Faulty Meter

LL1345

Just looking for a bit of advice. I've recently moved into a new house and have been taking gas meter readings monthly. I've noticed the reading are quite a lot higher than my sisters (I am single and she has two children and a husband). I have switched off my gas and the meter is still using more units than my sisters.
Has this happened to anyone else? It seems to go approx 3 units a day but I'm sure it shouldn't go up that much if I have switched off the heating/ hot water? The energy company asked me to take weekly reading but have told me 3 units is not classed as high but I would class that as not normal if everything is switched off. I am now taking daily meter readings. The boiler has recently been serviced.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

dogshome

Sisters lower Gas meter readings could be down to the type of meter - If hers is an IMPERIAL meter, it delivers 31.5 Kwh of gas for each meter unit
If yours is a METRIC meter, it delivers only 11.2 Kwh of gas for each meter unit and will clock up meter units nearly 3 times faster

3 units of gas a day whenl all gas appliances are off is worrying - It could be either a dangerous gas leak or a faulty meter

LL1345

Thanks for getting back to me. I have just spoken to the energy company and they said 3 units is not a worry as it's going up a normal pace and it could be the boiler, I've tried explaining that the boiler has been serviced and the hot water and heating has been turned off so how am I using enough gas for it to equate to over 12,000 kWh a year?! They said I can have someone look at the meter for a charge of £60 if a fault is not found but they did not sound keen on me doing that. Ive requested a smart meter which I'm hoping will help determine the issue but I am willing to pay the £60 if I have to. I can't smell gas but do you think I would always be able to smell gas if there was a small leak?
Thanks

dogshome

Smell of gas can depend on where the meter is installed - If it's on an outside wall of the house gas could escape un-noticed, but if it is indoors even a small leak would be difficult to ignore - If gas is leaking from the delivery pipe to the meter or the meter itself, it is the suppliers responsability, but if it's from pipework beyond the meter, the onus is on the householder.

From Post #3, I get the impression that you phoned the supplier who's responder brushed aside your comments of meter movements when all gas appliances were turned off.

Stay off the phone
Make sure everything gas in the house is turned off, and take the meter's reading once an hour from when you get up till bed time. If the meter shows any increases WRITE a letter headed Complaint to the supplier enclosing a record of your day's log.
By doing this they must take you seriously


Be aware that this gas 'phantom' consumption could well be down to a faulty appliance or pipework, in which case you will have to pay them the £60 for an inspection, but keep in mind gas leaks destroy buildings and kill people, so £60 is cheap at the price

LL1345

Thank you for your helpful advice.
Would you agree with me that 1086 kwh for the month is a lot considering my hot water and heating has been switched off? My shower is electric and I have been away for 2 weeks of the month.
Should I switch the gas off at the shut off valve as I will try that tonight? I am happy to pay the £60 incase as you say, there is a leak. My gas meter is outside at the front of the house.
Thanks again for your help

dogshome

YES 1065KWh is a lot of gas - Equates to 12,780 a year and that is the average amount for a family home of of 2 adults and a couple of kids, and what is worse is that is Summer, when by rule of thumb you should be useing only 20%of your annual gas consumption.

Certainly shut off the Meter's Gas valve if you are sure that none of your appliances rely on an old fashioned Pilot Light to start up - If the meter is still clocking up with the valve off, it is certainly faulty, so add that behaviour to your letter of Complaint

PS What sort of meter do you have?
Older analogue meters were powered by the Gas pressure passing through them - No gas through - No change in reading
However digital meters are battery powered - So even with no gas passing through there is power to alter readings if the meter goes haywaire

LL1345

It is the Actaris ACE1000 SMO, this is coming up as an electricity meter online but when I moved in approx two months ago I was told this is the gas meter. Is this correct? The electricity meter is next to the gas meter in one of the usual boxes.


I'm glad its not just me going mad with the gas usage. I will shut off the valve tonight and get back to you once I have done that. Thanks

molerat

The ACE1000 is an electricity meter. It should be fairly obvious what the meter does by there being either wires or pipes going in and out of it. What else is printed on the front of it, if it has m3/ cu.m / cu.ft it is gas, if KwH it is electric.

Do you live in a house or a flat / conversion of some sort ?

LL1345

I live in a house, there is kwh next to it but what I have got confused by (I feel really stupid!) is that there is another meter next to it, which is a digital meter, that is also an electricity meter. Do you know why I would have two electricity meters? I don't have underfloor heating or anything like that so can't think why a second meter would've been installed and the house is fairly new, about 20 years old. I sent the photos to my energy supplier and they had not picked up on it.
Thanks

Robin9

Can you post those photos here please.

Also look at the serial numbers and compare with the bill you get.

You should not be entering readings in kwh only m3

LL1345

I can post the photos tomorrow. If it helps meter one is a single phase watt hour meter and the second is an ACE1000 SMO. Thanks