why is my gas meter going round I'm not using any gas

lkmc01

Hi

I have no gas on at the moment, no heating or boiler working, no washing machine, no dishwasher, only the TV using electric, so....

why is my gas meter going round? :eek:

the 3rd number after the decmial point is moving to the next digit about every few mins.

Can anyone explain this please as I really don't understand why this is?

thanks

notbritishgas

Does your boiler have a pilot light? If so thats it.
Although thinking abvout it, if you are using 1/10 of a unit in 30 secs that is 1 unit every 5 minutes, assuming a metric meter then that is 11kwh in 5 minutes and if imperial nearly 30kwh. I would say that was impossible with nothing on.

lkmc01

hi, just looked again, its the 3rd digit after the decimal point that it moving to the next digit every few minutes. I know this doesn't sound alot but when it shouldn't be moving at all its a bit stange.

How do I find out if my boiler has a pilot light please?

lkmc01

and can I turn the pilot light off too?

McKneff

Its most likely the pilot light. Dont mess about with it.

The pilot light is what sparks your heating to come on.

You would be turning it on and off several times a day, everytime you wanted the heating on and off, so it would be daft in my opinion.

lkmc01

its just that my mum has used 24m3 of gas in a week and has the heating on more than me, and i've used 35m3

notbritishgas

lkmc01 wrote: »

hi, just looked again, its the 3rd digit after the decimal point that it moving to the next digit every few minutes. I know this doesn't sound alot but when it shouldn't be moving at all its a bit stange.

How do I find out if my boiler has a pilot light please?

Ah that does make a big difference!!
So it could perhaps be the pilot light, is there a little window at the front of the boiler that you can look through?
What make is the boiler and how old.

lkmc01

we rent. my dad says the heating system is a bit dated. its not a combi one, although I don't know what that means.

I'll have a look for the box. thanks

lkmc01

yes there is a pilot light. its a fernox if anyone knows what they are like?

no idea how old it is, assume pretty old, we think the house is about 30 years old.

Cardew

A pilot light can use gas costing anything up to £2 a week - but it is not usually that high.

As you rent, your boiler must be serviced every year(paid for by the landlord) - so get the fitter to check it is set correctly.

If it is any consolation the heat is not all wasted as the flame does throw out some heat.

lkmc01

thanks alot. we have been in rented house for 1 year 3 months and they have not mentioned getting the boiler serviced. will have a word. is this a legal requirement then?