Moving a Gas meter

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

Soldato
Joined
31 May 2005
Posts
15,640
Location
Nottingham
Anyone know if you can get a Gas meter moved for free if it is in a dangerous location?

The Gas meter is situated in the living room against the wall. It is completely "open" and it is possible that a pet or child could knock it if unsupervised.

There is a makeshift cupboard for the time being.

National Grid charge Hundreds of pounds to move a meter so I was wondering if I approached it on the grounds of being in a dangerous location, I could get the meter relocated outside for free :)

It just so happens that relocating the meter outside would make a nice space for my computer desk.
 
i beleve it is free if considered a risk, but then the question is asked who put it there? why has it become dangerous?
 
It was like that when we moved in.

I guess the previous owners were not bothered?

Ill ring National Grid tomorrow, see what they say.
 
We got our done for free, but that was because the gas supply had to be re-routed.

Be very careful about how you approach it. The chances are that it has been moved previously by the previous owners - why would it be in the living room otherwise ?

Where does the gas come into your house ? Any chance it could be there ? Or perhaps even just outside the house?

If you do make a cupboard of sorts to cover it up, then be careful that you can still get to it to read the meter - our stupid builder didnt think about that - then had to hacksaw a chunk out of the inside of the cupboard !

R

Mehul
 
Gimpymoo said:
Anyone know if you can get a Gas meter moved for free if it is in a dangerous location?

The Gas meter is situated in the living room against the wall. It is completely "open" and it is possible that a pet or child could knock it if unsupervised.

There is a makeshift cupboard for the time being.

National Grid charge Hundreds of pounds to move a meter so I was wondering if I approached it on the grounds of being in a dangerous location, I could get the meter relocated outside for free :)

It just so happens that relocating the meter outside would make a nice space for my computer desk.
Click to expand...

I used to work for British Gas before it split and Transco did all the work on meter moves etc. I very much doubt that you will get it moved on where it is. Their responsibility is for the pipe upto the point of the meter. So as long as they can prove it's safe they have no need to move your meter as there are literally hundreds of thousands of houses up and down the country who have meters situated where yours is. Good luck though as they do have more than there fair share of Turkeys working for them ;)
 
Write them a letter and base it 100% on a safety thing. Tell them all about your young nephews and nieces that come over all the time. In fact aren't you considering becoming a childminder?
Also, I think maybe you were considering contacting the HSE for some advice too? Maybe Transco might happen to find out about this in the same letter.
 
A few years ago we needed to get a gas pipe moved. It came out of the house a few inches up the wall and went diagonally down into the driveway. It was exposed quite a bit and we needed to get it moved so we could put a garage there. We phoned up the gas company and they said it would not be free. Despite the pipe being exposed it would have met regulations when it was installed (it was VERY old). So my wife told them she'd already driven into it once with the car and if they didn't move it then it's very likely it would get damaged in the next few days, resulting in an emergency callout ;)

They came round almost immediately to move it free of charge :D

Sorry I know that's not a meter story but they may act if the pipe itself is causing a danger... or if you can persuade them it may be dangerous.
 
I work for British Gas (pre-payment) and we are always told to ask customers to ring Fulcrum Connections first of all if they need a meter to be moved.

As for credit meters i dont really know, aint been there that long.
 
big_white_dog84 said:
Write them a letter and base it 100% on a safety thing. Tell them all about your young nephews and nieces that come over all the time. In fact aren't you considering becoming a childminder?
Also, I think maybe you were considering contacting the HSE for some advice too? Maybe Transco might happen to find out about this in the same letter.
Click to expand...

Wont be Transco anymore but one of the 6 new gas transporting organisations, including Scotia gas and northern gas networks. I very much doubt you will be able to have it moved for free. This is the sort of stuff the companies make a killing on as they have the monopoly on it :D
 
I best stop my child throwing that ball around their own house incase it hits the meter which doesnt even belong to usm yet they stick it in the middle of our lounge.

Oops - THere goes the ball again. Whats that smell?

Will see what they say in the morning.

Its not as if its in a cupboard in the kitchen or something, its in a pretty dominant position.
 
I work in the industry, and I can tell you know that you'll have pulled off a good'un if you get the meter moved for nowt (or got an operator in a really good mood).

Unfortunately, there's two ways they can take it when you say "oops, my child keeps knocking it" - they'll either come and fix it for nothing, or they'll tell you that you are responsible for keeping the appliance safe from harm and they'll charge you for any damage - end of conversation.

I know I've referred to them before, but if you get stuck, Energywatch might be able to help you out (www.energywatch.org.uk) - as with anything, no guarantees.
 
Hitting the meter with a childs ball isnt going to emitt gas. Its not remotely dangerous in the lounge unless subject to major abuse.

Maybe box it in?
 
We had a new supply fitted last July by 'Wales and West' who used to be Transco.
We saw pocket change from 5k :(
Ahh, the wonders of living along a private lane, where NO services will come up unless lots of money changes hands.

My experience with W&W when they were doing the work was good, they routed the pipe exactly where we wanted it and installed the meter exactly where we wanted it.

Good luck in getting them to do it, I think you will need it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom