What to do when your Gas Cylinder is Over-filled

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  • Author: Muyiwa Ige(LPG Stakeholder and Consultant)

The best and most economical thing to do when your gas cylinder is overfilled is to decant the excess gas into an empty of partially filled cylinder.

But when you make the discovery that your gas cylinder was overfilled too late and can  not  return to your gas station/retail outlet to decant the excess gas, the only option left for you, if you intend to use the cylinder for cooking, is to release the excess gas into the atmosphere.

 How to know when your gas cylinder is overfilled

 When you turn on the control /knob of your Camp Gas Cylinder, Table or Standing Cooker and see white plumes coming out of the burner, then your gas cylinder has been overfilled.

 The white plumes you see is liquid gas, which will not ignite if you strike a match or turn on your gas lighter to ignite it.

It is only gas vapor that will ignite when it comes in contact with a source of ignition like your matches or gas lighter.

 How to relieve your Gas Cylinder of the excess gas

 If you really must use your over-filled gas cylinder to cook, all you need to do is to take the cylinder  to a well-ventilated open space outdoors.

Ensure that there’s no source of ignition nearby and within a 15 meter radius of your position.

 For Camp Gas Cylinders

Turn on the gas control and allow the white plumes (liquid gas) to escape. When you no longer see the liquid gas escaping from the burner cap with the control still turned on, then the system has been relieved of the excess gas and normal gas vapor that will ignite is now coming out. 

It is now safe to use your cylinder.

 For 12.5kg Cylinders

Detach the gas regulator and take the cylinder outdoors to a well-ventilated open space, ensuring there’s no source of ignition within a 15 meter perimeter range.

Then wear a pair of Leather/Cotton hand glove, cover the top of the valve partially with a rough piece of cloth(to protect your eyes/nostrils) and use a screw driver to press the little pin inside the valve of the cylinder to release the excess gas.

You will see white plumes(liquid gas) escaping into the atmosphere.

Once the liquid gas ceases to escape while you are still pressing the pin of the valve with the screw driver, it means the cylinder has been relieved of the excess gas and normal ignitable vapor is now easing out of the valve.

The cylinder is now safe for use.

 For Nido and Util Cylinders that have tap-like valves

Simply take the cylinder to a well-ventilated space outdoors; that has no source of ignition within a 15 meter radius.

Open the valve of the cylinder by turning it in the anti-clockwise direction and follow the same procedure outlined for the 12.5kg cylinders.