Couldn't fit Gas smart meter. Pipework issue. Who pays for corrective work? 16 March at 1:06PM edited 16 March at 2:04PM in Energy 24 replies 1.4K views

pfpf

so today i had my electricity meter changed to a smart but due to some pipework issue inside the gas meter box the fitter gave me 3 scenarios.

1. old meter out, new one does fit and all is ok.
2. old one out, new one in but doesn't fit so old one back in, ok.
3. old one out, new one in but doesn't fit so old one back in BUT if the regulator somehow doesn't do its job after being disturbed (its old) i would be left with no gas and require a gas fitter to do something with the regulator.

of course i didn't take the risk of 3, how long would it take to get an gas fitter, anyone knows.

basically, a length of gas pipe is the problem and taking up room that he couldn't be sure would block the fitting of new meter. he suggests re-routing the pipe to outside the box then there will be no problem with space.

is that on me to pay for that work or should the supplier be able to contribute? Octopus Energy is my supplier.

thank you.

see my further post below.
edit: for clarity, gas come from left, out of right, then loops outside box back in to attach to meter. i assume as now i'm looking at the photo i don't know what the red lever is, shouldn't that be before the gas hits the meter? now i have no idea, advice please.

mmmmikey

Hi - AFAIK the gas pipe before the meter between the gas main is the supplier's to maintain and the gas pipe after the meter is yours. If I've understood your post correctly the pipe in question is before the meter and therefore something you should refer to your gas supplier. They will organise any work needed but I'm not sure if you have to pay for it or not. Hope this helps, Mike.

p.s. if any of this is wrong, be good of someone can correct it.

pfpf

you know what. i think i have completely (for 9 years) got it wrong. the gas must come up from below where that red lever is? the pipe in question then leaves, supplying the boiler with its gas supply.
so its my responsibility?
i need to think about this. do i need the pipe to go all the way from left to right or can it stop where it enters the box if the new meter is different dimensions and could have that flexible pipe at the other side.

hopefully someone in the know can advise.

Keep_pedalling

Maybe the fitter just does not like spiders and was scared at what was lurking behind the meter so tried to put you off having it changed 😃

pfpf

there was a huge one in there the other night, even made me jump when it moved suddenly.

Yorkshire_Pud

Gas comes in bottom left and through red stop tap unless turned off then up to meter top left Note clearly says INLET on it. Through meter and exits bottom right and then goes somewhere…..boiler? Or other pipe? You need to track it. Is the pipe at the back running across actually in use? Where does it go, what is it attached to.

Dont muck about with it yourself though don’t want to blow yourself and others up.

PS I’m not a gas professional and don’t use any information I’ve  said as fact.

pfpf

what is interesting is that like when the energy prices were spiking very high a lot of people began looking and for the 1st time understanding about energy costs/units/consumption etc.
the more i stare at that photo i realise the pipe will have to "leave" from the right so indeed its a re-route to put it outside the box, not run back through it.
still any advise appreciated.

Mister_G

pfpf said:

you know what. i think i have completely (for 9 years) got it wrong. the gas must come up from below where that red lever is? the pipe in question then leaves, supplying the boiler with its gas supply.
so its my responsibility?
i need to think about this. do i need the pipe to go all the way from left to right or can it stop where it enters the box if the new meter is different dimensions and could have that flexible pipe at the other side.

hopefully someone in the know can advise.

Yes, you've got it right.  The pipe that runs back through the box to your house is your responsibility.

pfpf

i am seeing it all more clearly now, i couldn't get my head around it earlier. basically when this was done they did the worst possible thing by routing the pipe back through the box once it had left, just needed to be on the wall behind/above the box.

pfpf

Yorkshire_Pud said:

Gas comes in bottom left and through red stop tap unless turned off then up to meter top left Note clearly says INLET on it. Through meter and exits bottom right and then goes somewhere…..boiler? Or other pipe? You need to track it. Is the pipe at the back running across actually in use? Where does it go, what is it attached to.

Dont muck about with it yourself though don’t want to blow yourself and others up.

PS I’m not a gas professional and don’t use any information I’ve  said as fact.

see my further posts, i am seeing things more clearly now. that pipe that leaves on the right, immediately loops back and back through the box then round and down the left hand side of the house. its what supplies my boiler.

MWT

mmmmikey said:

Hi - AFAIK the gas pipe before the meter between the gas main is the supplier's to maintain and the gas pipe after the meter is yours. If I've understood your post correctly the pipe in question is before the meter and therefore something you should refer to your gas supplier. They will organise any work needed but I'm not sure if you have to pay for it or not. Hope this helps, Mike.

p.s. if any of this is wrong, be good of someone can correct it.

Just to be clear, the pipework on the supply side is the responsibility of the gas distribution network (GDN) company, not the gas supplier (Octopus)