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After the shock of having a river raging through your living room has subsided, and the threat to life and limb has been dealt with, you’re left to deal with the other casualties of the calamity—namely, damage to personal property! From water- and mud-soaked walls and furniture, to a car totem-pole, to fried gadgets, you’ll have to sort through the stuff that survived. How do you clean it all up and get things working again?

Aren’t lamps supposed to radiate with light or connote something bright? Looking at this quirky lamp over here, though, for some reason it exudes something dark and dreary—so much so that its glow seems more like a glower.

This lamp, called the Colgao, is designed by Spanish design studio enPieza. The creative (or maybe even crazy) team is also responsible for the Bic Biro Chandelier, a—you guessed it—chandelier made out of 347 used Bic ballpens.

So, what’s the Colgao table lamp made of?

Most homes today use stovetops and ranges powered by liquefied petroleum gas or LPG. More convenient than the traditional open fire, the LPG has become a cooking companion we can’t live without. But the improper use of LPG in our homes can be harmful, as this can cause fires. Mercedita Pastrana, executive director of the LPG Industry Association, Inc., discusses the importance of LPG regulators, original LPG tanks, and other safety issues.

Regular Regulations
There are different types of regulators used in the Philippines, depending on the types of valves used by the oil companies or the LPG supplier, says Pastrana. The most common type used by major and independent oil companies is the valve with the handwheel.

“Regulators are installed to the valves of the tanks and are connected to the stove by an LPG hose or pipe. This hose should be changed yearly,” adds Pastrana. Before mounting the regulator, make sure that all knobs on the stove are turned off, the connecting hose is attached correctly, and the regulator is turned off. “You will know that the regulator is securely mounted when you hear it ‘click’.”

Purchasing an LPG Tank
The first rule in buying an LPG tank: “Buy only from authorized LPG dealers,” Pastrana advises. It should not be corroded, dilapidated, and dented.

1.    Buy only cylinders or tanks with their bands embossed or stamed on the tank to ensure authenticity. Unauthorized suppliers may just use paint or silkscreen to print their logo on the cyliner.
2.    Check if the tank has the PS quality mark to ensure it was produced in accordance with Philippine standards.
3.    Let a qualified serviceman install your LPG tank. “Check if he is a qualified LPG serviceman certified by the Philippine LPG Association (PLPGA).”
4.    Buy a new LPG tank when the regulator indicated low pressure and the flame on your stove is also low.