Let me tell you a secret from inside the gas business: not every 12.5kg fill is actually 12.5kg.
As a gas dealer and the founder of OGas Marketplace, I handle cylinders every day. I know what a properly filled 12.5kg cylinder feels like. I also know what a 10kg fill disguised as 12.5kg feels like. The difference is subtle, but it is real — and it costs you money.
Here is how to protect yourself.
Method 1: Know Your Empty Cylinder Weight
Every LPG cylinder has a tare weight stamped on the collar or body. It usually says something like "T.W. 13.2kg" or "Tare Weight: 14.5kg." This is the weight of the empty cylinder itself.
Ask the seller to weigh the cylinder in front of you before and after filling. If the math does not add up, speak up. A honest seller will not be offended. A dishonest seller will try to distract you.
Method 2: The Hand Test
This is not scientific, but it works if you know your cylinder. After a proper 12.5kg fill, a standard cylinder feels noticeably heavy. If you have been using the same cylinder for months, you know the difference between "full" and "not quite full." Trust your hands.
Method 3: Check How Long It Lasts
A genuine 12.5kg fill should last a family of four roughly 4 to 6 weeks with normal cooking. If your "12.5kg" is finishing in 2 weeks, something is wrong. Either your cylinder is leaking, or you were underfilled.
Method 4: Buy From Sellers Who Show You the Scale
The best gas sellers have nothing to hide. They will show you the scale. They will explain the tare weight. They want you to come back next month. The ones who rush you, who look away when you ask questions, who fill your cylinder behind a wall — those are the ones to avoid.
At my shop, Mega Think Success at 20 Ejumehere Street in Oteri, we explain the weight to every new customer. It builds trust. And trust builds business.
Do not let anyone cheat you. Your money is hard-earned. Make sure you get every kilogram you paid for.