Gas leak

[dfen5]

Ever since we moved in a few months ago I've sometimes noticed a tiny, tiny whiff of gas. Could never suss it as it seemed to be literally a hint.

Yesterday pulled off some old skirting boards I'm replacing in the hall and noticed it stronger, but again so faint it was hard to say for sure where from. I thought I'd disturbed an old pipe but that turned out to be an old heating pipe that's capped off.

Today it was more noticeable and I tracked it to a corner in the hall, no gas pipes apart from the one that runs to the front room under floor. Called the emergency gas leak line and out they came, duly capping off the gas supply. Seems to be under floor and by removing the skirting board I've given it an easier exit into the house.



Better than getting blown up I suppose and I know why the bill's been a bit higher than it should have been. Probably most of the gas has been venting to outside, bloody dangerous all the same.
Fortunately only the boiler is gas and that's getting replaced start of June and a new supply run from the meter, so no need to dig up yards of the down stairs..

Who ever thought of gas pipes under concrete floors wants shooting. Moral is, get a property gas checked before you buy.

Edited by dfen5 on Sunday 16th May 00:03

[dickymint]

dfen5 said:

Who ever thought of gas pipes under concrete floors wants shooting. Moral is, get a property gas checked before you buy.

Edited by dfen5 on Sunday 16th May 00:03

Cement in contact with copper pipes will react and fail in time. Latest regs say that any pipework like this must be protected. even pipework going through a wall (wouldn't want your cavity full of gas).

Edited to add: Doesn't your 'HIP' cover this?

Edited by dickymint on Sunday 16th May 07:41

[Ferg]

dfen5 said:

Who ever thought of gas pipes under concrete floors wants shooting.

And the alternative is?

[dilbert]

Ferg said:

dfen5 said:

Who ever thought of gas pipes under concrete floors wants shooting.

And the alternative is?

You could always put it in a covered duct?

[Ferg]

But that's no better than just protecting it properly?? Except that then you are giving the gas the chance to fill the duct, should it leak, and approach the critical 6% gas/air mix required for explosion, surely. It's much more difficult to reach 6% in a house.

[B17NNS]

dfen5 said:

Who ever thought of gas pipes under concrete floors wants shooting.

It's perfectly safe assuming it's done properly.

[dickymint]

http://www.ukcopperboard.co.uk/literature/pdfs/Ins...

Ferg will be up on any latest reg/s.

PS. last time i looked, regs on ducted pipe-work are getting even tougher ie. floor board to ceiling "ducts" will have to be vented to outside if they contain gas pipes You will be seeing more and more gas pipes fitted externally!

Edited by dickymint on Sunday 16th May 19:23

[Ricky_M]

Don't get me started on gas leaks! I hate them. My heart sinks every time I have to do a gas carcass in a house. Moving furniture, lifting carpets, cutting floor boards, drill holes through walls! Grrrrr.

The boilers is nearly always at the opposite end of the house to the gas meter!!!

Customers become experts on gas safety instantly when you tell them they have a leak! I had to cap off one lady's supply when I was doing a landlord safety check as she had a 5 mbar drop on the pipework, she kicked right off

"I've lived hear for 20 years, I've never smelt gas" - I don't care, you have a gas leak which is above the allowance, if you don't want me to cap off your supply, I'll phone Wales and West Utilities and they'll cut you off from the road!

"I've had dogs for 15 years, they be dead if there was a gas leak" Natural Gas isn't toxic.

I'd advise everyone to have a Gas Safety check carried out on there property annually.