Butane gas

 Just brought a gas fire went to get bottle of gas and was turned away because i need exchange bottle, how does this work in spain, what do i need to do now apart from selling the new gas fire ive just brought.

 Hi Intier

We have two of these gas heaters and on two occasions we just pulled up at the petrol station on the motorway close to our urb and bought bottles with no emptys. We did pay extra because of this but from then on its just basic price for empty/full swap. Try your local petrol station.

Hope this helps.

Julie

Hi - in theory you are supposed to fill in a form to apply for a gas bottle but in practice you just need to find a petrol station where you can buy a new one.

I'm not sure of the system with the form, as I just kept trying petrol stations till I got one without any paperwork.

Apparently the system is intended to stop terrorists buying gas bottles to make bombs with - but this is Spain so there is always another way!

We bought a secondhand gas fire that a friend was selling it had the gas bottle already in it!.  So when the gas man comes round in the village we just exchange it.  We do not have this contract you are supposed to have and he never asked for it!!!!!  I believe some super markets sell them as well!!! 

Patrcia 

When we bought our gas fire last year, we were told by our hardware store that if we wanted Repsol, the fire would need to be inspected and then a bottle could be purchased. In the case of CEPSA gas, an inspection is not required. Our hardware store sells both.

Guy

In theory you need a contract as already stated.  I believe that the contract is also some form of insurance should things go awry.  I think you will also find that in the event of this sort of thing happening, and your household insurance company reveals that you have no contract, then they are likely to refuse any payout.  Gas equipment is also meant to be inspected every 5 years to keep this "insurance" up to date, but beware there are some scoundrels out there that will try to rip you off as has happenedf to people we know.  If you tried to purchase a gas container in the uk you would also have to sign a contract so there is really no difference.  Once paperwork is done here in Spain (and it is done by the supplier of the gas/fire) all you need to do is sign and then take you gas home.  It really is that simple.  Why take risks for something that costs nothing other than your signature.

 We had a gas boiler installed and the system was inspected and certified at a cost of around 80Euros. Certificate lasts 5 years. However, the bottles were expensive. Went to a local auction selling bits and pieces and picked up an orange one for 6 euros and silver for around 12 Euros. Orange ones are much heavier. Hope this helps.

This is a letter I wrote recently to a newspaper:- 

RE: Gas Inspectors:-  

Some years ago I called the police to ‘gas inspectors’ who called at my house without an appointment to ‘inspect’ my gas appliances.  

I had asked for and seen what appeared to be a genuine authorisation for them to do the work, although they were not from Repsol.

One of them, when examining the gas containers, had turned his back on me in a ‘strange way’ so I could not see his hands.  He ‘found’ a small cut, in a rubber tube which I had renew a few days before.  I asked him to show me what was in his closed hand.  He refused.  It was obvious that he had a small blade and had cut the tube.

When the police arrived, they confirmed the men were authorised as they worked for a genuine company, but said they could charge what they liked, it was up to the householder to decide whether or not to accept their services.  There is no ‘controlled price’ for such work.  (Rather like a restaurant choosing to charge outrageous prices; it being up to the customer to use the establishment or not).

Subsequently when ‘inspectors’ have called,  I have politely refused them access to my house and have told them to go away.  Problem solved!

(No inspector, even from the gas company with which I have a contract, has that right)

John C

Hi again - I bought my portable gas fire last year and was not asked to fill in any paperwork by the shop.  As I said before, I got my first gas bottle from a garage who did not ask for a contract and have been getting it refilled ever since without any problem.

I bought a refill yesterday and asked the attendant at the Repsol garage if there was any need for a contract, as I didn't have one, and he said no.

Confusing, isn't it!

 Thanks for the info, yes i have been to 4 diferent garages and all will not give full bottle even if i want to pay the extar amount, were do you get the contract from, would it be the garages as they just keep waving me away.

Intier-

This may be helpful:-

http://www.andalucia.com/living/utilities-gas-butano.htm

Why not update your Summer Air Con to reverse cycle - warm in winter cool in Summer.

Then no more messing with gas and you are living in a safer home with none of the moisture generated by the gas heater.

David

Go to your nearest butane gas / heater shop.  Ask for a "contrato nuevo" (new contract) the dealer should then do the paperwork and then you should be able to walk away with your gas bottle.  From then on you can exchange the bottle at  any dealership that handles that particular gas supplier - e.g repsol/cepsa.

.

I just read this on the internet:-    (I cannot confirm it )  :-.

Be careful when you apply for a contract. For insurance purposes it will be necessary for the supplier to visit your premises in order to ascertain that the equipment you intend to use is safe. There is no charge for this inspection, being a requirement under law as well as a requirement of the insurance companies.

Notwithstanding this, It is quite common for employees of either of the gas companies to submit an account and ask for money either for the inspection or as premium for a non-existent insurance. €30 is common. Don't pay it. There may be a charge in some parts of Spain for the initial visit to check that everything is OK but should this be the case it will be made clear prior to the visit and well supported with the appropriate official documentation. Further, an official receipt will be issued which can be verified. Despite these regular attempts at fraud, no one seems to be brought to task and the same employees wend their way around the new customers.