Consumer Authority receives complaints on gas cylinder regulators

A number of complaints have reached the Technical Regulations Division within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority about difficulties being encountered by consumers when trying to connect gas cylinders to existing regulators due to "a number of different LPG cylinder valves possibly being on the market".

Some complaints have also stated that some consumers cannot fit their regulators on some cylinders but can do so on others.

From extensive investigations over the past weeks, the MCCAA said there are only three types of such valves on the market in Malta, and that all valves have the same dimensions where the valves mate with the respective regulators.

These valves had in fact been tested last year and no discrepancies had been encountered with the relevant standard.

The above photo shows the three different types of valves used on all cylinders in Malta, irrespective of the cylinder supplier and of the cylinder itself. As can be seen in the photo, some differences exist in the bodies of the valves, but the top part, i.e. that which mates with the regulator, is common for all valves.

Consumers should insert the regulator onto the valve and apply considerable downward pressure on the regulator to ensure that the upward force exerted by the seal is overcome.

Should consumers encounter leaks from cylinders, they are advised to immediately contact the supplier of the cylinders on the contact number found on all gas cylinders.

The Technical Regulations Division advises consumers to ensure that they are not using regulators which have been withdrawn from the market last year, namely the (old) Liquicontrol regulator and the TPA Butane regulator.

Should consumers have any queries, they can contact the Division on 2395 2000.