What's in the can? - Our Life in Costa Rica

I was washing some dishes this morning (altho we are lucky enough to have a dishwasher). Anyway the water suddenly went cold.

Uh oh! Time to change the gas can.

Did you know?

Natural gas is used extensively throughout homes in Costa Rica, as a power source for cooking. Unlike in other countries, like Canada, the United States and Colombia, for example, in Costa Rica natural gas is not piped into homes: it is purchased in cylinders.

Because of the potential danger associated with natural gas leaks, suppliers add the noxious scent to natural gas as an olfactory warning that the harmful vapors are loose in the air. This precautionary measure indicates the inherent hazards of natural gas that can, at the right levels, kill you. That said, natural gas is repeatedly touted as one of the safest and cleanest-burning fossil fuel sources.

The main concern of the ARESEP (Regulatory Authority of Public Services) is that the majority of the homes store their gas cylinder inside their homes. We store ours outside in a locked area next to the house (see ours above).

A typical home user will purchase their natural gas from the “pulperia” (corner grocery store) and local supermarket. Typically, after the first purchase, what occurs is an exchange of an empty cylinder with a full one. Most people do not pay attention to the condition of the cylinder they receive during these transactions (pretty beat up).

In Costa Rica, the retail price of natural gas is set by the ARESEP. Just like gasoline prices, it is the same at every supplier and retail outlet in the country. Right now ours is about $13 per can (one can will usually last us about 1 month)

Just wanted you to know!