Gas meter - what happens when battery dies?

morhen

If the supply pipe into the property is fairly new, and the internal pipes are also fairly new thanks to a new combi boiler install.  How dangerous is it to have an old meters still?  Just looked at mine and it was made in 1996.  Is it more that the meter can leak gas, or the pipes leak gas due to age?

Verdigris

morhen said:

If the supply pipe into the property is fairly new, and the internal pipes are also fairly new thanks to a new combi boiler install.  How dangerous is it to have an old meters still?  Just looked at mine and it was made in 1996.  Is it more that the meter can leak gas, or the pipes leak gas due to age?

As long as the casing isn't corroded (more of a problem with outside meters) then there isn't any serious risk. But if you are still worried then ask for a smart meter to be fitted; you've already paid for that in your bills, you might as well feel the benefit.

Astria

Verdigris said:

morhen said:

If the supply pipe into the property is fairly new, and the internal pipes are also fairly new thanks to a new combi boiler install.  How dangerous is it to have an old meters still?  Just looked at mine and it was made in 1996.  Is it more that the meter can leak gas, or the pipes leak gas due to age?

As long as the casing isn't corroded (more of a problem with outside meters) then there isn't any serious risk. But if you are still worried then ask for a smart meter to be fitted; you've already paid for that in your bills, you might as well feel the benefit.

I fail to see the benefit they provide other than the ability to read the meter remotely without having to actually go to the meter itself.

I have accepted a request to install smart meters, I told them they could do it whilst I was at work as both meters and incoming supply are all outside, they declined saying they needed to come into the property to do a "safety test", despite the fact that an independent electrical safety test and EICR has been performed in the last 6 months.

QrizB

Astria said:

I have accepted a request to install smart meters, I told them they could do it whilst I was at work as both meters and incoming supply are all outside, they declined saying they needed to come into the property to do a "safety test", despite the fact that an independent electrical safety test and EICR has been performed in the last 6 months.

I think it's to make sure your gas appliances re-start correctly, pilot lights are re-lit, that sort of thing. Not an electrical safety check.

MWT

They will also want to plug in the IHD and check it is paired correctly.

Dogbyte009

Astria said: they declined saying they needed to come into the property to do a "safety test", despite the fact that an independent electrical safety test and EICR has been performed in the last 6 months.

They have to check your gas appliances. When they change the meter air gets into the pipe. The engineer demonstrated this to me when I had smart meters fitted. He lit the gas hob, it burned for a few seconds then cut out before gas started to come through from the new meter and he could light it again. Clearly this is dangerous if you're not aware of it. Also any older appliances with pilot lights would need to be re-lit too.

GenieBoy

I don't think my gas meter has a battery.

matt_drummer

GenieBoy said:

I don't think my gas meter has a battery.

They do as they don't have any other electrical supply

QrizB

matt_drummer said:

GenieBoy said:

I don't think my gas meter has a battery.

They do as they don't have any other electrical supply

Ancient gas meters were entirely mechanical, powered by the pressure of the gas.

Zandoni

This meter was made at a factory in Romsey it was one of the first electronic meters that were made, it has no mechanical parts. It works by measuring the speed of sound between two sensors. When the battery goes flat it will display a letter at the end of the index reading and it will not shut off, it will just pass gas unregistered.