Emergency shut off valve to gas meter

[Diana1990]

Hey all

Had our rads all changed last week and the engineer noted our gas meter had a severely rusted shut off valve. He advised me to contact my gas company to have it replaced. Anyway I'm with octopus and they advised my it's Cadents responsibility. I will be calling them soon to replace. But it's this a urgent thing that needs to be done? Plumber/gas engineer didn't stressed it was urgent but did say that definitely needs to be changed.

 

[Stuckinarut]

It's not urgent unless there's a gas leak and can't be turned off. Have you tried to operate the valve or did the plumber? Can you post a photo of said valve (ECV)?

 

[footprints]

Only urgent if it is leaking or you plan on having an empty house for a long time, to turn the gas off.
Fact is the chances are with a bit of leverage it will turn off if you desperately needed to. If it has a handle a lever on that will shift it or if not a decent size adjustable will move it.
Main cocks (or what ever the PC name is for them now!) will not rust they are made of brass the handle can rust but you would still be able to turn off if needed.

 

[nero44]

I had a very similar case when octopus came around to install a smart gas meter. The lever was not rusty, but the lever stop ring was broken, so it would not stop the lever after turning it horizontally (off position). So it could have been switched off, but was still deemed a risk as an average consumer in panic might not handle it corrrectly. The octopus installer called cadent on the spot and arranged a fix for next day.

So not terribly urgent, but doing one quick phone call is just going to take a few minutes and will give peace of mind. Would just get it done now.

 

[Diana1990]

It's not urgent unless there's a gas leak and can't be turned off. Have you tried to operate the valve or did the plumber? Can you post a photo of said valve (ECV)?

Can't I'm afraid. Octopus contacted Cadent themselves and they then called me. They classed it as emergency and right now cadent are here changing the shut off valve. Alot can change within the hr, jeez. The guy said it was severely rusted, but it turned okay but it was best to have it changed, so all done now.

 

[gas112]

yep two hour response time nice easy wee job for cadent

 

[AdrianUK]

yep two hour response time nice easy wee job for cadent

So thats raised my curiosity.... How do they change the ECV on alive gas service? I doubt they are gonna turn off the gas to the whole street considering all the fuss to purge all the lines & relight all pilots etc.....so how is it done?

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

So thats raised my curiosity.... How do they change the ECV on alive gas service? I doubt they are gonna turn off the gas to the whole street considering all the fuss to purge all the lines & relight all pilots etc.....so how is it done?

They do it live, Guy did mine a few year back, in the understairs cupboard. Turned Valve off, and disconnected upstream pipework. He then unscrewed ECV off service pipe, and quickly inserted a tapered plunger type tool, which was sufficient to stop any further gas escaping.

This was left in position whilst he prepared the open end of the pipe, and when ready, whipped it back out and screwed the new ECV back on. He was quite adept, (had clearly done it a few times before!), ensuring minimal gas escaped during the process.

Once ECV was tight and he was happy, he then turned his attention to replacing the rest of the pipework from ECV to Meter, and replace the lead pipe from the old ECV to an ancient Governor they suspected dated from Town Gas days! The main in the road was replaced some years ago, along with most of the services, my house wasn't, they can only surmise the Old Lady living here before didn't want it done, so it was left. They'll only renew the service now if/when it starts leaking.

 

[gas112]

So thats raised my curiosity.... How do they change the ECV on alive gas service? I doubt they are gonna turn off the gas to the whole street considering all the fuss to purge all the lines & relight all pilots etc.....so how is it done?

very easily it takes less than couple of minutes but i would have to kill you if i told you

 

[gas112]

This was left in position whilst he prepared the open end of the pipe, and when ready, whipped it back out and screwed the new ECV back on. He was quite adept, (had clearly done it a few times before!), ensuring minimal gas escaped during the process.

They'll only renew the service now if/when it starts leaking.

few times before probably a few times that day
and no they dont only renew service if its leaking there is a 20 year programme to renew all old services and mains in the whole country with PE regardless if they are leaking or not

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

few times before probably a few times that day
and no they dont only renew service if its leaking there is a 20 year programme to renew all old services and mains in the whole country with PE regardless if they are leaking or not

Interesting, thanks. I'm going on what they told me, as currently the existing service comes in under the hall floor, through the understairs cupboard, and turns upwards to the ECV. I had one Engineer who came out to the house and rang his Boss, describing it as 'dating from Town Gas days', with a 'Governor probably older than me'. They eventually agreed to change their side, and get rid of the Lead pipework from Governor to Meter, (after some argument about who was responsible).

He told me the main in the road was upgraded some years ago, (I've been here since 1999, and it was prior to that), but for whatever reason, (Elderly Lady was here on her own prior to my purchasing the property, so she may not have wanted the upheaval of a new service putting in, so they didn't do it), and they wouldn't change it now unless there was an issue.

Looking at the Neighbours, one or 2 have the meter in the Front Porch, but the majority I would presume are still the same as mine, with Meter and ECV in understairs cupboard.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

So thats raised my curiosity.... How do they change the ECV on alive gas service? I doubt they are gonna turn off the gas to the whole street considering all the fuss to purge all the lines & relight all pilots etc.....so how is it done?

There is surprisingly little actual pressure, so the flow is easily stopped, with just a bung, to seal the pipe.

 

[gas112]

Interesting, thanks. I'm going on what they told me, as currently the existing service comes in under the hall floor, through the understairs cupboard, and turns upwards to the ECV. I had one Engineer who came out to the house and rang his Boss, describing it as 'dating from Town Gas days', with a 'Governor probably older than me'. They eventually agreed to change their side, and get rid of the Lead pipework from Governor to Meter, (after some argument about who was responsible).

He told me the main in the road was upgraded some years ago, (I've been here since 1999, and it was prior to that), but for whatever reason, (Elderly Lady was here on her own prior to my purchasing the property, so she may not have wanted the upheaval of a new service putting in, so they didn't do it), and they wouldn't change it now unless there was an issue.

Looking at the Neighbours, one or 2 have the meter in the Front Porch, but the majority I would presume are still the same as mine, with Meter and ECV in understairs cupboard.

yep good chance the old services have all been inserted with PE