our guide to REFILLABLE GAS
Ever considered switching to refillable gas? It might just save you money in the long run, but first, there’s some things you need to take on board
When we think about using gas in our caravans, we typically picture red and blue cylinders and, more often than not, if we run out of gas we head off in search of the nearest supplier and exchange one bottle for another. You essentially ‘rent’ the vessel and buy the gas. The empty canister then begins a journey of its own, often having to be picked up by a lorry once you’ve deposited it. But there is another option that caravanners are beginning to switch on to.
Refillable gas is a relatively new concept when it comes to caravanning but, depending on how you tour, it might be a much smarter option for you. Like any purchasing decision however, there’s a few things to consider.
Those of you who favour smaller, out-of-the-way sites where facilities are often limited will find yourself being more reliant on your on-board facilities – electricity courtesy of your leisure battery and of course, gas.
Opt for a refillable system such as the Gaslow system, and you can top up your Gaslow Multivalve self-refillable gas cylinders whenever and wherever you wish and do not need to wait until they are empty, thanks to the built-in 80% safety cut-off valve. And it’s always easy to know how much gas you have by viewing the built-in accurate gauge. The Gaslow Multivalve has a display with a rotation of 360° for a better view of the contents. You can also view from the top and side.
Before you purchase a refillable gas canister, you’ll need to do your maths and calculate your current gas consumption. Take your fridge for example. Do you know how much energy it consumes? If you don’t, you can find it on the inspection panel inside the fridge. The same will be true for other appliances that run off gas.
If you tour frequently and, for example, cook every night with either the hob or have a gasfired barbecue every night, you may
Opt for a refillable system and you can top up gas cylinders whenever and wherever you wish
find that you get through a lot of gas. One issue with exchange gas bottles is the cost. A 13kg Calor propane refill costs £38.50 at time of press. A litre of propane weighs around half a kilo, making it cost around £1.48 a litre. On average LPG costs 60 to 67 pence a litre, making it significantly cheaper to refill. Prices vary, so it pays to shop around.
Of course, you do need to factor in the cost of upgrading to a refillable system. The most costeffective systems are those that replace the existing exchange gas bottles for refillable gas bottles installed in the original locker. A Gaslow 11kg Refillable LPG Cylinder Direct Fill is suitable for all caravans and has an initial outlay of around £200, but do the maths and this might be the most cost-effective method for you.
The first safety point to make is that it is illegal to attempt to refill your own gas bottle via a homemade adaptor, or at home by decanting it from a larger bottle. Internet videos advocating this are hazardous and should be reported to the authorities. It is illegal to try and refill an exchange gas cylinder. The danger lies in overfilling the bottles beyond the required fill level
LPG refillable cylinders use safety valves that automatically stop when the tanks reach the 80% level, so preventing them being overfilled.
Once you’ve found your nearest UK retailer, you’ll need to attach the refilling nozzle to your ’van.
The UK system use a bayonetstyle fitting, so, after removing the plastic cover cap (by pushing it in and twisting it anticlockwise), you attach the pump’s nozzle by aligning its lugs in the bayonet fitting and twisting it clockwise until it stops. You then either turn a lever through 90° or move a handle to lock the pump in place. Once it’s locked in place it should be rigidly held – if it’s loose in any way it means the filler head is not located correctly. Do ask the forecourt staff for help if you are unsure, it’s better to be safe!
With the nozzle locked on, you’ll need to hold down a button on the pump to start the gas flowing. You’ll need to keep it pressed it all the time to keep the gas flowing and for larger tanks you might need to swap hands to stop your fingers going numb! When filling, the tank valves make all sorts of noises until they’re full. The pump will automatically shut off when the 80% gas level is achieved.
Once the pump shuts off, remove the nozzle’s lever/handle and don’t be alarmed if there’s a loud hiss – it’s normal. Try not to touch any of the metal bits of the pump nozzle as they get ice cold during refuelling – some people wear gloves. Unscrew the bayonet section of the nozzle and return it to the pump’s holder. Compared to replacing a gas bottle, refilling with LPG is far quicker and involves no heavy lifting.
We took to social media to ask our readers for their thoughts. Andy on Twitter said, “I have used a Safefill cylinder since 2016, weight saving and can always go away with a full cylinder (instead of a part empty one and a full standby).” Another reader commented, “My refillable cylinder has a 10-year lifespan, will get it back within 5 years. They are lighter bottles as well.”
But, for some readers, there’s little financial gain in switching to refillable, “We use standard cylinders. One lasts over two seasons with our usage so I don’t quite see any significant return of investment for £200 refillable bottles… plus the gas cylinder network is good so can normally replace a bottle very easy.”
In the UK, there are around 900 filling points throughout England, Scotland and Wales. See the websites detailed above to find your nearest as more are coming online all the time. Supermarkets such as Asda and Morrisons offer it, as well as many caravan dealers and trade suppliers.
If you tour abroad where Calor isn’t available, a refillable LPG cylinder is a great option. In Europe, LPG isn’t that difficult to find – many motorway service stations sell it and there are several online listing websites and apps. The myLPG.eu website lists more than 46,000 refuelling points available across 63 countries. France has around 1,500,
Germany offers about 6,000, the Netherlands details around 1,000 and Spain offers more than 800.
In Europe, slightly different pump nozzles are used, so you’ll also need to use different filler nozzle adaptors for different countries – a pack of three costs around £30 and covers most European countries. These simply thread onto the UK adaptor.
Liquefied petroleum gas (or autogas) is the generic term for the blend of propane and butane that is sold via the LPG supplier network. The time of year and where you buy it, determines the precise mix of the gases – it tends to be between 90% and 100% propane in the UK, while in Europe it can vary by season and may be 50% propane and 50% butane in summer. Generally, the colder the conditions, the more propane is added; it gases better in lower temperatures and is more suited to all-year caravanning (butane’s boiling point is around -2 degrees, below which it won’t gas fully).
Generally speaking, the European dish nozzle system used in France, Spain, Italy, etc is simpler than the UK bayonet system and uses a simple circular claw latch system. You press the nozzle handle to fit it and then just release the handle to clamp it firmly in place. It’s quite intuitive to use. On all European pumps, gas only flows when you press the actuation button.
Using an adaptor is simple and is a lot easier than having to mess about swapping regulators, being forced to buy lots of small disposable European camping cylinders, or even having to pay for a European gas bottle contract.
If you go for extra gas capacity, it can greatly extend the time your heating, cooking and hot water systems can last for between refills, as well as meaning you’ll never put your back out lugging around a gas bottle. While the number of LPG filling stations has been reduced by Shell, there are many other suppliers increasing their supply and there are plenty of filling points in England, Wales and Scotland. There’s usually a refilling point within a few minutes’ drive, or on the motorway network. But check the location of your nearest before you buy. With more gas capacity, you’ll refuel less often and avoid sourcing suitable gas bottles in Europe.