Deep Fryers - Did you know

 Deep fryers:

These are appliances that hold a quantity of oil or fat in which food such as chips, fish and doughnuts are cooked. There are two different designs - one that has a flat bottom with the oil heated directly from below and a second type has oil that is heated at a location above the base so maintaining a cool zone below the flame in which old food particles can sink without carbonizing and spoiling the flavor of the food load. There are two methods of heating the oil using this design of fryer. In the first method there is what is known as a V-shaped fryer, with the lower V section below the burner. The second method requires the gas flame to be fired directly into tubes that pass through the mass of the oil. With the flat bottom fryer it is essential that, before each frying all old particles are strained from the oil. The heat input can vary between 8 kW and 40 kW depending on the size of fryer.

Dangers of CO (Carbon Monoxide) and the Effects of CO in the Air

                             Carbon Monoxide

What is Carbon Monoxide?..

Carbon monoxide, or “CO,” is an odourless, colourless gas that can kill you. CO in the environment can have a devastating effect on human health. For most of us it would be the most dangerous gas we might ever experience. It is often referred to as the ‘hidden gas’ because it is very hard to detect. However, the effects of CO are quite dramatic and in high concentrations it will kill within a few minutes.

When we breathe, our lungs absorb oxygen. However, CO is absorbed more readily into the blood stream than oxygen and when our haemoglobin, or red blood cells, become saturated with CO, no oxygen can be absorbed. One of the functions of oxygen is to remove waste matter from our tissues, so without oxygen our blood rapidly become poisoned. 

What percentage of CO can be harmful and what percentage can kill us?

CO in air  -  0.01%

Saturation of CO in blood  - 0–15%

Effects of CO in adults - Slight headache after 2–3 hours  

 

CO in air  -  0.15% - 0.3%

Saturation of CO in blood - 50–55%- 55-65%

Effects of CO in adults - Severe headache, nausea, and dizziness within 10 minutes; increased breathing and convulsions, leading to collapse, possible death after 15 minutes.

Yellow flames coming out from gas appliances is a sign that your appliance isn't burning correctly and efficiently. Thus, its important to keep your appliance in good health by servicing it regularly. 

Gas Regulators - what are they and how do they work?

 What is a gas regulator?

A gas regulator, also known as a gas pressure regulator, is a mechanical device used with a gas cylinder. It’s designed to slow down the compressed gas rushing out of a cylinder and release it in a controlled and steady stream to the appliance it’s connected to.

Which one is right for you?

There are all kinds of gas regulators available. Choosing the correct one for your installation or appliance is extremely important. First we have to understand why we need one and if it should be used indoors or outdoors.

This is your common low pressure regulator with a gauge. This is used on cooking appliances and heating appliances. This is attached to a 9 Kg bottle and will be connected to the appliance.  

This is a low pressure bullnose regulator. This one is ideal for outdoors installations and should be mounted against a wall. This regulator is for bigger sized cylinders like the 19 Kg or 48 Kg.

(Gas Dryers) Did you know?

 

Have you heard about gas dryers?

According to Energy Star, a government-backed program that helps consumers learn about energy-efficient homes and products, your tumble dryer (or clothes dryer) is most likely the most energy-hungry appliance in your home even more than your refrigerator. 

If you’re shopping for a new dryer, now is a great opportunity to learn about ways to save energy. 

Gas dryers heat up much more quickly and generate more heat which in turn dries clothes faster. An electric dryer takes longer to reach its hottest point and doesn’t get as hot, so it uses electricity for a longer duration because it takes longer to tumble the clothes dry. If you want to save money on electricity, a gas dryer is well worth the consideration.

We break-down the pro's and con's of the gas dryer.

Pros:

• More energy efficient than electric dryers. 
• Dries a load of laundry more quickly.
• Uses a standard electrical outlet.

Cons: 

• Requires a gas hook-up.
• Must be placed near a vent that goes outside the home.
• Often more expensive than a comparable electric dryer.

Importance of  a Service:

Both of these types of dryers (electric or gas) pose safety hazards that can be mitigated with proper installation, maintenance and usage. It’s worth noting that the safety concerns about gas and electric dryers apply to pretty much any major home appliance. It is recommended to have your gas appliances and installations serviced regularly to ensure that they use gas efficiently.

Designs:

                                       

LG Ultra Large Capacity
Gas Dryer
with Sensor Dry Technology

Need more convincing? Watch the video below.

Why Service your Gas appliances?

Why should you service your gas appliances?

LPG is a fantastic alternative energy source to use in your home especially, in South Africa where loadshedding impacts our quality of life.

You can still cook, have access to warm water and keep your house warm with LPG home appliances. 

Just like you service your car, regular servicing of your gas appliances is fundamental in ensuring that they operate safely and use gas more efficiently. Efficient gas usage means you save money on gas as your gas will last longer.

If you experience any of these problems, it may be a good idea to book a service for your appliance:

The gas jet is blocked:

The first potential cause of your problem to consider is a blocked gas jet. The jet (or injector, as it can be known) serves to inject the gas into the burner cup. It is perforated on top with a hole of a very precise diameter to ensure the gas is delivered at the correct rate. If this hole is partially blocked (by liquid for example), the flow of gas will be affected, and this will end up having an impact on the quality of the flame, which will not burn correctly.

The openings on the burner crown are obstructed:

Bad quality flames are frequently caused by obstructions or blockages in the openings on the burner crown. These can get blocked by dirt, fat/grease, spilt liquids and even residual water left behind after the hob has been cleaned.

These are the most common problems that your flame will not burn properly. There are many reasons why you could experience issues with your gas appliance, some of these may even be due to your gas installation or gas set-up.