NHBC - gas pipe replacement question
Discussion
I've owned my house for nearly a year. I'm the second owner. The first owned it for 4 years and supplied me with the documentation surrounding the house's NHBC 10-year guarantee.
Recently found I had a gas leak and had it switched off and the gas meter replaced. Had some work done by a gas installer who isolated hob, boiler, etc., and found that the gas was still leaking, which leaves the only problem as being a crack in the pipework, probably somewhere within the walls.
Questions are:
- am I right in assuming that this sort of work is covered under the NHBC? Common sense says so, but I'm not 100% sure
- if it's not covered, who would be responsible? I'm not hugely enamoured at the thought of replacing something structural like that just after the house's fifth birthday.
Recently found I had a gas leak and had it switched off and the gas meter replaced. Had some work done by a gas installer who isolated hob, boiler, etc., and found that the gas was still leaking, which leaves the only problem as being a crack in the pipework, probably somewhere within the walls.
Questions are:
- am I right in assuming that this sort of work is covered under the NHBC? Common sense says so, but I'm not 100% sure
- if it's not covered, who would be responsible? I'm not hugely enamoured at the thought of replacing something structural like that just after the house's fifth birthday.
If you've no come back with the NHBC, it'll be your job to get the gas pipe replaced and to foot the costs.
Unless the leak can be found, you can put coloured smoke in the pipe which may show up. It's normal to run a new gas pipe from the outside meter box around the outside of the house and back in where needed. A lot cheaper than running a new pipe indoors.
Unless the leak can be found, you can put coloured smoke in the pipe which may show up. It's normal to run a new gas pipe from the outside meter box around the outside of the house and back in where needed. A lot cheaper than running a new pipe indoors.
Gingerbread Man said:
If you've no come back with the NHBC, it'll be your job to get the gas pipe replaced and to foot the costs.
Unless the leak can be found, you can put coloured smoke in the pipe which may show up. It's normal to run a new gas pipe from the outside meter box around the outside of the house and back in where needed. A lot cheaper than running a new pipe indoors.
Yeah, I was advised about this from the guy who did the checks. My meter is on my driveway, which obviously runs into the garage. The kitchen is on the other side of the garage wall, so it wouldn't be a huge job.Unless the leak can be found, you can put coloured smoke in the pipe which may show up. It's normal to run a new gas pipe from the outside meter box around the outside of the house and back in where needed. A lot cheaper than running a new pipe indoors.
Just not keen on paying for something if I don't have to, obviously! I've read the NHBC stuff, and gas and the like doesn't seem to be mentioned, but to be replacing something like pipework in 5 years just seems completely off to me.
Hadn't thought about house insurance. I'm with Nationwide - http://www.nationwide.co.uk/insurance/home_insuran...
http://www.nationwide.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3137E89A-...
The PDF policy document states that it doesn't cover matters "relating to the interruption, failure or disconnection of the mains electricity, mains gas or mains water supply". However, this is not the mains - this leak most definitely occurs after my meter.
Can't seem to find any clarity, to be honest. But I've got that sinking feeling that it's going to be batted back to me.
If we ever have to rip up a floor or tear into a wall to find a leak, most insurance companies only pay for the repair of the damage created in finding the problem.
They don't seem to pay for the repair. Normally a repair is the cheap bit, but I don't think they'd pay to run a new pipe.
They don't seem to pay for the repair. Normally a repair is the cheap bit, but I don't think they'd pay to run a new pipe.
Silly suggestion, but has all visible pipework been checked with leak detector spray or a gas sniffer?
May be something as simple as a loose compression nut. I've seen a house have a whole new gas carcass only to find it was still leaking. Turned out to be the compression nut on the back boiler!
May be something as simple as a loose compression nut. I've seen a house have a whole new gas carcass only to find it was still leaking. Turned out to be the compression nut on the back boiler!
There isn't really any visible pipework, to be honest. It comes straight out of the wall and into the hob and the boiler and that's it - the meter is on the other side of the wall, pretty much.
Not sure if that was done, in any case - wasn't here when he was looking at it all. Worth asking in case?
Not sure if that was done, in any case - wasn't here when he was looking at it all. Worth asking in case?
Every now and again we get in a 'leak detector' man. Normally for mains water leaks coming in from your meter or pipes in screed.
They can find anything using many different methods. Sniffers, electrical trace, gas, infra red guns, listening probes, you name it.
He'd find it, but if the runs short and mostly in a wall which is covered kitchen units, is it worth the effort and money?
Check all visble joints though obviously.
They can find anything using many different methods. Sniffers, electrical trace, gas, infra red guns, listening probes, you name it.
He'd find it, but if the runs short and mostly in a wall which is covered kitchen units, is it worth the effort and money?
Check all visble joints though obviously.
Your house insurance will not pick up claims for replacement of pipework, unless the damage to the pipe was as a result of an insured peril.
For instance, in the event of a burst water pipe, the resultant water damage would normally be covered, but the repair to/replacement of pipework would not be covered, unless the pipe had been damaged as a result of something such as accidental damage. If it just 'burst' for no known reason, it will most definitely fall back to you as a maintenance issue.
You may find, however, that the 'Trace & Access' aspect of the claim may well be picked up by your insurer, if their policy carries such an extension. This will often pay a set 'policy limit' toward any works required to trace the fault in the pipework and restore/repair as was. However, there may be an issue with this. Many policies state wording, along the lines of, that this is to 'locate the source of damage', in the event of a burst water pipe, there will be 'Water Damage' as a result of the leaking water, however, with a leaking gas pipe, there will not be any resultant damage to locate the source of, which may be a sticking point and may mean that 'Trace & Access' may not be accepted with this type of leak.
Sorry if I have waffled on a bit, but I hope this helps.
From memory I don't think Pipework comes into NHBC guidelines as part of their cover, but I may be wrong about this, I just don't remember them taking that much interest in pipework when I built our house, their interest seemed to stop with things such as copper pipe not being allowed to be buried in plaster, (had to be behind plasterboard), and minimum depths of trenches for pipework leading to the house etc.
Best of luck!
For instance, in the event of a burst water pipe, the resultant water damage would normally be covered, but the repair to/replacement of pipework would not be covered, unless the pipe had been damaged as a result of something such as accidental damage. If it just 'burst' for no known reason, it will most definitely fall back to you as a maintenance issue.
You may find, however, that the 'Trace & Access' aspect of the claim may well be picked up by your insurer, if their policy carries such an extension. This will often pay a set 'policy limit' toward any works required to trace the fault in the pipework and restore/repair as was. However, there may be an issue with this. Many policies state wording, along the lines of, that this is to 'locate the source of damage', in the event of a burst water pipe, there will be 'Water Damage' as a result of the leaking water, however, with a leaking gas pipe, there will not be any resultant damage to locate the source of, which may be a sticking point and may mean that 'Trace & Access' may not be accepted with this type of leak.
Sorry if I have waffled on a bit, but I hope this helps.
From memory I don't think Pipework comes into NHBC guidelines as part of their cover, but I may be wrong about this, I just don't remember them taking that much interest in pipework when I built our house, their interest seemed to stop with things such as copper pipe not being allowed to be buried in plaster, (had to be behind plasterboard), and minimum depths of trenches for pipework leading to the house etc.
Best of luck!
Edited by GTSDave on Monday 6th June 09:18
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