There’s something undeniably comforting about the warm glow of a gas heater on a cold winter’s evening.
Powerful, portable, and grid-independent, gas heaters have earned their place in South African homes. But they’re also the appliance most homeowners take for granted. We dust them off in May, screw on a fresh cylinder, and forget about them — until something goes wrong. Whether you’re shopping new or running an older unit, here’s the refresher worth half an hour of your time.
What to look for in a new heater
Modern gas heaters are far safer than they were a decade ago, and a few features are non-negotiable on the shelf today.
Oxygen Depletion Sensors (ODS) automatically shut the unit off if oxygen levels in the room drop too low. Anti-tilt switches kill the gas if the heater gets knocked over. Flame failure devices cut the gas when the flame goes out unexpectedly. And SABS plus LPGSA approval is the difference between a unit that’s been independently safety-tested and one that hasn’t. If a heater on the shelf is missing any of these, walk away.
Sizing it to your space
A bigger heater isn’t a better heater — just a more expensive one to run. As a rough guide: a small bedroom or study (up to 15m²) is comfortable with a 3-panel infrared. An open-plan lounge (25–40m²) usually wants a 4 to 6kW cabinet or blue-flame convector. Anything bigger and two smaller units at opposite ends will outperform a single large one.
TIP: Blue-flame convectors warm the air evenly — great for living spaces. Infrared heaters warm objects and people directly — perfect where you sit still, like next to the couch.
The bits people forget
The heater is one piece of the puzzle. The hose, regulator and cylinder all need attention too. Gas hoses don’t last forever — replace them every five years, or sooner if you spot cracking or hardening. A faulty regulator is a leading cause of yellow, popping or weak flames; replace, don’t repair. And cylinders need periodic re-testing — your gas supplier can swap an out-of-date one for a fresh one at no extra charge.
Upgrades worth making to an older heater
If your old unit is mechanically sound, three small upgrades will keep it running safely for several more seasons.
- Replace the hose and regulator as a pair. They cost less than a takeaway dinner and they’re the most common failure points on any older unit.
- Install a carbon monoxide alarm in the room. CO is odourless and colourless — the only way you’ll know it’s accumulating is a detector telling you so. Mount it about 1.5 metres off the floor.
- Clean the heater before its first run of the season. Dust on the burners is the leading cause of that “burning” smell when you fire it up in May.
TIP: Run a new (or freshly serviced) heater outdoors for ten minutes before bringing it inside. It burns off factory residue and dust without filling your lounge with fumes.
The rule no one wants to hear
Every gas heater consumes oxygen and produces a small amount of moisture. The fix isn’t dramatic — leave a window cracked open about 5cm. Never use a gas heater in a closed bathroom, in a bedroom while you sleep, or in any unventilated room. It’s the most important rule in every manual, and the one most people break.
Remember, Builders stocks the full range of gas heaters, hoses, regulators and CO alarms — and our staff can help you size a unit to your space. Get it right once, and it’ll keep you warm for many seasons to come.
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