What Is A Christmas tree?
In the mining of petroleum gas and oil, a Christmas tree refers to an intricate assembly consisting of a series of valves, fittings and spools that sit on top of a gas or oil well to regulate outward and inward flow of fluid and gas. The terms wellhead and Christmas tree are often interchangeably used to refer to this apparatus. However, the wellhead is an entirely different sub-system sitting on the very mouth of the well. The Christmas tree sits on top of a wellhead. (more…)
How Gas Is Collected Using Christmas Trees
What Is A Christmas tree?
In the mining of petroleum gas and oil, a Christmas tree refers to an intricate assembly consisting of a series of valves, fittings and spools that sit on top of a gas or oil well to regulate outward and inward flow of fluid and gas. The terms wellhead and Christmas tree are often interchangeably used to refer to this apparatus. However, the wellhead is an entirely different sub-system sitting on the very mouth of the well. The Christmas tree sits on top of a wellhead. (more…)
A History of Gas Fires
Gas fires have long been one of the most popular ways to warm a home. They’re reliable, safe and odourless, so you can enjoy fast heat in comfort – perfect for those colder nights during the winter. While gas fires have been a leading choice for homes for many years, it took a long time for them to become safe and viable for widespread use.
Top 12 Inflatable Santas
The decorations are starting to go up and, far from ‘loving thy neighbour as thyself’, it seems like every other street has two or more houses that are dedicated to besting the other in garden displays. If you’re playing into this game this Christmas, there’s no better way to decorate your Christmas garden than with a blow-up Santa. (more…)
Food Preservation and Christmas Dishes
Food preservation is an important skill to master in the process of reducing food wastage, especially around Christmas feasts. It’s about pickling, pantries and puddings – some Christmas puddings can last a whole two years after they’re made due to their high alcohol and sugar contents. In this article, we’ll look at the history of food preservation and how you should preserve your favourite Christmas dishes to prevent them from becoming the dog’s dinner.
Food Preservation through the Ages
Successfully preserving your food won’t guarantee you a shot at ruling the world, but having a healthy reserve could give an army a massive edge over its enemy, espeically in the ancient world. The Egyptian and Roman civilizations would pickle or ferment foods for their people. Another option was to dry and salt food, such as meat, in order to make it last a bit longer. Over 3000 years later, we in the twenty-first century still enjoy a bit of pickled garlic and cured ham.
In the nineteenth century, French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte realised the difference that good food resources could have on battles; healthy and well-fed troops fought with greater success than poorly nourished ones. Following this revelation, Napoleon sank a great deal of money into food preservation sciences. This lead to the discovery that food stays edible and preserved for longer when kept in an airtight container.
Essentially, Napoleon Bonaparte funded the science behind modern Tupperware.
It wasn’t for another half-century that Louis Pasteur came forward with his hypothesis that the presence of microorganisms in the air increased the rate at which food decays, which led to the prevalence of tinned food.
Knowing the effects that microorganisms have on food has influenced contemporary food preservation tactics. Now, instead of drying food naturally in the sun as the ancient Egyptians once did, we accelerate the process by dehydrating food, which is much more efficient. As well as using air-tight containers, we also use food preservation gases such as nitrogen to keep microorganisms from growing on our food. We know that microorganisms like bacteria grow more quickly in warm conditions, which is also why we use fridges to keep food cold.
Contemporary Food Preservation
Nitrogen cylinders are used in industrial food preservation. Nitrogen gas modifies the atmosphere of the packaging, preventing microorganisms from coming into contact with the food. Bacteria and mould make food inedible, but they need oxygen to develop. By changing the atmosphere in the packaging from oxygen to nitrogen, bad bacteria can no longer grow.
Preserving your Food this Christmas
At Christmas, our food supplies soar. Houses across the country hoard food like never before just for that big day. This means that you’re likely to be left with a lot of leftovers, so it’s important to know how to make them last. Other than saving your food for leftovers, you may be interested in what kinds of food you can prepare in advance so that you spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day relaxed and confident about your cooking time.
