The categories below list the most common questions customers ask us, along with the answers we most often provide. Our Customer Information section contains downloadable PDF files that should also help you with your enquiry.
About Gasmate
- Who manages the Gasmate range of products?
Hamilton-based Aber (www.aber.co.nz) has managed the Gasmate brand in New Zealand since 1995. Its sister company, Sitro, is based in Melbourne and manages the brand throughout Australia. - Is it OK to print and distribute copies of the NZ Camping Ground Map?
We produced this with the help of NZ Camping Association and as long as you include reference to this organisation it is OK to reproduce the map. - Can I purchase products through you directly?
Unfortunately not, Aber Holdings Ltd is the wholesale distributor of the Gasmate range of products. As such we do not sell directly to consumers. For a list of retailers visit the “Where to Buy” section of this website.
Safety
- 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.
- 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 www.fire.org.nz
- I have recently read an article about the dangers of cooking food on a BBQ at high temperatures. The article stated that meat in particular would begin to produce HCA’s when cooked on a BBQ and that these are carcinogens. Is this correct and will it affect my health?
HCA’s or heterocyclic amines are a carcinogenic (cancer causing) by-product of creatine (a chemical compound found in muscle) and several specific amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) which react when heated beyond about 250°C.
All muscle meats contain creatine and amino acids. This includes; beef, poultry, fish and pork.
While HCA’s are carcinogenic in large quantities, the amount found in an average portion of barbecued, fried or broiled meat is too small to be of any concern.
When consuming foods that contain normal levels of HCA’s on a daily basis the risk of developing any kind of symptoms as a direct result of eating these foods is around 0.01%.
Some simple steps that can be taken if you are concerned about heterocyclic amines include:
Be selective about the cuts of meat you purchase. Lean or game meats are less likely to produce large quantities of HCA’s than fatter cuts.
Reduce cooking times. If muscle meats are well done or over done there is a higher chance of larger quantities of HCA’s being formed.
Marinate or crumb meats before cooking, using home made ingredients.
Eating foods rich in antioxidants along side muscle meats will help the body to offset the carcinogenic effects of HCA’s, for example; a simple green salad.
Partial precooking in the microwave then “finish grilling” the meat will lower the number of HCA’s produced. Microwaving muscle meats has been shown to produce little or no HCA’s.
Sources:
*American National institute of health
*Wikipedia
*Cattlemen’s beef board and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association of America.
*Augustsson, study of HCA content of food. 1999. - I have recently read that there is a possibility that the coating on the surface of non-stick pans will break down at high temperatures and release toxins into the air.
The article stated that these toxins can be detrimental to my health as well as the health of my pets. I have a Gasmate portable barbecue that uses a plate with a non-stick coating. Will this do the same?
Gasmate does use a non stick coating on all plates in our portable barbecue range. Gasmate portable barbecues can reach a maximum temperature of approximately 390°. The chemical composition of this coating will begin to degrade when heated to around 260°C. At this temperature the coating may begin to release Perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA in very minute quantities. Current studies suggest that the levels of PFOA released by the coating are around about 100 times lower than the levels previously suggested to be of any concern.
Normal use of a non stick surface should not result in any kind of break down of the coating.
Sources:
*Environmental working group
*Wikipedia
*The Washington Post
*Serendipity: accidental discoveries in science; John Wiley and sons New York 1989
*Consumer Magazine
*Applied Science. ://www.asanltr.com/ASANews-98/pfib.html
- How can I maintain safety at my home as a result of an earthquake?
LPG in the home
If your house has been damaged and you need to leave, turn the gas off at the meter or, if you have cylinder gas, at the cylinder.
Do Not use your appliances if the cylinder supplying gas to them has toppled or is in horizontal position.
The gas reticulation system in Christchurch City has been turned off for your safety. The gas company and the user of the gas installation must ensure all appliances are turned off and the piping is sound before re-commissioning any installations.
Outdoor heating appliances such as patio heaters, camping cookers and barbecues should not be used indoors.
Your gas piping may have been damaged due to the earth quake. Get it tested by an authorised gas fitter if you smell gas around the house.
Product Care & Warranties
- My Gasmate model 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. - 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.
- Will my stainless steel barbecue rust?
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. - 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. - 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 lenght 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 FLAMABLE. - What are the warranty periods for Gasmate products?GASMATE/CHARMATE (Portable Appliances)
Camping and Leisure Products*
RESIDENTIAL = 1 year
COMMERCIAL = n/a
Charcoal and Gas Barbecues < $500 RRP*
RESIDENTIAL = 1 year
COMMERCIAL = n/a
Gas Barbecues > $500 RRP*
RESIDENTIAL = 2 years
COMMERCIAL = n/a
Gas Barbecues - Catering Series*
RESIDENTIAL = 1 year
COMMERCIAL = 1 year
Patio Heaters and Outdoor Lighting*
RESIDENTIAL = 1 year
COMMERCIAL = n/a
GAS EQUIPMENT (Installed Equipment)
Water Pumps and Accessories*
RESIDENTIAL = 1 year
COMMERCIAL = n/a
Domestic Regulators and Accessories (including brass fittings)*
RESIDENTIAL = 1 year
COMMERCIAL = n/a
Hose Assemblies
RESIDENTIAL = 1 year
COMMERCIAL = n/a
LPG Cylinders
Cylinder Welds
RESIDENTIAL = Lifetime
COMMERCIAL = Lifetime
Cylinder Valve
RESIDENTIAL = 1 year
COMMERCIAL = 1 year
Cylinder Valve Boss
RESIDENTIAL = 3 years
COMMERCIAL = 3 years
The above applies to all products from date of purchase by the original consumer for use and operation as intended in the manufacturer’s instructions. Full conditions of warranty can be found on www.aber.co.nz and in the warranty included with the product purchased. *Products marked with this symbol are deemed to be portable and will require delivery to the nearest Aber Authorised Service Centre. This warranty version is dated 1st September 2010 and Aber reserves the right to amend accordingly.
