British Gas: GAS LEAK BEHIND GAS FIRE!: I advise you to keep old bills and take photos of meter

SAC2334

Gerry1 said:

The test will be chargeable if the meter is found to be OK.  I understand that before testing it they leave it for a month to see whether the reading increases.

BG would be more likely to help (e.g. turning the boiler back on or waiving the meter test charge) if she were on the Priority Services Register.  Try a little gentle arm twisting...

A pressure test by Cadent on the meter would be free if there is even a suspected gas leak .. I d like to rule out a steady leak somewhere in the pipes to the boiler and cooker from the meter . Needs ruling out as I used to find plenty of these coming from the meters in boxes where the gas collected , but out in rooms it would go unnoticed with people. I called out Cadent faily often. They came out quick  there are no charges 
 
On our data collectors screens  it mentioned "poor  sense of smell " once people reached ages such as 80 years or younger as they may not be able to detect a small leak .

Gerry1

Annemos said:

Called British Gas. Explained the whole situation. Very sympathetic call handler.

Now she has been put on the priority register. That applies, too, if people are over 75, he said.

He's wrong.  It's over 65.

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/priority-service-register

Annemos

Oh dear!! 

Annemos

I cannot thank you all enough for your help and directions on how to approach this issue:  Gerry1, QrizB and SpoonieTurtle.

I got into her bills, I got her on the Priority List which is now, automatically, not only at British Gas, but also at Cadent. 

We ran the test with the Gas Meter lever off and it did not move at all so we had no definitive proof that it was a rogue meter. 


Then, SAC2334, THANK YOU very much for your insistence. I telephoned Cadent this morning. Stressed her age and that sense of smell could be an issue.

They sent someone out within the hour and she has quite a big Gas Leak. Normally he is able to locate where, but on this one he was unable to find where it is. 

He also insisted she accept the portable gas ring he has offered her to cook. (She at first said...Oh no, don't worry, I don't need it... as usual!...... But luckily he would not take No for an answer.) She can keep this little ring forever! 

FULL MARKS TO CADENT. EXCELLENT SERVICE. 

So now she has the problem of getting a company in to do the leak detection and repairs. Cadent has given her a telephone number to call. 

I do not know if it would have covered for finding and repairing this leak. But she cancelled an Emergency Home maintenance policy last month, because it was too expensive. 

THANKS again to all. I will update when she has the issue solved and repaired. 

Oh and she does have an immersion heater for hot water. 

daveyjp

This is why intervention when there is a huge increase in useage is possibly not such a bad idea and if this isn't happening call the gas emergency number and tell them you suspect a leak. The house could have gone bang at any time.

When my parent's water useage spiked they had Yorkshire Wtaer on the phone before they even noticed.   The problem was a leaky cistern valve on a newly installed toilet.

Annemos

Yes I am sure Anglian Water would intervene long before  9 months of huge readings. 

Annemos

PROBLEM HOPEFULLY SOLVED.....

Went on the Gas Safe Register site. Typed in her town. Several Gas Safe Engineers pop up. 

She called one today and they came straight out. 

He has found a major gas leak at the back of one of her gas fires. The machine he was using went crazy, it was so high. And he was so excited to tell my friend. 

He has taken the gas fire away and capped it. She will need a new one. 

We shall monitor her usage again to see if the problem is now solved. 


(Back to the original point of this posting. It is advisable to closely monitor bills and gas/water usage very carefully month by month.

This gas leak on the gas fire was not detected for 9 months. It was an excess gas use of  about 20,000 kwH. The excess cost of the lost/leaked gas has amounted to over 2000 pounds, in that 9 months. There was also presumably a potentially serious health and safety issue.)


Note... I asked my friend...where has all this gas gone? Answer: "I don't know... up the chimney??" 

Gerry1

Great news that the fault has been positively identified and that it's easily rectified without any significant disruption.  She's very lucky to have such a good diligent friend.

Annemos

He has only charged 180 pounds. He is going to source a new gas fire for her, too. And she will now use him on an ongoing basis for her annual services. 

The Engineer actually told her this ...... he thinks the gas was escaping up the chimney.

The leak was behind the fire where the main gas pipe joins the gas fire's pipe? (Where the two are soldered together.) 

QrizB

I'm glad your friend has found the leak and solved the mystery