Gas Meter Change - Access to House?
Hi all, British Gas will be changing my gas meter tomorrow (the actual meter is outside the house), and need access to my house at some point (I guess to switch the supply off/on).
Does anyone know whether this is a simple case of 'flicking a switch' or whether they'll need to check whether all gas appliances are working? I just need to know how long they're likely to be here and which rooms they'll need to visit (I'm slightly paranoid about having strangers in the house!).
If it helps, I have a combi-boiler and use gas for hot water, central heating, fireplace and oven/hob. Thanks in advance!
littlechub
littlechub Sun 07/09/08 10:35
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i had my gas meter changed about a year ago mine is inside the house. one man spent about 25 minutes just shut the supply off to the house and exchanged the old meter for a new one . turned the gas back on checked the meter for leaks then left. hope this helps.
ps i did shut down my combi gas boiler before he came . ie the pilot light, when he left i relit the pilot light
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Question Author
Wow, that was a quick answer!
Thanks, pusspuss, that's really helpful - I'll do the same and just shut off the boiler for them.
Thanks again!
littlechub
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the reason they need to access the house is to relight any gas appliances that may need relighting and also to make sure that you haven't left any appliances on like gas fires or cookers which would then let unlit gas flood the house when the supply was switched on.
additionally relighting a pilot is not as easy as you think, ive lost count of the number of times that ive turned the pilot off to work on a boiler only for the bloody thing not to relight after.
you've no reason at all to mistrust the gas engineer anyway, someone who works for a company and has a mortgage to pay and a family to feed is not going to mess about, he will get on his work in a professional manner and be gone before you know it.
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Mine is outside the house and I had it changed about 2 months ago. The bloke knocked to say he was starting, then changed the meter which took about 15 mins.
He then knocked again to say he had finished and just came in to switch my boiler off and then on again to make sure it fired up. Took 2 seconds and he was only in the kitchen.
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Do, do take the meter reading before it`s changed. I had a long dispute with (then) SEGAS over the huge bill they sent me & they couldn`t locate the old meter to check it. Better still, photograph the dial(s).
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Question Author
Thanks so much, everyone. Hopefully it won't take long then.
Brooksy, I had exactly the same thing happen when I moved supplier - the dispute went on for about 5 years! My camera's at the ready, and I'm thinking of getting the gas guy to sign a piece of paper upon which I've written the reading (told you I was paranoid!).
Thanks again, all!
littlechub
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Once they have changed the meter the bloke will make sure there are no leaks within your property cause if there is then it will be illegal for him to reconnect your gas supply....
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