The first cold, wet week of the Maltese winter brings the gas heater out of the storeroom. It is cheap to buy, it needs no installation, and it warms a tiled room quickly. It is also an open flame burning LPG inside your home, after several months in a damp cupboard. Ten minutes of checks at the start of the season deals with most of the risk.
Before you light it for the first time this winter
- Read the hose. Look along its full length for cracks, stiffness or chafing, bending it gently as you go. Many hoses carry a printed date. If yours is past it, cracked or simply unknown, replace it, because a hose costs very little compared with what it protects against.
- Check the regulator. It should sit firmly on the cylinder and be suitable for LPG. Malta's consumer authority has advised that regulators on the market should comply with EN 12864, so look for that marking when you buy a replacement. If yours looks damaged or will not seat properly, stop using it.
- Do the soapy water test. With the heater off and the cylinder valve open, brush soapy water over the hose ends and connections. Growing bubbles mean a leak. Close the valve and fix it before going further. Never test with a flame.
- Clean the heater. Vacuum the dust and any spider webs from the grille and burner area. Follow the manual for your model, and do not use a heater with a cracked ceramic panel or a safety device that no longer works.
Using it safely
- Keep some ventilation. The heater uses the room's oxygen and releases combustion gases. Leave a window or door slightly open, even when it is cold outside.
- Never use it in a bedroom or bathroom, or while you sleep. Manufacturers and safety bodies are consistent on this. Turn it off before going to bed.
- Leave clear space around it. Keep curtains, drying laundry and furniture well away, and never drape anything over it to dry.
- Turn it off at the cylinder. Close the valve first, so the gas in the hose burns off, then switch off the heater.
- Keep the hose out of doorways. A closing door can damage it, and the heater should stay in the room it is warming.
- Store spare cylinders upright and ventilated, never in a basement, under the stairs or in a sealed cupboard. LPG is heavier than air and collects at low points.
A battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm is an inexpensive addition for any room with a flame, but it does not replace ventilation. Families with small children should also read our childproofing guide.
If you smell gas
Close the cylinder valve if you can reach it safely. Do not light anything or switch lights and appliances on or off. Open windows and doors, and get everyone outside. If you cannot stop the leak, or anyone feels unwell, call 112.
Headaches, dizziness, nausea or unusual tiredness while a heater is on can be signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Turn off the heater, move into fresh air and get medical help.
The damp side effect
Burning LPG releases water vapour as well as heat. A gas heater running in a closed room can feed the condensation behind your winter mould problem, which is one more reason to ventilate.
When it is time to change how you heat
If you are running a heater every evening, compare the alternatives. Most Maltese homes already have a heat pump on the wall, and our guide to heating with your AC explains how to get the best from it. An AC technician on Qabbad can service a unit that has been idle since summer, and an electrician can check that circuits can handle any electric heaters you add.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a gas heater in a bedroom in Malta?
No. Do not use a portable gas heater in a bedroom or while anyone is asleep. Ventilation cannot be assured, and nobody is awake to notice a problem. Use it only in a ventilated living space, and turn it off before bed.
How often should I replace the gas hose?
Follow the printed date on the hose and your heater's manual, and replace it sooner if it is cracked, stiff or damaged. If you cannot read a date or do not know its age, replacing it is the sensible choice.
Why does my gas heater make the walls damp?
Burning LPG releases water vapour into the room. In a closed Maltese room with cool masonry walls, that vapour can condense on the coldest surfaces. Keeping a window slightly open and using an extractor or dehumidifier helps.