Gas geysers are one of the most commonly used water heaters in South Africa. This is primarily because gas water geysers take up very little time to heat water. Besides that, they are also popular due to their low cost of operation.
How does a gas water heater work?
As the name suggests, a gas water heater utilizes Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Natural Gas (NG) to heat water.
A gas geyser has three pipes: An inlet pipe for cold water, an outlet pipe for hot water, and an inlet pipe for gas. When the output tap (hot water) is turned on, cold water flows into the tank through the cold-water pipe and the inlet flow sensor gets activated. When the water reaches the magnetic switch, the sensor notifies the solenoid valve, which then turns on the gas pipeline.
Once the gas flows into the burner, it triggers the igniter. The igniter sparks and gas flames appear. The cold water flows into the heat exchanger, which is then heated. This hot water flows out through the hot water tap! There is a temperature sensor fitted at the end of the heat exchanger that keeps a check on the temperature of the water and prevents it from being overheated.
When a gas geyser is operated, it uses oxygen from the atmosphere for burning the gas. So, it is always recommended to install the geyser in an adequately ventilated space to ensure availability of oxygen. In cases where the geyser is operated in a non-ventilated space, the burning of gas utilises the available oxygen This may lead to the level of oxygen in the atmosphere, to drop, which can cause fire hazards. Hence, some LPG and NG gas geysers incorporate advanced features like Oxygen Depleting Sensor (ODS). When the oxygen level starts depleting, the gas flame becomes inconsistent and volatile. This is sensed by the ODS and its smart feature switches off the geyser for the users’ safety.
What are the benefits of using a gas water heater?
1. Economical
Electric Geysers tend to consume comparatively more energy, which contributes to a major chunk of the household electricity bills. Since the gas geysers primarily use LPG & NG that are available at cheaper, the operational charges incurred are much less.
2. Faster heating
The most important benefit of using an LPG or NG gas geyser is that they require very little time to heat water. Hence you get hot water in an instant.
3. More control to the user
When using a gas water geyser, you can control the input of gas flow and the rate of heating as well. You can easily adjust the water temperature according to the weather as you will use lower temperature hot water in summer than winter.
4. Easy to repair
Gas geysers have a simple components and mechanism for heating. This make them easy to repair and maintain.
Are gas water heaters safe?
Gas water heaters are completely safe to be used at home. As long as your gas water heater has been installed by a qualified gas installer in an adequately-ventilated area, and you’ve followed all the precautionary measures, you’ve got nothing to worry about! To ensure maximum protection, all gas geysers used in South Africa is LPGSA approved and LPG and NG gas geyser comes with the following safety features:
Oxygen Depleting Sensor
In cases where the geyser is operated in a non-ventilated space, the burning of gas utilises the available oxygen. When the oxygen level starts depleting, the gas flame becomes inconsistent and volatile. This is sensed by the ODS and its smart feature switches off the geyser for the users’ safety. This prevents any further fire hazards or mishaps
Smart Flow Sensor
This geyser also ensures advanced protection through a Smart Flow Sensor. This sensor allows ignition only if there is a flow of water for complete safety.