Barbecue FAQS
Why am I experiencing low flame or low output on my BBQ?
All QCC regulators (the part that attaches to the gas cylinder to regulate the flow of gas) have a safety feature included that restricts gas flow in the event of a gas leak.
You can inadvertently activate this safety feature without having a gas leak. This typically occurs when you turn on the gas using the barbecue control knob before you turn on the gas cylinder valve. If the gas regulator safety feature activates, the barbecue will operate with reduced output as gas flow is restricted.
These steps should be taken first to reset the gas regulator safety device:
1. Ensure the barbecue hood is open.
2. Turn gas cylinder valve off.
3. Turn off all control knobs.
4. Disconnect the regulator from the gas cylinder.
5. Wait 30 seconds.
6. Reconnect the regulator to the gas cylinder.
7. Leak test the connection using a soapy water solution. Ensure no bubbles appear before proceeding.
8. Slowly open the gas cylinder valve all the way. Do not put excessive force on the valve at the full open position, to avoid damaging the valve.
9. Light barbecue as per the instructions provided.
See our video here for a step-by-step guide on how to reset your QCC Regulator
What is the best way to test my Barbecue for leaks?
The best way to check your Barbecue for leaks is to mix 2 parts liquid hand soap or dish washing liquid, to 10 parts water in a spray bottle or jar. Apply the solution to all newly sealed connections and to all previously sealed connections on a regular basis.
If the solution starts to bubble where it has been applied to a connection, a leak is present.
Turn the gas off at the cylinder immediately. Retighten the leaking connection and retest.
A good rule to follow is to check all connections when you get your bottle refilled.
My Gasmate barbecue is stainless steel, does this mean it will never stain?
No, depending on the location of your Gasmate appliance it will always be exposed to the outdoor elements. You need to keep stainless steel clean and dry, and then use the appropriate cover when it is not in use. See our Customer Information Section for cleaning guidelines.
What are the various types of cast iron hot plates and grills? What are the differences between the types?
There are 3 common types of plates and grills that Gasmate use as standard components in Hooded and Flat Barbecues.
These are:
Painted finish (also called standard cast iron): Painted plates and grills use a black, food safe paint to protect the outer surface. This is a very common coating.
Satin enamel: These plates are coated using a standard enamel baking process to achieve a satin finish. This is more durable than a painted finish but with a similar look.
Gloss or Vitreous enamel: Plates with this finish are made by fusing a hard wearing ceramic, glass like coat to the outside of the plate. Similar to the finish found on ceramic cook tops and stoves
Should the plates and grills on my Barbecue rust?
No, the grills and plates should not rust. They will only rust if they have been left without cooking oil on them for any length of time.
To stop your plates from rusting, it is a good idea to coat your plate and grill with cooking oil before and after each use.
Do I need to put a fat absorber like sand in the bottom of the fat collection tray on my barbecue?
If your barbecue is fitted with a drip cup that collects the fat that accumulates in the drip tray, there should be no need to use any form of fat absorber.
If your BBQ does not use a fat cup system, Gasmate offers a 100% natural fat absorber that can be used in place of sand or kitty litter
How often should I have my outdoor appliances serviced? Who can carry out the work?
The frequency of service depends on the type of appliance you own. For example, if you own a patio or area heater, this should be serviced by a gasfitter on a 6 – 12 monthly basis, depending on how often it is used.
By comparison, a barbecue will simply require a leak test every time the cylinder is refilled, and a good clean after every use. This should be done by the owner. For further details on leak testing, refer to the common questions safety issues section.
Any repairs to a fault of a technical nature (that is to say, related to the gas or electrical side of the unit’s operation) will need to be carried out by a craftsman gas fitter.
Any cleaning of the unit is to be carried out by the owner. The owner is also responsible for leak testing all gas connections on a regular basis.
For the details of your nearest Gasmate approved service agent contact us on 0800 161 161.
I have a Gasmate Portable Barbecue and I am using a Gasmate Propane Canister (PROCAN) on it instead of a standard cylinder. How long will a PROCAN last?
Typically a Propane Canister will last for 2 1/2 hours when used on a barbecue running on medium to high heat. This is based on a Gasmate Cruiser Portable Barbecue running at 7.5MJ per hour which is the highest output for Gasmate Portable Barbecues that are compatible with a Propane Canister.
Will my stainless steel barbecue discolour?