Gravy
Gravy can be frozen so you can make it in advance. A lot of people will be shaking their heads and saying that Christmas gravy needs the precious turkey juices to be proper Christmas gravy, but don’t worry, because you can have your cake and eat it, too. Simply defrost the gravy when you are cooking the turkey, and tip the turkey juices into your pre-made gravy before serving.
Stuffing
You can also make stuffing in advance. You can mix it and freeze it, or you can mix it, cook it and then freeze it so you only have to warm it up on the big day. Don’t wait to start your stuffing this Christmas, get it out of the way so you don’t have to worry about it while your kids are opening their presents.
Bread Sauce
Like gravy, bread sauce also freezes well. You can cook most sauces way in advance and freeze them.
Yorkshire Puddings
Mix the batter, cook the puddings and stick them in the freezer. They’ll only need 5-10 minutes in the oven on the big day to heat up.
Christmas Pudding
Christmas pudding made with dried fruit and alcohol can last for years. Get one in the sales after this Christmas and you’ll be well prepared for next year. Also, if you’ve eaten far too much of your savouries and can’t possibly manage a Christmas pud’, you don’t have to worry about it going off for quite a long time.
Christmas Turkey
The main event lasts only 3-4 days after cooking, so get to making those turkey sandwiches once your Christmas is over.
If you’re in the food preservation business and need more gas, we are the eco-friendly gas cylinder suppliers that you’ve been looking for. When managing food preservation at home remember to plan your cooking in advance by understanding the science behind food decay. Alternatively, if you’re planning an adventurous Christmas BBQ this year, you can check out our Top Tips for a Winter Barbecue.
8 Common Uses of Bottled Gas
When most people think of bottled gas, the first use they probably think of will be helium balloons. Helium balloons are a popular attraction at weddings, birthday parties, showcases and the kids’ section in McDonald’s. Balloons are a very visible use of bottled gas, but it has hundreds of other functions in your life that you might not yet be aware of.
What’s the Difference between MIG and TIG Welding Gas
It’s a question asked by many welders who are just starting out in their craft. Regardless of whether you’re welding for a career or as a hobby, it’s important to understand the differences between these two. Understanding which gas to use in which situation will ensure that you are able to weld efficiently and safely.
Everything You Need to Know About Hydroponics
Most people have probably heard or seen the word ‘hydroponics’ in films or in the news, but although this strange term has been around for decades, it still seems shrouded in mystery. While this revolutionary method of hydroculture has become increasingly popular in horticultural circles, many people still may not know what it means, let alone how it works. For example, you might not have known that it requires food-grade CO2 or that Adams Gas provide refillable, bottles and canisters that are ideal for this purpose. We’re proud to be a part of a sustainable and environmentally conscious approach to what very well may be the future of horticulture. So here we take a look at what hydroponics is, how it works and its advantages over more traditional forms of horticulture.
What is Hydroponics and How Does It Work?
Hydroponics refers to the method of growing plants without soil. Instead, the root systems are supported in an inert growing medium and administered a water-based, mineral/nutrient solution – hence the name! As these systems are designed for indoor use, specialised UV lighting is required to provide plants with photosynthesis. Although certain equipment, such as lighting, is required for all hydroponic systems, there are various techniques for growing plants hydroponically.
Types of Hydroponic Systems
While there are countless methods and variations of hydroponic gardening, there are six basic types of hydroponic systems which are categorised as either active or passive.
Wick System
Commonly viewed as the most simplistic type of hydroponics, the Wick System is known as a passive system, which simply means there are no moving parts. Instead wicks, which hang down into a water reservoir, are used to draw nutrient solution into the growing medium. This system can be used with a variety of different growing mediums – Perlite, Vermiculite, Rockwool and Coconut Fibre are among the most popular. Although this is the simplest system, it is not well-suited for growing large plants or ones that require large amounts of water, as they may use up the nutrient solution faster than the wicks can supply it.