Hooded & Flat Barbecues
- What is the best barbecue for simple no-frills cooking?
It really does depend on the size of your family and how often you want to cook outdoors. See our Customer Information Section for selection guidelines. - What grade of stainless steel is my Hooded BBQ built from?
Most BBQs are manufactured using 430 grade stainless steel.
430 is a baseline Ferritic grade SS currently common in BBQ and outdoor product manufacture.
However some of our Grills use 304 grade which is a higher grade stainless steel, more suited to harsher outdoor conditions.
To find out which grade of Stainless steel a BBQ is made from you may wish to consult your nearest retailer, your instruction manual or one of our customer services representatives on 0800 161 161
- 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. - I have Natural Gas in my house and I wish to connect my barbecue to an existing outside mains gas connection. Can I convert my LPG barbecue to Natural gas?
It is possible to convert a barbecue to natural gas. Any conversions will need to be carried out by a craftsman gas fitter at the owners expense. The gas fitter will need to certify that the appliance is compliant with the current version of NZS 5261.
Validity of warranty claims will be subject to proof of purchase of an approved conversion kit as well as for the BBQ. Approved conversion kits are available through your local plumbing merchant. The conversion kit part number is as follows, NGC001. this kit may not fit all models of BBQ.
- I have just bought my first barbecue and I am wanting some cooking times for various meats and vegetables. Can you help?
Gasmate has produced a Barbecue Cookbook entitled “Sizzle”. It is for barbecuers of all skill levels to help them cook the perfect meal on their barbecue.
It features a range of classic and contemporary recipes. As well as practical information on cooking your favourite meat and vegetables.
The Cookbook can be purchased through your usual retailers.
- 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.
Both the iRed and the Quantum Pro come standard with a reversable hotplate that is designed to go over the side burner. These plates do not suit any other model. - 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 hardwearing ceramic, glass like coat to the outside of the plate. Similar to the finish found on ceramic cook tops and stoves. - 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.
- On some of the top end Gas Grills made by Gasmate, there is an inferred rotisserie burner. This feature is not standard on some of the lower end grills. 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.
Portable Barbecues
- 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 barbecue using a match fixed in the end with the two hooks. - I have a Gasmate Hummer; Cruiser; Adventurer; Rocket portable Barbecue. The flame is not very big. What is wrong with my barbecue?
Each of these types of barbecue has a safety device built into the hose.
To operate the barbecue follow the instructions below:
1. Ensure the control knob on the regulator is in the OFF position.
2. Turn the cylinder valve ON.
3. Wait for 30 seconds for the safety device to reset after the initial 'rush' of gas from the cylinder.
4. Turn the barbecue control ON and ignite the barbecue. - 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 an Gasmate Adventurer Portable Barbecue running at 9MJ per hour which is the highest output for Gasmate Portable Barbecues that are compatible with a Propane Canister. - I have a Gasmate Rio Portable Barbecue and it has four “S” shaped hooks on the handles. What are these hooks for?
They are to hang your barbecue tools from while the barbecue is set up on the floor stand. - I have an older model Gasmate Cruiser BBQ and I was wondering if I could get a hot plate for it.
Unfortunately not. The new model cruiser does come with a plate, but it can’t be retrofitted to the older model. This is because the hot plate has an extra step down, which requires an extra portion of the shell of the BBQ to be cut away. The older model does not have this and would require modification.
Barbecue Accessories
- I have a Gasmate GRT2 Battery Powered Rotisserie and I want to run it through Mains Power, can I do so?
Yes, it is possible to use a 12V AC Adaptor to run your rotisserie from mains power. These can be purchased through most electrical retailers. - Is my Gasmate Barbecue Cover waterproof?
Yes all Gasmate Barbecue and Patio Heater Covers are water proof. It is still recomended that, even with a cover on your BBQ or Patio heater, they are stored out of the weather when not in use. - How often should I change the ceramic briquettes in my barbecue?
The briquettes should be changed at least annually.
Outdoor Heating & Lighting
- 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.
- What are the differences between a standard Patio Heater a Gasmate 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 clerance requirments for a standard Patio heater.
A Column heater combines the benifits of both the Area Heater and the standard Patio Heater, giving Heat at head and chest hight. It is however limited to use in areas with high ceilings.
- I have just brought 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.
Canisters & LPG Cylinders
- 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. - What is the warranty period on my Gasmate 9.0kg cylinder?
Gasmate covers its domestic LPG cylinders with a life time warranty on all welds on the cylinder, as well as a 3 year warranty on the valve boss and a 1 year warranty on the valve itself. - 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 Gasmate Propane Canister (PROCAN) will last for 2½ hours when used on a barbecue running on medium to high heat. This is based on a Gasmate Adventurer Barbecue running at 9MJ per hour which is the highest output for Gasmate portable barbecues that are compatible with a Gasmate Propane Canister. - 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. - 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.
- 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 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. - 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.
Tramping and Adventure
- I have just brought a Gasmate Table Top Cooker (PC02). 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.
Campsite Lighting
- 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 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. - 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.
