New gas connection advice

Phil3822

Thanks J73, that helps greatly! Again, does the meter and usage have to happen within the 12 month period with the MPRN?

So how would I know if I needed duct and sand? Would I have to have it on standby and wait instruction from the engineer.

To be honest I am leaning towards paying the higher rate and having the easy life of the work done for me. Not very MSE I know!

Cheers.

Surbybird

Phil3822 wrote: »

Hi all.

I'm currently living in a house that needs a fair bit of modernisation although I'm in no rush as it's in an ok condition to live in.

The house does not have gas although next door does have. I've been quoted £612 (including all prep/digging) from National grid, they have also quoted £214 with me doing the digging etc. Quoted on their online service.

I am in the same position but I am having the supply connected so that I can have central heating installed.

I've paid Southern Gas £383 inc VAT for the installation of the pipe and they are coming tomorrow to dig the garden up. Hooray!

I opted for them doing all of the digging as I'd have only saved £50 by doing it myself. Once the pipe is in I am having EDF come in and install the meter (there's no charge for this) and then my heating chap is following them in with the boiler and the central heating.

I can't offer any advice about whether or not you can leave it unconnected but I was told to get all of the pipework in place while I still had floorboards up from my house rewire, which is what I am doing. It should save further disruption later on.

Good luck!

Phil3822

Thanks, thats a good price including digging. Enjoy!

j73

HI Phil

Once you have had your supply installed you do not have to do anything just leave it untill you need it. There is no time limit no one will cap it off. When you are ready you can ring your gas supplier and they will fit a meter within one week.

As for the digging don't waste your money on getting NG to do it. Forget about the duct for a start. Just dig a trench. Get about 4 small bags of sharp sand from a building centre. Spread one bag along the bottom of the trench and when the instalation is complete cover the pipe with the rest.

For a £400 saving it has got to be worth it.

Good luck

Phil3822

Thanks j73, looking in my front garden and have just realised I have a paving stone path wth hardcore base running along the front of the property. I am going to struggle getting through that damn thing. I really want to save the £400 but am not sure of an easier way of getting through the paving stone and then make good.

What do National Grid and such companies use or do?

Cheers

Surbybird

Phil3822 wrote: »

Thanks j73, looking in my front garden and have just realised I have a paving stone path wth hardcore base running along the front of the property. I am going to struggle getting through that damn thing. I really want to save the £400 but am not sure of an easier way of getting through the paving stone and then make good.

What do National Grid and such companies use or do?

Cheers

Southern Gas have just done mine this morning. My saving was considerably less than yours which is why I got them to do the digging but they only had about 6m to go from the main.

I have soil at the boundary and then slabs. They dug where they could and got the pneumatic drill on the bits that were too hard to dig. I now have several holes in the garden (no trench, which is what I was expecting) as they seem to have dug the holes in a line with each other and fed some kind of rigid hose through and then pushed the pipework in and connected it up each end. It was a pretty quick and clean job actually and I am very glad I didn't dig a trench, as I didn't need one.

They were here at 7am and gone by 12.30, having dug through the road, pavement, front garden and then laid and connected the pipes, backfilled the holes and tidied up. Another crew are coming to make good and relay the slabs and fill in the crater in the road.

Kate

Phil3822

Good to hear a positive experience for you Kate. It would be great if national grid could use a technique like that. The front garden is probably one of the only areas that needs little work lol. I'll have a think!

Surbybird

Phil3822 wrote: »

Good to hear a positive experience for you Kate. It would be great if national grid could use a technique like that. The front garden is probably one of the only areas that needs little work lol. I'll have a think!

Hi Phil

As I said, my saving was a lot smaller than yours so it made it a much easier decision for me to make. Good luck!

Kate