Water Culture
This system has moving parts and is therefore referred to as an active system. However, Water Cultures are still considered to be the simplest form of active systems. With this method, the roots of the plants are completely immersed in the reservoir of water containing the nutrient solution. A pump is typically used to help oxygenate the water, allowing the roots to breathe. Although this method is typically considered the simplest form of active system, very few plants are suited for this type of system. As with the Wick System, this method is also not well-suited for large plants.
Ebb & Flow System
These systems work by temporarily flooding the grow tray with the water-based nutrient solution. After surrounding the plant roots with solution, it is then drained back in to the reservoir, by using a pump that is submersed in the solution. This process is usually automated with a timer. These versatile systems can be used with a variety of growing mediums.
Drip System
This is the most popular type of hydroponic system in the world. A timer is used to control a submersed pump that pumps water and nutrient solution from a reservoir through a network of elevated misting jets that spray the plants from above. There are two basic variations of this system: one with a recovery system that collects nutrient solution back into the reservoir, and one without. While recovery systems are able to utilise the nutrient solution more effectively, non-recovery systems require less maintenance, as they prevent the pH level of the reservoir from varying.
N.F.T. System
This is probably the kind of system that most people picture when they think of hydroponics. NFT stands for Nutrient Film Technique, a method that utilises a constant flow of nutrient solution, which is pumped from the reservoir into the growing tray. One big advantage of this system is that it requires no growing medium; with the plants being supported in small plastic baskets, the roots hang down and draw up the nutrients directly from the solution. This kind of system can be rather high maintenance in order to avoid technical issues; once the flow of nutrients stops, plant roots can dry out rapidly.
Aeroponic System
This is commonly viewed as a high-tech method of hydroponics. As with the NFT system, there’s basically no growing medium; the roots hang in the air and are misted every few minutes with nutrient solution. Like the NFT system, this method also requires quite a bit of vigilance, as the roots dry out rapidly if the misting cycle is interrupted.
What are the benefits of hydroponics?
There are many advantages of hydroponic gardening. Here are some of the main ones:
- Complete control of nutrient supply: Since soil is not being relied on to supply minerals or nutrients, you can easily adjust mineral / nutrient levels to suit the needs of specific plants.
- Not limited by climate or season: With hydroponics you can grow any time of year; in fact, you can grow all year-round, regardless of the weather outside.
- Higher yields and better results: A finely calibrated and well-maintained hydroponic system can easily surpass a soil-based system in terms of both quality and amount of produce yielded.
- Huge environmental benefits to hydroponics: In addition to requiring much less growing space than traditional horticulture, hydroponics use significantly less water and enable the recycling of nutrient solution.
- All plants can be grown hydroponically: Even root vegetables that traditionally grow beneath the soil – potatoes, carrots, onions, etc. – can be grown with hydroponics.
How is gas involved in Hydroponics?
Along with sunlight, CO2 is an essential ingredient in photosynthesis. While UV rays from sunlight can be adequately replicated by hydroponic lighting systems, providing the correct levels of CO2 that are normally found outdoors is another matter. Administering the correct amount of any gas is a much trickier and demanding procedure than measuring levels of light. This is where Adams Gas comes in.
Just as different types of hydroponic plants require different levels and lengths of UV exposure, they also need certain levels of CO2; the most accurate way of administering this necessary ingredient is by using pressurised CO2 for hydroponics. If you’re interested in getting into hydroponics, get in touch with Adams Gas today for more information about the canister size that’s right for your project.
How to Make Confetti-Filled Balloons
If you want to make a real impression at your next big event, you can’t go wrong with balloons. Whether it’s big, colourful ones roaming on the floor of a child’s birthday party, or sophisticated white helium balloons tied together and peppered throughout a wedding reception: balloons will always create a lively atmosphere for any occasion.
