Help - Gas pressure too low for boiler - what are my rights?

Lakesmeare

After having a new boiler installed the engineer discovered that the gas pressure is too low to commission it. The gas board checked the regulator which they say is OK and are saying they need to dig up the road (and presumably my front garden/path) and upgrade the meter. The challenge is that they want to put the meter on the outside of the house with copper pipe along the external wall fromt he meter to the boiler. This I presume is the cheapest option for them but we live in a period house with the current pipe work under the floorboards. What are my rights regarding where they place the pipework? They are returning tomorrow to begin the work...

david29dpo

Why did the engineer install it BEFORE checking the gas pressure?

Lakesmeare

Not sure. The pipe diameter to the boiler was up to spec so I guess they assumed the pressure would be OK. The main issue now is what my rights are concerning where they route the pipework...

david29dpo

Is this work free? If so it is understandable the work will be the easiest and cheapest way possible.
Have you the option of paying the extra it would cost to have the work done the way you would like it?

SwanJon

I'd guess that there is a safety side to it too - a gas leak under the floor boards will build up, but outside it will disperse.
There may have been a change in the regulations to enforce this.

lemontart

You mean an engineer from the gas network checked the regulator not the gas board they do not exist anymore,

Meters outside are now current standard for safety reasons and all new builds have external meters, and often during gas mains replacement works a lot are moved outside, this is also true following gas emergencies that relate to the supply pipes from the mains to your property.

Lakesmeare

The work the gas board are doing is free as I believe they have an obligation to supply a certain pressure to the property which is not being achieved currently.

lemontart

not gas board they disappeared over 20 yrs ago - re location of copper outlet from meter speak to engineers on site re location that meets current standards and that you can live with

Lakesmeare

Yep - Gas board = Network engineer. They have just arrived and are going to try and replace the section of pipe between the mains and the house to see if that rectifies the pressure issue before installing a new meter.

southcoastrgi

OP have they actually told you that they are going to extend your side of the meter from it's currant location to outside ? because in my experience you will have to arrange & pay for two things, the external box they will supply free but you need to get it fitted & your connecting pipe (in your house) moved from where it is now to the new box