If proper care of any product made of stainless steel is taken, the product should not rust. Some surface oxidisation will occur if the barbecue is covered while damp or dirty or if the barbecue is located within 2-3 kilometres of coastal area’s.
How can I clean my stainless steel barbecue?
To clean these products use a mild, non-chlorine cleanser or a stainless steel specific cleaner (e.g. 3M SS Cleaner, Brilliance, Goddard’s or Revere ware) and a Scotchbrite pad.Take care to apply the cleaner in a direction following the grain of the material. After cleaning, the surface should be thoroughly rinsed with water and allowed to dry before covering.
I have just purchased a new Gasmate barbecue and I was told to “burn off the plates” before I use it. What does this mean?
Before you use your barbecue for the first time it is a good idea to thoroughly heat the grill and plate for about 15 – 20 minutes on a medium to high heat. This burns off any machine oil or impurities left behind by the manufacturing process.
After this length of time a light coat of cooking oil should be applied to the plate very carefully. Heat for a further 5 minutes before cooking (preferably not olive oil as it burns off too quickly). DO NOT USE COOKING SPRAY AS THE PROPELLANT IS HIGHLY FLAMMABLE
What can I cook on my side burner? Am I meant to put a plate on it?
The side burner is designed to be used like a normal gas stove top, for boiling pots or for using a wok. It is not recommended to put a hotplate over the standard side burner. The side burner should always be used with the trivet in place.
On some of the top end Gas Grills made by Gasmate, there is an infrared rotisserie burner. Can I get a kit that will allow me to attach the rear burner to my BBQ?
The rotisserie burner cannot be retrofitted to any model that does not already come with one
What is the purpose of the long piece of wire, with a hook at one end and a chain at the other, that is attached to my barbecue?
This is a match holder. Should your barbecue’s piezo ignition fail for any reason, this device allows you to safely light your BBQ using a match fixed in the end with the two hooks.
What is the difference between a rail burner and a “U” burner?
Rail burners and “U” burners can be measured in terms of performance, and by the way they heat the cooking surface. A “U” burner will heat a surface more evenly, eliminating any hot spots, but will not put out as much heat as a rail burner.
A Rail burner has a higher output, but is more likely to produce hot spots along either side of the rail.
Rail burners are commonly manufactured using either stainless steel or cast iron. There is no great advantage of using one material over the other. both burners will produce similar heat out puts.
“U” burners are generally made from stainless steel.
When there is a fire ban in place can I light my barbecue?
Only a controlled barbecue can be lit when a fire ban is in place. Kettle, wood or Hibachi barbecues are considered uncontrollable.
If you are unsure contact your local fire station, or visit the New Zealand fire service website at fireandemergency.nz
Heating & Lighting FAQS
What are the differences between a standard patio heater an area heater and a column heater?
The major difference between the three types of heater is the height of the heat source (remembering that heat rises).
On a standard Patio Heater, the heat source is usually situated around about 2 to 2.4 metres off the ground, with a reflector on top of the burner to “bounce” as much of that heat back as possible. A lot of heat energy is lost in this process. Use of patio heaters can also be restricted by ceiling hights in the area of use.
The heat source on an Area Heater is lower to the ground, thus the heat energy given off is used more efficiently as it travels outwards and upwards. Area heaters are suited more for seated groups of people, and can be used in areas where the ceiling does not meet the clearance requirements for a standard Patio heater.
A Column heater combines the benefits of both the Area Heater and the standard Patio Heater, giving Heat at head and chest height. It is however limited to use in areas with high ceilings
I have just bought a Gasmate Patio Heater and I was wondering if I could buy a table that sits over the pole?
You are able to buy tables for Gasmate Patio Heaters. There are 3 types of table available. Wood, glass and stainless steel. These tables are available through your usual retail outlets.
I have LPG cylinders supplying my house and I want to set up some of your wall mounted patio flares. Am I able to convert these from natural gas to LPG?
Unfortunately not, Gasmate do not make a wall mounted LPG flare, nor do we have a kit to convert our natural gas flares to LPG. We do however have a free standing LPG flare that runs from a standard 9kg cylinder.
Fuel & Fittings FAQS
I have just purchased a Gasmate 9.0kg cylinder from a local retailer. When I took the cylinder in to be filled, the filling station could not fill the bottle. What should I do?
Gasmate 9.0kg Cylinders are fitted with a safety device that does not allow the bottle to be over-filled. At the start of the filling process this device can be tripped by a sudden rush of gas into the cylinder, thus not allowing any further gas to be put into the cylinder.