But, sometimes, you’ll want to step up your decorating game further, and what better way to do that than by adding some confetti into the mix? Confetti-filled balloons sparkle and dazzle and add something special to the overall feel of an event. But if you don’t want to buy confetti-filled balloons, then you can make your own at home. Here’s how:
Get That Confetti
Assuming you already have your balloons ready (and you will probably want to make sure they’re clear balloons), you’ll need some confetti to fill them with. You can find sequins and other materials that can be used for confetti at any craft shop. But you may want to make some home-made confetti, so you can better match the colours and style to the rest of your party decorations.
Simply get some colourful tissue paper and a funky hole punch designed to create the particular shape you desire. If punching your own confetti, punch through an entire stack of the tissue paper at once; this saves time and also makes a cleaner cut. Once you have gathered enough confetti to fill your balloons, the next step is to try and get them into the balloon itself.
Getting the Confetti into the Balloons
This is the tricky bit. It can be quite fiddly to get confetti into deflated balloons due to how small and narrow the opening is. You can do it by hand by simply poking the confetti into the balloon, but an easier way is to employ the use of a funnel.
Stick the funnel in the mouth of the deflated balloon and pour the confetti into the balloon – you may need to roll up the confetti first if the pieces are too large. Once you have the desired amount of confetti in each balloon, you can then blow them up.
Inflate Those Balloons
When it comes to inflating the balloons, you have two choices: helium or air. Which you pick will probably be dependent on the type of event you’re hosting – a child’s birthday party will probably benefit from air-blown balloons that don’t float, so they can be kicked about and played with. But most other events are better suited to helium balloons.
Helium tanks can be purchased from bottled gas suppliers such as Adams Gas. As a tip, it’s probably a good idea to blow a couple of times into the balloon before filling them with helium so that the confetti covers the insides of the balloon. Once full of helium from the tank, tie off the ends. You now have inflated balloons filled with confetti, but there’s just one last thing to do.
Generate Static
Confetti has a tendency to pool at the bottom of the balloon, which is not a good look. To get the confetti to stick to the sides, try rubbing the balloons against clothing or hair. The generated static will pull the confetti up the sides of the balloons to give them that wonderful confetti-filled effect.
Adams Gas is ISO 9001 Accredited
When building a business, maintaining customers and attracting new trade is the entire goal. There are several ways in which business owners can encourage sales; developing brand loyalty and trust among customers are two of the most effective ways of achieving this. Customers are far more likely to return to the same company if they believe that they are receiving a decent, reliable and trustworthy service.
One way of promoting trust in your company is through accreditations; such credentials serve as proof to potential customers that they can have faith in your services. But what is meant by the term ‘accreditation’, and how does this influence customer purchasing decisions? Here, we take a look at the importance of accreditation and specifically how ISO 9001 accreditation has impacted Adams Gas.
Accreditations: What Are They?
Accreditations are desirable grades awarded to businesses that show that they have been assessed to an industry-recognised standard. Such credentials are also seen as a safety barrier for customers, ensuring that they will be getting quality service from an organisation.
As of 17th May 2018, Adams Gas became officially ISO 9001 accredited. We have been assessed and approved by QAS International to the ISO 9001 management systems, standards and guidelines.
What is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is a standard that sets out the requirements for a quality management system, helping businesses and organisations be more efficient and improve customer satisfaction. There are currently over one million companies and organisations in over 170 countries certified to ISO 9001. The standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management.
ISO 9001 was first founded in 1987, but the standards are regularly updated to ensure it remains relevant as the world of business changes over time – ISO 9001 is based on the idea of continual improvement. As ISO 9001 is flexibly designed to suit any type of business, objectives are not strictly specified and instead the company itself, such as Adams Gas, define their own objectives based on their organisational needs and continually improve their processes in order to reach those objectives.
Here is more on the background of ISO 9001:
What Does This Mean for Adams Gas Customers?
