Smell of Gas

Butterfliesarepretty

I live in two up two down. Gas meter in lounge. Gas cooker in kitchen. Boiler vaillant, serviced and checked recently.

My new boyfriend called last week could smell gas in my lounge. I couldnt smell a thing.

People have commented before about it but i assumed as they had come in the back way past the outside boiler venting pipe that is was from that. Venting gas (small amount) is normal.

So today called out national grid for test, he could smell it straightaway coming in the lounge. Level was 22 when testing the gas meter but as soon as meter turned off, level dropped massively and quickly so definite leak. He checked levels in all rooms, stronger downstairs, he tested cooker inside and out, tested boiler nothing, tested lounge fire.

He came to conclusion possible internal pipework between meter and fire or between fire and kitchen.

Gas meter disconnected, cooker capped off. He reckons joints between pipes could be cause.

So im ok till friday, plumber coming after six to try and find it.
I reckon ive had this leak for long time, I cant smell anything.
Gas bills have never been high always good, so its not a dangerous leak, hes marked it as concern.

Engineer has put on sheet "reported gas smell, full drop on installation left pipework, disconnected disc in meter outlet"

So no gas shower, no cooker or heating.:(

HappyMJ

Do you have electric cooking such as a microwave? Toaster? Could you buy an electric convector heater? Always useful for times like this and they only cost about £10. The shower is annoying maybe a kettle or 2 to boil water and have a bath instead.

Butterfliesarepretty

HappyMJ wrote: »

Do you have electric cooking such as a microwave? Toaster? Could you buy an electric convector heater? Always useful for times like this and they only cost about £10. The shower is annoying maybe a kettle or 2 to boil water and have a bath instead.

yeh Im fine not upset, i have toaster, microwave etc and kettle, its washing in the sink upstairs in the morning.

I have a lovely boyfriend who is bringing electric heater tomorrow but to be honest im fine.

Glad I washed my hair today before calling them out. Pipes from meter are boxed in to fire, so got to pull bookshelf out tomorrow night ready for friday for plumber to check.

But I have no idea where pipes go from meter to boiler in kitchen. there are pipes going straight up from meter to above bedroom so gas must go up there then get to boiler somehow?

Confused.

lemontart

better a few days with out gas, that flick a switch one day and good bye, I unfortunately hear of this now and again in my role at the gas emergency service . You should never smell gas at any time. a smell of gas is not normal,.

Terrylw1

Totally agree with lemontart.

We had a new cooker from Argos with the fitting service. He seemed to know what he was doing, did the tests, asked us to remove a shelf above as it would be too low.

Next day, smell of gas, called National Grid. The engineer said it had been left unsafe and could have caused an accident.

So, if you need them, don't take the chance. Afterall, its better to have some small inconvenience than the alternative.

gas4you

Butterfliesarepretty wrote: »

Gas bills have never been high always good, so its not a dangerous leak, hes marked it as concern.

Engineer has put on sheet "reported gas smell, full drop on installation left pipework, disconnected disc in meter outlet"

These two comments don't go together!

If he had a full drop on installation test, you have quite a serious gas leak.

lemontart

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097243/Home-torn-apart-neighbours-evacuated-massive-explosion-caused-TOASTER.html

this is an extreme example of a leak from a pipe - but just illustrates that no such thing as not serious when it comes to leaks,

So no matter how slight a smell or if you are the only one who notices the smell or if a visitor mentions it even though you do not even if in a property or outside please call 0800 111 999 any time night or day we are there for that reason beit 8pm at night or 3am in the morning we answer the phones 24 hours a day every single day of the year, we never close and have engineers available to ensure that you are safe. - Please do not leave it and hope it goes away just call,

Butterfliesarepretty

gas4you wrote: »

These two comments don't go together!

If he had a full drop on installation test, you have quite a serious gas leak.

Maybe I do have serious leak but the engineer definitely said it wont make much difference to the bills, pennies over months he said.


I move my gas cooker out carefully a lot to hoover underneath, possible the hose on that or connection, it was apparently as strong in the kitchen as in the lounge so plumber coming friday to help me find it.

Besides that i got them out because my boyfriend smelt it. If I cant smell it its not my fault. I just need to find it now.

If I cant smell it how the heck could I possibly know!

HappyMJ

Butterfliesarepretty wrote: »

Maybe I do have serious leak but the engineer definitely said it wont make much difference to the bills, pennies over months he said.


I move my gas cooker out carefully a lot to hoover underneath, possible the hose on that or connection, it was apparently as strong in the kitchen as in the lounge so plumber coming friday to help me find it.

Besides that i got them out because my boyfriend smelt it. If I cant smell it its not my fault. I just need to find it now.

If I cant smell it how the heck could I possibly know!

If you were to turn the gas hob on and not light it would you smell it? It's an awful smell to indicate there is a gas leak. Natural gas has no smell so they add a smell to it to warn you. If you can't smell it then maybe you should consider a gas detector....or a boyfriend who comes around every now and again would help. A small leak won't make much difference to your gas bill.

gas4you

Whatever the gas leak may or may not add to your gas bill is totally immaterial. It is your safety and that of others that matters.

The whole point is that a complete drop on a tightness test proves quite a serious leak and National Grid have, as usual, done the perfect job by cutting off your gas until it is fixed.

macman

Butterfliesarepretty wrote: »

Maybe I do have serious leak but the engineer definitely said it wont make much difference to the bills, pennies over months he said.


I move my gas cooker out carefully a lot to hoover underneath, possible the hose on that or connection, it was apparently as strong in the kitchen as in the lounge so plumber coming friday to help me find it.

Besides that i got them out because my boyfriend smelt it. If I cant smell it its not my fault. I just need to find it now.

If I cant smell it how the heck could I possibly know!

You cannot employ a plumber to help fix a gas leak. You need an RGI. A plumber is not qualified to work on gas appliances unless he is also an RGI.