To rectify this, contact Gasmate on 0800 161 161 for your nearest testing station to reset the safety device.
I have just had my brand new Gasmate 9.0kg Cylinder filled, but now I cannot get any gas out of it. What can I do?
Ensure that the regulator is properly inserted into the valve and that the valve is fully open.If there is still a problem contact us at Aber (the supplier of Gasmate Cylinders), on 0800 161 161 and we will give you the contact details of your nearest Cylinder Testing Station.
I recently took a 9.0kg cylinder in to my local filling station and tried to get it filled. The attendant informed me that it was out of test date and therefore could not be filled. What does this mean?
The test date indicates the start point of the 10 year period in which your cylinder complies with the safety standard it was tested against. After the 10 year period has elapsed, the cylinder will need to be re-certified against the current standard.
Part of a filling station attendant’s training is to ensure that a cylinder is not outside of its 10 year test period. If a cylinder is outside this period it should not be filled. The test date is stamped into the cylinders “valve protection ring”.
To get the location of your nearest cylinder testing facility contact Aber on 0800 161 161.
What do the various numbers that are stamped on my Gasmate cylinder mean?
The two most important sets of numbers on a Gasmate cylinder are the E.W and the TEST DATE.
E.W. stands for Empty Weight. It is used to correctly calculate the amount of gas that can be safely put into your cylinder.
TEST DATE relates to the date of manufacturing, which also corresponds with the date that your cylinder was tested against the current test standard in the country you brought it from.
I have an appliance that uses an older style Clip-On or Kosan Adaptor. I have just bought a new LPG Cylinder and it has a QCC type valve with the large external thread on it. Am I able to put a Kosan or Clip-On Adaptor into this cylinder valve?
No. The QCC valves are fitted with a safety device that does not allow a Clip-On Adaptor to be fitted. This type of conversion of the thread is not approved and Filling Stations will not fill your cylinders.
A standard POL cylinder can be converted. This will need to be carried out by an approved agent. Note that all conversions are at the customers expense.
What is OPD?
OPD is an Over Fill Protection Device that is fitted to all Gasmate 9.0Kg LPG Cylinders. It is designed so that a Filling Station cannot accidentally over fill your cylinder past a safe level.
What is QCC?
QCC or Quick Closing Coupling is the large external right hand thread found on the valves of all standard Gasmate 9.0kg LPG Cylinders.
QCC enables a regulator to be connected by hand. No tools are required. QCC is also approved for use indoors whilst POL is not.
QCC is commonly used in patio heaters, barbecues, indoor cabinet heaters and on some portable barbecues.
What is POL?
POL or Prest-O-Lite (Prest-O-Lite was the company that first produced the valve) is an internal, left hand thread connection type that is used in the same valve as QCC as well as on its own.
It was also widely used before QCC. Cylinders with POL only valves can still be purchased. POL is not approved to be used indoors.
POL is commonly used on appliances such as patio heaters, some barbecues and a lot of industrial and domestic high pressure set ups.
What is LCC27?
A new gas cylinder valve has been rolled out to increase safety when it comes to using the “leisure-sized” (existing POL – 4Kg & 9Kg) gas cylinders that are typically used for barbecues
and low pressure appliances. The LCC27 (Leisure
Cylinder Connection Type 27) system reduces
the risk of accidental gas leakage from “leisuresized” LPG cylinders
What is a Companion Cylinder?
A Companion Cylinder is a cylinder that uses a small vertical, external left hand male thread.
It is commonly used on appliances such as camping stoves, heaters and lanterns.
What is Kosan?
A Kosan or Clip-On type valve is an indoor approved valve that does not require any tools to fit a regulator to. As the name implies a regulator can simply be clipped on to a cylinder.
Kosan is no longer supplied as a standard regulator or cylinder valve on Gasmate products but can still be purchased through selected retailers.
Camping Gear FAQS
I have had my Gasmate Camping Lantern for a number of years and it has suddenly stopped working. What should I do?
Because these Lanterns use a fibrous mantle that breaks down easily, they are prone to becoming blocked by fragments of the disintegrated mantles.
To remedy this simply blow the lantern out on a regular basis with an air compressor. Or change the injector annually.
How often should I change the mantle on my Gasmate Lantern?
The mantle should be replaced whenever holes are formed in the fabric or after 7-8 uses. Because the mantles are very delicate once burnt, it is sometimes necessary to change them more frequently.
