Flogas Britain Ltd.

Q: Why is 20mm Butane being phased out?

Cylinders Why are the 20mm cylinders being phased out? 20mm Butane cylinders represent a small, declining portion of our overall Butane volume. To rationalise Flogas’s cylinder range and improve availability of key products, we are conducting a phased withdrawal of all 20mm butane products. Can I still order 20mm cylinders? Yes, 20mm Butane cylinders are still available at some depots, however the cylinder population is shrinking as these cylinders come out of test and require maintenance work. We are no longer reconditioning / recertifying 20mm Butane cylinders, any that require work are being converted to 21mm Butane cylinders. To this end they are still available from some sites. If 20mm butane cylinders are not available at the point of order, we are not able to advise when they will become available again. Which cylinders does this affect? 13kg, 7kg and 4.5kg Butane cylinders with a 20mm valve. How long will it take to phase out 20mm cylinders? It’s difficult to say, Flogas has many, many cylinders in circulation with the population being built up over a number of years. Each cylinder has a different date for testing, and it’s not known whether cylinders currently in customers possession that will be exchanged will require a test. Why can’t I find 20mm cylinders on the website? Flogas is moving away from 20mm Butane cylinders and customers are advised to instead order a 21mm Butane cylinder.

Question 1

Can I set up a Direct Debit online?

Accepted Answer

To set up a direct debit for your account, you will need to contact us for a budget account facility. This only takes a few minutes to do over the phone, and you can reach us on 0800 574 574.

Please advise the customer service advisor of the date in the month which best suits your financial circumstances.

Question 2

How can I be more fuel efficient?

Accepted Answer

The average UK home spends almost £1,254 a year on energy bills, Ofgem stats reveal. As a result of this, improving energy efficiency in our homes has never been more important. As the world becomes increasingly conscious about the environment, now is the perfect time to learn more about how reducing our energy efficiency can help limit the amount of CO2 emissions we emit. By following a few easy pieces of advice, you can save a significant amount on your bills, especially in the winter. Read more on our full article A Guide to a More Energy Efficient Winter

Question 3

Why is 20mm Butane being phased out?

Accepted Answer

Cylinders Why are the 20mm cylinders being phased out? 20mm Butane cylinders represent a small, declining portion of our overall Butane volume. To rationalise Flogas’s cylinder range and improve availability of key products, we are conducting a phased withdrawal of all 20mm butane products. Can I still order 20mm cylinders? Yes, 20mm Butane cylinders are still available at some depots, however the cylinder population is shrinking as these cylinders come out of test and require maintenance work. We are no longer reconditioning / recertifying 20mm Butane cylinders, any that require work are being converted to 21mm Butane cylinders. To this end they are still available from some sites. If 20mm butane cylinders are not available at the point of order, we are not able to advise when they will become available again. Which cylinders does this affect? 13kg, 7kg and 4.5kg Butane cylinders with a 20mm valve. How long will it take to phase out 20mm cylinders? It’s difficult to say, Flogas has many, many cylinders in circulation with the population being built up over a number of years. Each cylinder has a different date for testing, and it’s not known whether cylinders currently in customers possession that will be exchanged will require a test. Why can’t I find 20mm cylinders on the website? Flogas is moving away from 20mm Butane cylinders and customers are advised to instead order a 21mm Butane cylinder.

Question 4

What is LPG?

Accepted Answer

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) refers to two types of natural gas - Propane and Butane. These are natural by-products of gas and oil extraction (66%) and oil refining (34%).

It’s an exceptional and efficient source of energy – that would otherwise go to waste if not captured – and has become a vital part of the UK’s off-grid energy mix. LPG is used as fuel for vehicles, heating appliances, and cooking equipment.

Question 5

Is LPG right for me?

Accepted Answer

LPG is an incredibly versatile fuel with thousands of uses and it can be used practically anywhere.

It’s used across a vast array of commercial industries:

Caravan parks
Hospitality
Agriculture
Industrial heating
Manufacturing processes, (including steam generation)
Forklift trucks
Fleet vehicles

You can find an exhaustive list on the UKLPG website LPG could also help reduce your carbon footprint from other fuels as it has the lowest carbon footprint of all off-grid fossil fuels, and emits fewer pollutants. LPG helps businesses meet emission reduction targets set out in the Clean Growth Strategy and Medium Combustion Plant Directive.

Question 6

What is the difference between on grid and off-grid energy?

