the correct regulator fitted to your appliance for your chosen gas bottle. In simple terms, a green Patio gas bottle is compatible with a clip on regulator, whereas a red propane bottle will require a screw in regulator.

 

See below links to our range of regulators, hosing and other accessories which maybe required

Cavagna Propane 27mm Clip On Regulator 37mbar

Cavagna Butane 21mm Clip On Gas Regulator 28mbar

Kosan Jumbo Clip On Butane Regulator

Jubilee Clips

Pigtails and Regulator Collection

21mm Clip On Butane Adaptor With 500mm Pigtail

8mm Reinforced High Pressure Gas Hose

8mm Low Pressure Black Gas Hose