I just bought a new lantern. When I went to start it up for the first time, the cloth piece inside caught fire. Should this happen?
Yes it should. The mantles are designed to burn. On initial start up, the cloth or “mantle” will catch fire and release a thick white smoke for about 10-20 seconds, then begin to shrink rapidly. This will then subside and the mantle will begin to glow white.
I have just brought a Gasmate Table Top Cooker. When I came to use the unit, I could not get the canister to lock into position. Why will it not work?
The Gasmate Table Top Cooker is fitted with two devices that ensure safe lighting and operation of the unit. The first is a device that does not allow the canister to be locked in place when the gas control knob is turned on. Always ensure the knob is in the OFF position.
The other is the trivet. If the trivet is not turned up the opposite way to the way it is packed it will not allow the canister to be locked in place.
All of the correct lighting information can be found in the instruction manual
The Future FAQS
Can I still connect to natural gas or LPG?
Gasmate 9.0kg Cylinders are fitted with a safety device that does not allow the bottle to be over-filled. At the start of the filling process this device can be tripped by a sudden rush of gas into the cylinder, thus not allowing any further gas to be put into the cylinder.
To rectify this, contact Gasmate on 0800 161 161 for your nearest testing station to reset the safety device.
Will gas prices increase substantially in the coming years?
The test date indicates the start point of the 10 year period in which your cylinder complies with the safety standard it was tested against. After the 10 year period has elapsed, the cylinder will need to be re-certified against the current standard.
Part of a filling station attendant’s training is to ensure that a cylinder is not outside of its 10 year test period. If a cylinder is outside this period it should not be filled. The test date is stamped into the cylinders “valve protection ring”.
To get the location of your nearest cylinder testing facility contact Aber on 0800 161 161.
Can I buy a new gas appliance with confidence?
The two most important sets of numbers on a Gasmate cylinder are the E.W and the TEST DATE.
E.W. stands for Empty Weight. It is used to correctly calculate the amount of gas that can be safely put into your cylinder.
TEST DATE relates to the date of manufacturing, which also corresponds with the date that your cylinder was tested against the current test standard in the country you brought it from.
What will happen to my gas BBQ?
No. The QCC valves are fitted with a safety device that does not allow a Clip-On Adaptor to be fitted. This type of conversion of the thread is not approved and Filling Stations will not fill your cylinders.
A standard POL cylinder can be converted. This will need to be carried out by an approved agent. Note that all conversions are at the customers expense.
When will new renewable gas energy be available?
OPD is an Over Fill Protection Device that is fitted to all Gasmate 9.0Kg LPG Cylinders. It is designed so that a Filling Station cannot accidentally over fill your cylinder past a safe level.
Who are the main users of gas energy in New Zealand?
QCC or Quick Closing Coupling is the large external right hand thread found on the valves of all standard Gasmate 9.0kg LPG Cylinders.
QCC enables a regulator to be connected by hand. No tools are required. QCC is also approved for use indoors whilst POL is not.
QCC is commonly used in patio heaters, barbecues, indoor cabinet heaters and on some portable barbecues.
How much does the direct use of gas contribute to New Zealand’s CO2 emissions?
POL or Prest-O-Lite (Prest-O-Lite was the company that first produced the valve) is an internal, left hand thread connection type that is used in the same valve as QCC as well as on its own.
It was also widely used before QCC. Cylinders with POL only valves can still be purchased. POL is not approved to be used indoors.
POL is commonly used on appliances such as patio heaters, some barbecues and a lot of industrial and domestic high pressure set ups.
Where can I find more information about the future of gas?
A new gas cylinder valve has been rolled out to increase safety when it comes to using the “leisure-sized” (existing POL – 4Kg & 9Kg) gas cylinders that are typically used for barbecues
and low pressure appliances. The LCC27 (Leisure
Cylinder Connection Type 27) system reduces
the risk of accidental gas leakage from “leisuresized” LPG cylinders
Shipping FAQS
How long will my order take to be delivered?
Our delivery timeframe of 5 -7 working days are from the date that the order has been picked up by the courier, not from the time the order was placed. Once the order has left our premises we have no control over the delivery time.
Do you ship to rural addresses?
Yes, we do! However please note a rural surcharge may apply to your order. For further information, please refer to our shipping and returns policy.
Do you ship overseas?
Unfortunately we do not ship outside of New Zealand at this time.