Accepted Answer

There is a common misconception that off-grid domestic properties and commercial premises are situated only in the extreme fringes of the UK, but this is not the case. There are off-grid homes and businesses where the grid does not reach all across the UK, even throughout ‘suburban’ England, Wales and Scotland. An estimated 15% of domestic properties in Great Britain are not connected to the mains gas grid, which is around 4.3 million domestic properties. These properties therefore rely on electricity (whwre available) or transportable fuels, such as heating oil, solid fuels or LPG. Many homes still prefer the reliablity and versatility of heating and cooking with gas - which is where LPG comes in.

Question 7

What delivery service do you offer?

Accepted Answer

LPG is versatile and can be stored and transported safely. We offer delivery to properties in 3 main ways:

Gas bottles - ranging from 3kg to 47kg to cover many uses, from leisure to industry to heating homes where a larger tank cannot be sited;
Bulk tanks - these can be installed in a single tank installation, or a larger tank array to service to service anything from the smallest home, to large country estates, and large industrial processing
Metered estates - a metered estate is a group of homes with a central bulk tank installation that serves each property through meters - much like mains gas meters.

With more employed tanker drivers and significant investments in the LPG supply chain, Flogas offers unrivalled delivery to all customers in Great Britain. Our gas bottle delivery service covers the majority of Britain with the largest network of Flogas owned depots and third-party stockist of any LPG supplier. You can order online or by calling our customer service team. For our bulk LPG delivery service, custoomers can choose the relaxation of Auto-ordering, where our systems calculate your usage and plan orders for you, or Manual ordering, where customers monitor thier own tanks and pace orders on demand. Metered estates customers can relax, knowing that their central storage tanks are being supplied by Auto-ordering and they will only be charged for the gas they use through their own meters.

Question 8

How do I get better heating in my off-grid home?

Accepted Answer

Heating is top-of-mind for many of us, especially given the ongoing energy crisis. As we look towards more future-ready alternatives, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) could prove the best short and medium-term option for your off-grid home, giving you benefits over oil and solid fuels and with a lower carbon footprint. Immediately available, LPG can be your middle-term solution while you consider longer-term renewable alternatives currently under development. LPG produces reduced emissions compared to an oil-fuelled boiler, and because it’s a colourless hydrocarbon gas, it doesn’t create the same smells, soot, or ash that oil burners do. What’s more, LPG can be used for both heating and cooking, and still produces a large amount of heat by volume — so it remains an efficient way to heat your home. If you’re not ready or able to make the complete switch to renewables such as solar or heat pumps, LPG offers a flexible middle ground so you can cut your household emissions without a huge change in your current set-up. With LPG, a tank or cylinders will be located on-site, and your heating system will draw from this to warm your home. When you are ready to consider new energy options, LPG can work as a blended solution with heat pumps, solar panels, and other renewable technologies. With the UK Government’s goal to phase out off-gas grid fossil fuel heating in mind, LPG is the ideal bridging solution, getting your home ready for renewable alternatives like bio-propane and renewable DME, even lower carbon fuels that are literally around the corner. Trials for rDME are due to start in 2024 and access to biopropane is expected to improve significantly over the next decade. Flogas is a leading supplier of LPG and blended solutions for off-grid homes. Are you ready to make the switch? Speak to us today and explore your options to get the best heating today and prepare for tomorrow!

Question 9

Is LPG better for my oil fuelled off-grid home?

Accepted Answer

Whether you’ve been using an oil-fuelled boiler for years or you ‘inherited’ an off-grid oil system with a recent house move, it’s high time to explore alternative ways of heating your home. Why? Because innovations in energy are giving homeowners more options than ever before. Some of these fuels are ready to use right now as a lower carbon alternative - like LPG - and renewable fuels under active development, like bio-propane. With the phase-out of fossil-fuel boilers now delayed until 2035, there’s no better time to be considering LPG when it comes to heating your off-grid home. LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is a colourless hydrocarbon gas in a liquid form. Like oil, it is stored in a tank outside your home, and is an energy-rich fuel. Unlike oil, it is more versatile, with the option to use it for gas hobs, radiators and ovens, as well as heating. It doesn’t produce ash, nor is it as smelly as burning oil. Plus, it has a lower sulphur content and lower carbon emissions than burning oil or coal. Alternatively, LPG can work as part of a blended solution incorporating heat pumps, solar panels, EV chargers, wind turbines, and more. This is making LPG an attractive short and medium-term solution for homeowners, as a switch from oil to LPG is relatively simple, requiring just a boiler change and then new tanks or cylinders. Once in place, you can explore long-term renewable solutions like rDME and bio-propane that are under development and expected to be available from around 2025 for rDME and 2050 for bio-propane. As these lower carbon, renewable liquid gases become available they can be dropped into your existing infrastructure as a blended product with LPG or can be used pure with some small adjustments. What’s more, LPG systems can be more affordable and simpler to install compared to oil, and you’ll get added peace of mind that your boiler installation will be done by a Gas Safe Registered engineer (a requirement under UK law), whereas oil engineers don’t actually need a qualification to fit an oil boiler. For those wanting the security of knowing your boiler is installed safely, there are more Gas Safe Registered Engineers than OFTEC technicians (qualified oil boiler installers) in the UK. So, as you explore your options for heating and cooking in your off-grid home, LPG could be right for you. Flogas is a leading supplier of LPG and other energy solutions, and we’re ready to help you make the best choice for your heating needs.

