Smell of gas from the meter box

oldskoo1

Just recently moved in and i've been checking the meter to see how gas usage differs from our old house.

Weekly readings and on a couple of occasions i thought i could smell a very very faint smell of gas when i opened the meter box which is on the side of the house.

The smell is extremely faint and sometimes i can't smell it.

The fact that i can even smell gas i think i should call the emergency gas number.

Assuming there is a minor leak or broken thread on the pipe do they cut off your supply to make it safe and then you have to get a gas engineer in or would they fix it?

Terrylw1

Their primary aim is to make it safe.

If its a big job to resolve it afterwards, it may require the regular guys coming out. The engineers on this board will offer far better advice but for now...ensure your safety.

You can ask them what is required and what they can do, but its definitely not worth risking your safety over.

[Deleted User]

Give 0800 111 999 ( National Grid ) a ring. there are a few places on the meter connections where small ammounts of gas can escape and build up within the closed box.It needs checking as there should be no smell of gas at all.

daveyjp

Open and close the main gas valve a few times. They are filled with grease which acs as a sealant and over time it settles.

lemontart

daveyjp wrote: »

Open and close the main gas valve a few times. They are filled with grease which acs as a sealant and over time it settles.

Please do not encourage a lay person to do this they should call other than turning the handle on the pipe to a right angle to turn supply off then calling 0800 111 999 as stated you should not be smelling gas at all beit it at a meter, a boiler or anywhere else.

We answer calls to this number with in 30 seconds 24 hrs a day every single day of the year with out exception and have suitably qualified engineers to come out and make sure you and yours are safe free of charge.

I do hope you have already called and spoken to me or one of my colleagues as that is why we are there .

Wywth

oldskoo1 wrote: »

...The fact that i can even smell gas i think i should call the emergency gas number...

How did you get on?

oldskoo1

Update:

I called the number and someone came out within 30 mins - great response!

Bloke was a bit grizzly, muttered something about lots of call outs from people who think they can smell gas but there is no problem.

Stood with him whilst he checked it. Asked him if he could smell gas when he opened the meter box, he couldn't even kneeling down by it. I was 1ft - 2ft away and could smell it escaping (this was outside too).

Probed it and all was fine, no leak apparently. But i insisted i wouldn't have called if i couldn't smell anything. He squirted it waiting for bubbles and sure enough some very small bubbles formed around the regulator cap in one of the joints. The probe measured between 0.1 and 0.3 on the display and he was advised to cap it off and make safe. The pipes and meter is IGT owned.

So had to call my provider, get them to call the IGT company who authorised the job to send a second national grid van out who promptly turned up and fixed it but this time with a very positive and friendly attitude. Apparently the call centre had given the wrong advise to the first bloke about not being able to fix it.

The second bloke sorted it all within 30 mins, new pipe and regulator, and he even came through the house with a probe and checked the boiler and water stop tap.

Even with the hassle in between, practically a 2 hour turn around, great!

PasturesNew

Any gas callout of that nature's "bl00dy quick" as there's the potential the whole street could go KABOOOOM!!!!

Glad you did the right thing... and shame on Mr Grumpy for being a ****.

Terrylw1

Its just a pity the first engineer doesn't appreciate the better safe than sorry ethic.

At least he relied on the correct tests rather than just his nose!