Can Smart Meters cause reduction in Gas pressure?

standuptobullies

Our experience is Yes gas smart meters can reduce thd gas pressure and this seems to have happened with ours resulting in it no longer working properly.

EssexHebridean

You need to read the thread @standuptobullies -  It’s fully explained why it is not likely to be the meter, smart or otherwise , that has caused the issues you have faced that you have already explained in your own thread on this issue.

Grizzlebeard

Most likely cause is debris in the pipework accumulated and lodged at a union, elbow/bend, valve or at a low point.

standuptobullies

This is exactly what has happened to us - except in our case the pressure drop has been enough to cause the boiler to keep cutting out and displaying an error message indicating inadequate gas pressure.

Octopus replaced both meters (their decision) nearly two weeks ago and since then our relatively new boiler just won't stay on - with error message for inadequate gas supply. It was working fine before - no problems.

For me the issue is that - just like you - we keep having conversations with Customer Services (Octopus) who at first told us to get our own engineer out - and then tell us we will get a call from the smart meter team - which we are still awaiting.

They did not contact us in advance to find out what boiler, pipework, heating system arrangements etc. we had, and in fact didn't even tell us they were replacing the gas meter - just said electric. The job was done quickly by two guys and the only checking of the heating afterwards was done by a trainee who did not hang around long enough to see it go off (would have had to stay 15 minutes longer).

And then they try to just wash their hands of it.

Well we will do everything we can to try to get them to improve their service and maybe stop it happening to other people as well.

Keep_pedalling

standuptobullies said:

This is exactly what has happened to us - except in our case the pressure drop has been enough to cause the boiler to keep cutting out and displaying an error message indicating inadequate gas pressure.

Octopus replaced both meters (their decision) nearly two weeks ago and since then our relatively new boiler just won't stay on - with error message for inadequate gas supply. It was working fine before - no problems.

For me the issue is that - just like you - we keep having conversations with Customer Services (Octopus) who at first told us to get our own engineer out - and then tell us we will get a call from the smart meter team - which we are still awaiting.

They did not contact us in advance to find out what boiler, pipework, heating system arrangements etc. we had, and in fact didn't even tell us they were replacing the gas meter - just said electric. The job was done quickly by two guys and the only checking of the heating afterwards was done by a trainee who did not hang around long enough to see it go off (would have had to stay 15 minutes longer).

And then they try to just wash their hands of it.

Well we will do everything we can to try to get them to improve their service and maybe stop it happening to other people as well.

The likely problem has been given to you on your thread but you seem to be ignoring the advice given. Although your assumption is possible it is not likely, so just get a heating engineer out to see what the cause is, and if you are correct then you can make a complaint against Octopus and you should be compensation for your expense.  

If Octopus send out an engineer and the pressure at the meter is within spec you will get a hefty charge for the call out and you will still need to get your own engineer out to fix the issue.

standuptobullies

I don’t see how you can justify the energy companies failing to do a follow up in cases where there have been problems resulting from the installation.

Keep_pedalling

standuptobullies said:

I don’t see how you can justify the energy companies failing to do a follow up in cases where there have been problems resulting from the installation.

I am trying to save you from going down the slowest and potencially most expensive route to resolve this, but if you don’t want to do that that is up to you. 

It would also help us to help you if you replied to the questions you have been asked on your thread.

EssexHebridean

standuptobullies said:

I don’t see how you can justify the energy companies failing to do a follow up in cases where there have been problems resulting from the installation.

Because the problems may only have occurred following the installation, but that doesn’t mean they were directly caused by it and if you get the supplier to come and look, and they find (for example, as was already said) an obstruction in your pipe work, then they will charge you for attending, and that charge will not be as low cost as your own regular gas fitter, chances are. Nobody is “justifying” anything - but this is a money saving forum, so generally you will find that folk while trying to help will also try to take what is likely to be the most financially astute approach.