Question 10

Can I replace oil heating when renovating my off-grid home?

Accepted Answer

Renovating your home is not only a great excuse for you to say goodbye to dated decoration, but if you’re doing up an off-grid home, renovation can also allow you to leave an oil-based heating system behind. Your choice of heating significantly contributes to your home’s carbon footprint, and oil can also create unnecessary ash, soot, and smells around the house. As a cleaner burning fuel, LPG could be the ideal alternative for homeowners looking to switch to a more convenient and pleasant fuel source, with the added benefit of a reduction in carbon output. LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is a colourless liquid hydrocarbon gas. While it creates less ash, smells, and fewer carbon emissions than oil, it’s still an energy-rich fuel. This means your heating will continue to keep you warm, but it offers significant benefits in its flexibility and storage. LPG can be kept in either bulk storage tanks or a range of cylinders to suit various space requirements; so you may need less space compared to oil, and it could help to retain beautiful countryside views when stored in an underground tank. It can also be used for cooking as well as heating, which can help in homes where the electricity supply may be unstable (or, as a keen cook you prefer cooking on gas, rather than an electric hob and oven). If you’re near a body of water or other wildlife, another big perk of switching to LPG is that it won’t cause environmental contamination if it leaks, unlike oil. Installing an LPG solution when refurbishing your home is relatively quick and simple as your existing infrastructure shouldn’t need to change - a new boiler and a new tank or cylinders and your home has switched! Often, there is no need to upgrade radiators or install additional insulation. And as it’s a fuel source with a long lifespan, LPG is an ideal bridging solution if you are looking for renewable alternatives in the longer term but aren’t ready to make a full leap. It can also work alongside other technologies like solar panels and heat pumps, and in the not-so-distant future – perhaps as soon as 2025 onwards - you will be able to use fuels like renewable DME and bio-propane in the same heating system. These are already in development, so switching to LPG helps prepare your home for the future. Flogas is a leading LPG and blended solutions supplier, making us the ideal partner for your switch. Are you ready to get started? Let us show you how!

Question 11

Why can't I change my home from mains gas to LPG?

Accepted Answer

LPG is a liquid gas that can be stored in gas bottles or larger bulk gas tanks and is used by homes that are not connected to the mains gas grid.  Unfortunately, we're unable to install bulk tanks in homes who are not considered 'off-grid' due to space and internal heating system requirements.

Question 12

What should I do if snow is forecast in my area?

Accepted Answer

Snow can cause disruptions to your gas supply and deliveries, especially if the roads are blocked or slippery. Here are some tips to help you prepare for snowy weather and keep your gas supply safe and reliable.

If you place your own orders for bulk LPG, check your gas level regularly and order a refill when it reaches 40%. This will ensure that you have enough gas in case of delays or cancellations of deliveries due to snow.

If the route to your property is blocked or unsafe due to snow, please let us know as soon as possible, so we can reschedule your delivery.

If it’s safe for you to do so, clear any snow or ice from the access road and driveway to your property, as well as the area around your tank or bottles. This will make it easier for our delivery drivers to reach your tank or bottles and refill them safely.

If you have an above-ground tank, clear any snow or ice from the top and sides of the tank, as well as the pipes and valves. This will prevent any damage or blockage to the tank or equipment caused by freezing or thawing.

If you have an underground tank, mark their location with a flag or stake, so they are visible and accessible for our delivery drivers.

Do not use any sharp or metal tools to remove snow or ice from your tank or bottles, as this could damage them or cause a leak. Use a broom or a soft brush instead.

Do not pour hot water or salt on your tank or bottles, as this could corrode them or cause a pressure build-up. Use a de-icing product that is suitable for metal surfaces instead.

If you have any issues with your gas supply after a snowfall, such as low pressure, poor performance, or strange noises, please call our emergency team for assistance. In many cases we can advise what to do over the phone. If required, we will send a technician to check your tank and equipment and make any necessary repairs or adjustments.

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