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New Delhi: LPG cylinder is a need of every home today, but do you know that a small carelessness on your part can put your entire family in danger? Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) has shared three very important ‘Golden Rules’ for customers through its official Twitter handle. These rules will not only protect you from fraud, but will also protect you from fatal accidents like gas leakage. Many gas accidents that took place in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand last year were the result of such negligence.

Rule number 1: Don’t be lazy to get weighed

The first and most important advice of BPCL is to check the weight of the cylinder. As soon as the delivery boy reaches your home, ask him to weigh the cylinder on the weighing machine. For your information, let us tell you that the empty weight of a 14.2 kg domestic cylinder should be between 15.8 to 16.5 kg, and the filled cylinder should be around 29.5 to 30 kg. Often people do not get weighed in a hurry, taking advantage of which fraudsters hand over cylinders with less gas. This not only hurts your pocket but also raises doubts on the quality of the cylinder.

Rule number 2: Checking for leakage is the mantra to save lives.

The second biggest rule is to check gas leakage closely. Before picking up a cylinder, smell it or listen for a slight ‘hissing’ sound. Before installing the regulator, do a small test – apply soap water on the joints. If bubbles are seen forming there, then understand that gas is leaking and return such cylinder immediately. Statistics from the Petroleum Ministry show that negligence during delivery was responsible for most of the more than 200 gas blasts that occurred in 2025. Always use ISI marked regulators and pipes only.

Rule No. 3: Do not make payment without cash memo

The third golden rule is to save your hard-earned money. Carefully read the receipt i.e. cash memo received while taking delivery. Check the cylinder serial number, correct weight, price and tax on the receipt. Many times delivery agents charge more than the fixed price, which is called ‘overcharging’. Giving money without seeing the bill can make you a victim of fraud. It is your right to get a receipt under the Consumer Protection Act and the agency failing to provide it may face heavy fines. BPCL has also advised the beneficiaries of Ujjwala scheme to check their subsidy status.

Safe storage is also important

Apart from these rules, the way of storing the cylinder also matters. Always keep the cylinder upright and store it in a well-ventilated place away from sunlight or rain. Do not keep more cylinders than necessary at home and keep getting them serviced from time to time. Experts believe that regular testing reduces the risk of accidents by 70 percent. Oil companies say that the gas supply is complete, so do not panic and make advance booking. Remember, an informed customer is the foundation of a safe family.