8 Mistakes Homeowners Make When Switching to Gas Appliances (and How to Avoid Them)

17 May 2026 Posted By admin

As a result of load shedding and rising electricity tariffs, the number of people who owned gas appliances increased from 19% in 2022 to over 30% in 2023. In fact, 36.3% of Gaunteng households used LPG in 2023. Even if the statistic seems old, the trend is not.

LPG consumption in 2024 was estimated to be 500,000 metric tons (up from 425,000). With this surge in the number of people buying gas appliances has led to the increase of poorly planned gas installations.

We are going to cover the eight most common mistakes and what you should do instead so that your switch to gas is safe, legal, and cost effective.

What Are the 8 Mistakes South Africans Are Making the Switch to Gas

From simple to complex, let’s take a look at the eight mistakes made by South Africans when switching to gas:

Using an Unregistered Installer

Your installer is that person who visits your home and connects your new gas cylinders to your appliances with proper routing through valves and piping. In this regard, South African law is unambiguous. The installer must be registered with SAQCC Gas (authorised under the OHS Act No. 85 of 1993) to be able to legally install gas appliances.

A poorly installed gas system can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions, and even carbon monoxide poisoning. This makes it important to verify the installer’s registration at www.saqccgas.co.za before any work begins.

Not Getting a CoC after Installation

While issuing the CoC is the installer’s job, holding a valid CoC is the owner’s responsibility. Without a valid CoC, the homeowner is held legally and financially liable for any accidents caused due to the installation. Without it, insurance claims can be denied and property transfers blocked.

Always insist on a digital CoC via the SAQCC Gas app before considering the job complete. Also, keep in mind that under SANS 10087-1:2024, existing installations must also be re-inspected every 5 years.

Buying Appliances without Checking SABS Compliance

You might wish to install imported appliances, but gas appliances without an SABS approval mark cannot be legally certified. Thus, you will not be issued a CoC for a non-compliant appliance.

Thus, it is always best to purchase from reputable retailers, check the SABS mark, and retain the purchase invoice.

Wrong Cylinder Placement

For the safety of your household installation, the SANS 10087-1:2024 specifies exact placement distances for gas cylinders. These violations are also one of the most common reasons why gas inspections fail.

Table 1: Minimum distances to be maintained for gas installations.

Also keep in mind that that maximum cylinder size that you can store indoors is 9kg.

Using Orange Hose through Walls

LPG installations often use orange hoses to connect the appliances to the cylinders. However, most people aren’t aware that these reinforced orange LPG hoses must not:

• pass through walls
• exceed 2 metres in length
• have any joints

If the piping for your gas installation runs through walls, copper piping must be used. This is a specification that registered installers are aware of.

Neglecting the Emergency Shut-Off Valve

According to the SANS Codes, an accessible emergency shut-off valve must be placed as close as possible to where the main gas pipe enters the building. Often people are unaware, which is why residential buildings often have this valve is installed outside.

This significantly increases response time when there is an emergency. This makes it important to discuss valve placement with your installer before works begin.

Forgetting to Update Home Insurance

Once you have built the new gas installation and obtained a CoC, your home insurance policy must be updated to explicitly cover compliant gas installations. Insurers can reject claims if they find the installation was not certified.

After any new gas installation, appliance addition, or other work done, notify your insurer, provide a copy of the CoC, and update your insurance (if needed).

Cooking With Poor Ventilation

Gas stoves release nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide, and other by-products of combustion. In poorly ventilated spaces (particularly relevant in SA kitchens where windows and doors may be kept closed during load shedding), this can pose a significant risk to health.

Thus, it is important to always cook with windows open. You can also install a carbon monoxide detector near your cooking area.

Wrapping Up

Avoiding these 8 mistakes starts with choosing the right installer. To switch to gas with confidence, always choose n SAQCC-registered installer who can handle appliance compliance checks, correct cylinder placement, CoC documentation, and post-installation briefings.