Implementing a quality management system into the Adams Gas organisation will only benefit our customers further. We will be able to put our customers first, making sure we consistently meet their needs as bottled gas suppliers.
With ISO 9001, Adams Gas can work in a more efficient way as our processes are aligned and understood by all of our employees. This, in turn, increases our overall productivity and efficiency, ensuring a healthier working environment for all. We will be able to meet the necessary statutory and regulatory requirements with greater fluidity and can identify and address any risks quicker.
With the customer-focus management principle outlined in ISO 9001, we can better understand our customer’s current and future needs and link our objectives to meet customer needs and expectations. We can monitor customer satisfaction, taking appropriate actions and actively managing relationships with our customers.
As with any organisation, official accreditations are a positive thing. Here at Adams Gas we are constantly striving for improvement, and with the addition of our ISO 9001 accreditation, you can be assured that we are following a strict standard of quality management principles.
Top BBQ Recipes
If, like us, you’ve had a number of BBQs already this summer and now find yourself running out of inspiration for when the sun next shines, don’t worry! Instead of the typical sausages and burgers, why not try a few of these new delicious top BBQ recipes that are guaranteed to go down a treat?
Pineapple & Pork Skewers
What You’ll need:
Pork fillet, Small Pineapple, Green Pepper, Spring Onions,
Muscovado Sugar, Cider Vinegar, Fish Sauce,
Coriander, Cooked Rice.
Method:
This might look like a lot of ingredients, but it’s a simple recipe.
Just heat the sugar and vinegar over a pan and add the fish sauce once its melted.
Then use this mixture to marinate the chopped pork and fire up the BBQ.
Once you’ve cooked the pork, slide it onto some skewers with the pineapple, pepper and spring onion.
Serve with a sprinkle of coriander and rice.
See the full recipe.
Halloumi Kebabs with Thyme & Lemon Marinade
What You’ll Need:
Courgettes, Red Onion, Halloumi Cheese Chunks, Cherry Tomatoes,
Olive Oil, Lemon juice, Thyme, Dijon Mustard,
Pitta Bread.
Method:
This is a quick and tasty recipe for any vegetarians attending your BBQ.
To make the marinade, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, mustard and seasoning.
Then thread the chopped courgette, red onion, halloumi cheese and cherry tomatoes onto skewers.
Place the skewers on the BBQ and brush with the marinade, while turning, until the cheese turns a golden brown.
Serve warm with the pitta bread.
See the full recipe.
Pepper & Chorizo Skewers with Honey Drizzle
What You’ll Need:
Padron Peppers, Chorizo,
Honey, Sea Salt, Smoked Paprika.
Method:
BBQ recipes don’t get any easier than this one…
Thread your skewers with peppers and chorizo and place on the BBQ until they look charred on each side.
Before serving, drizzle with 1 tbsp of honey and a pinch of sea salt and paprika.
It’s as simple as that!
See the full recipe.
Barbecue Steak with Lime & Mango Salsa
What You’ll Need:
Soft Brown Sugar, Lime, Steaks
Mango, Avocado, Red Chilli, Coriander
Method:
Nothing quite beats a barbequed steak. So, this recipe is a must for any BBQ.
Mix 1 tbsp of the brown sugar with the juice of half a lime and use this to marinate the steaks.
After 10 minutes, remove the steaks from the marinade and BBQ the steak to your liking.
Dice 1 mango, 1 avocado, 1 chilli and mix together with a dash of coriander to serve with the steaks.
See the full recipe.
Green Herb & Chilli Corn on the Cob
What You’ll Need:
Corn Cobs, Unsalted Butter, Basil, Parsley,
Coriander, Mint Springs, Garlic, Chilli.
Method:
For a light snack option, perhaps for those on a diet, make sure you include some yummy side dishes.
Toss the herbs, butter, garlic and chilli into a blender until it’s all smooth.
Smother your cobs in the butter blend before tightly wrapping them in tin foil to prevent any leaking.
Lightly BBQ the cobs for 15-20 minutes, turning every 5 minutes.
