Dangers of switching gas off, then on again

Kiko4564

I noticed that on another forum someone said the following in one of their posts:

"I think I might have had one about the gas being turned off for mains repairs which was very important from a safety point of view (ensure all appliances turned off so they won't produce a gas hazard when the supply comes back)."

This was in the context of a discussion about the legality of opening post addressed to someone who is not at the address.

As far as I'm concerned, a gas network would never just switch the supply off and on again using mail to the occupier to warn people. This is because many people ignore mail addressed to the occupier, and that is therefore just an accident waiting to happen. Am I right?

MeterMan

a purge and relight must occur once the gas supply has been restored.

Jumblebumble

MeterMan wrote: »

a purge and relight must occur once the gas supply has been restored.

Seconded
lighting a gas oven that has not been purged can produce a nice big bang
It is difficult to predict how the networks handle the fact that the occupier may be away for an extended period of time

Ectophile

Whenever I have had gas network work done, they have always checked that my gas appliances re-light correctly after the work has finished.


I expect that if they could not contact the householder, they would leave the gas turned off.

Cardew

Kiko4564 wrote: »

As far as I'm concerned, a gas network would never just switch the supply off and on again using mail to the occupier to warn people. This is because many people ignore mail addressed to the occupier, and that is therefore just an accident waiting to happen. Am I right?

How would a gas network know the name of the occupant. There are a score of gas companies dealing with the occupant, and they in many cases don't even know the occupants name. Indeed despite occupying my property for many years and I have twice had letters addressed to 'the occupier' warning me that the mains gas pipes in the road are being replaced and giving me a window of provisional dates, with further details to follow. The mains were never replaced!!



It is obviously important that gas is switched off at the meter before the gas supply is restored. There must be many cases where the property is unoccupied, or the occupants away and have not made alternative arrangements. If there is not an external gas meter, I wonder if one of the supply conditions is to authorise the contractor to get a locksmith and enter the property???

MeterMan

Cardew, I have seen in the past that the gas transporter will leave the gas supply disconnected (not reconnected).

The homeowner or tennant would then call up to report no gas and a team would be sent to reconnect.