Gas meter removal from a subsiding garage wall for demolishing and re-build. Catch 22!

Talldave

Any chance you could reduce the costs for Cadent by doing all the necessary excavations back to their plastic supply pipe yourself as part of your work?  It might still mean two visits, but if on each one they don't have to get their diggers/drills out, it would surely reduce the cost?

Linty7

thorganby said:

I don't believe that it is necessary to move the meter once let alone twice, as this is unnecessary expense that you can work around yourself without involving Cadent.

Simply create a support for the gas meter shelf, attached to the sound right hand wall pillar e.g. a piece of 4" x 2" timber.

Demolish and rebuild the wall, remove the temporary support and reattach the gas meter shelf to the newly built wall.

Keep it simple this is MSE

Unfortunately that isn't an option. The front of the garage needs to be completely demolished, then new foundations and drainage installed. Cadent have informed us that we aren't allowed to dig around steel pipe. If it was plastic all the way to the meter it may be a different matter. The electric meter is also on the wall ( external access box embedded in the wall ). They have inspected and have said to do what you suggested.

Linty7

theoretica said:

Do you actually need the meter gone while the building work takes place?  I think a local gas engineer could disconnect the meter from your house so those flexible pipes were not in the way.

Unfortunately the only people allowed to touch the feed to the gas meter are Cadent. A qualified engineer can do any alterations to pipework after the meter but not pipework leading to it. 

Ectophile

What's stopping the meter being moved a couple of feet to the right, onto the wall that isn't falling down?

Linty7

Ectophile said:

What's stopping the meter being moved a couple of feet to the right, onto the wall that isn't falling down?

Both walls are being taken down. All of the garage section that sticks out from the front of the house is being demolished, new foundations laid and new drainage. It can't be moved further back into the garage as that is no longer an outside wall. So for a couple of weeks or so there won't be any outside walls.

Linty7

Talldave said:

Any chance you could reduce the costs for Cadent by doing all the necessary excavations back to their plastic supply pipe yourself as part of your work?  It might still mean two visits, but if on each one they don't have to get their diggers/drills out, it would surely reduce the cost?

Yes that is a possibility my builder can do that if need be. To be honest, the cost isn't my biggest concern within reason. I just want us to be able to carry on with the job. It's just so frustrating when there's a simple solution. The pipe is capped in the drive, meter removed, building work carried out, meter replaced and reconnected. Unfortunately there is no option available for doing this.

Craziu5

I fit gas meters and seeing this, I would certainly agree that there is a level of danger being presented. I would check that my home insurance covers subsidance and make a claim which should hopefully cover the cost of making things safe. Those plastic pipes dont take too much stress before potentially leaking and I am a bit shocked that the energy company didnt do something with regards to fixing the issue. Even just re-piping to a wall mounted gas box on the non garage side of the house would look like a better idea once they cut supply to the street first. Anything that is disturbing underground pipes or stretching flexi connections is a risk best avoided. Does gas meter have a phone number for the infrastructure company. They will provide the best advice, I certainly wouldnt always trust the energy provider.