Remove the foil and serve up.
See the full recipe.
BBQ Rum & Caramel Bananas
What You’ll Need:
Unpeeled Bananas, Spiced Rum, Butter,
Soft Brown Muscovado Sugar, Treacle,
Ice cream.
Method:
Many people foolishly forget about deserts at a BBQ. But make your next BBQ stand out from the rest with this sweet recipe.
Mix 50g of Butter, 40g of Sugar, 1 tbs of Treacle and 1-2 tbs of the Rum in a bowl.
Make a split through the inside curve of each banana skin and simply spread a spoonful of the spiced butter inside each split.
Wrap theses bananas in foil and BBQ on the embers for 15 minutes, turning half way.
Tuck in and enjoy with a scoop of ice cream.
See the full recipe.
Enquire for Propane Gas
With all of these fantastic top BBQ recipes to try, make sure that you don’t run out of gas! For refills of propane gas in Kent contact Adams Gas.
Breaking News: CO2 Shortage and Adams Gas
You may have heard some recent major news within the industry. Britain isn’t just suffering from a water shortage at the moment due to the high temperatures; we are also suffering from a carbon dioxide shortage due to factory closures. The summer season is also partly the reason for this lack of a hugely required and popular gas. Since the farmers don’t need as much fertiliser over the summer period, ammonia plants close down for essential works – this means many plants are currently shut which has had a knock-on effect in many sectors dependent on the gas. (more…)
Summer’s Here – It’s Time To Have A Gas
Our leisure time is more precious than ever before and with the summer season underway and the prospect of more good weather to come, we need to think of how to make the most of it. With the outdoor dining and entertaining market worth just over £7.1bn in 2017 according to nationalbbqweek.co.uk, it is no surprise that the item at the very top of the list for enjoying the summer will be digging out and dusting off the BBQ and inviting friends over.
Eat, Drink And Be Merry
Despite reportedly being an import from our cousins in the United States, the BBQ has become a solid British tradition that shows no sign of abating with 131 million of them being held in 2017. In fact, the only thing that is decreasing when it comes to BBQ trends in the UK is the use of charcoal as fuel – propane gas is now used in over 53% of cases.
This could be partly explained by a consumer-driven requirement for using ‘cleaner’ fuels that are not only better for the environment but also live up to higher expectations of food quality: no longer considered acceptable are the incinerated, bitter offerings that manage to be both burnt and undercooked at the same time; instead, today’s discerning BBQ attendee wants cleaner, fresher-tasting food that can be cooked in a controlled manner and eaten with confidence. Here at Adams Gas there is a range of options of Calor Gas available – whatever the size of your gathering.
If you’re celebrating a special occasion – or indeed just feel like adding that extra touch to treat your guests – Adams Gas even provide Carbon Dioxide liquid intake cylinders for glass frosting or to keep glasses and their contents cool during the summer heat.
Into The Night
With research carried out by Mintel in their Pub Visiting Report 2017 suggesting that the numbers of us heading out to the pub is in steady decline and with property space at a premium, it’s not surprising that we’re investing more in our own outdoor spaces and sales of outdoor products that enable us to do this are on the increase, allowing us to continue our gathering even when the sun has gone down. Today’s gardens don’t just have the motion-sensor security lights of old, usually triggered by a neighbour’s cat; now we have lighting at different levels: solar-powered stake lighting along our paths, up-lights trained on our prized horticultural efforts, fairy lights – previously only seen at Christmas – draped through our trees.
Naturally, the British climate being what it is, even the hottest of summer days can bring chilly evenings so we can ensure our guests are kept warm when entertaining outdoors by ensuring our patio heaters and gas-powered fire pits are well topped-up and Adams Gas range of propane patio gas is perfect for just that job.
So whether you’re working this summer or lucky enough to be able to take time off, make sure you keep Adams Gas at the top of your list to help you enjoy the sunshine while it’s here.