Quizzes & Puzzles8 mins ago
New Gas Meter Installed - Readings Now Double What They Were
21 Answers
.... as above really.
Someone came out to check the gas meter after we informed our supplier that we could smell gas in the meter cupboard. It was found to have a very small leak and was replaced. My missus is very organised and has all the previous monthly meter readings going back a few years and for some reason the meter readings are now roughly double what they were for the same month last year. This has been going on for a few months now, so it wasn't just a one-off.
We have informed our energy supplier and they have reassured us that the new meter is probably not at fault. They've told us to perform a "creep test", which we have and the meter is not creeping. We only have a gas fire, which is rarely on, as the central heating is on a timer; a gas hob, which hardly gets used and our combi boiler. They are saying that one of these must be at fault. We have not increased our usage and nothing has altered in the house in any way whatsoever. Our energy supplier have said they'll replace it and have it sent away for testing; but if it comes back as not faulty, we'll be liable to pay the testing fee, which is just short of £200.
Anyone any idea how likely this new meter is likely to be faulty?? It just seems too much of a coincidence that as soon as the meter is replaced, the meter readings double :(
Someone came out to check the gas meter after we informed our supplier that we could smell gas in the meter cupboard. It was found to have a very small leak and was replaced. My missus is very organised and has all the previous monthly meter readings going back a few years and for some reason the meter readings are now roughly double what they were for the same month last year. This has been going on for a few months now, so it wasn't just a one-off.
We have informed our energy supplier and they have reassured us that the new meter is probably not at fault. They've told us to perform a "creep test", which we have and the meter is not creeping. We only have a gas fire, which is rarely on, as the central heating is on a timer; a gas hob, which hardly gets used and our combi boiler. They are saying that one of these must be at fault. We have not increased our usage and nothing has altered in the house in any way whatsoever. Our energy supplier have said they'll replace it and have it sent away for testing; but if it comes back as not faulty, we'll be liable to pay the testing fee, which is just short of £200.
Anyone any idea how likely this new meter is likely to be faulty?? It just seems too much of a coincidence that as soon as the meter is replaced, the meter readings double :(
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.If there was a leak, I'd probably smell it, as I could smell gas in the meter cupboard when the old one was there.
I suppose the old one could have been faulty by registering too slow; but we were paying approx £80 - £100 per month for gas and electric for a house which is occupied by 2 people; both of which work 3-4 days of the week, so house is empty then.
The creep test is where you turn all gas appliances completely off and take a meter reading. Leave everything for an hour or so and the meter should not have moved. If it has moved, then the meter is "creeping" - which means it's showing that you're using gas, even though you're not. Anyway, we did a creep test and the meter isn't reading.
I suppose the old one could have been faulty by registering too slow; but we were paying approx £80 - £100 per month for gas and electric for a house which is occupied by 2 people; both of which work 3-4 days of the week, so house is empty then.
The creep test is where you turn all gas appliances completely off and take a meter reading. Leave everything for an hour or so and the meter should not have moved. If it has moved, then the meter is "creeping" - which means it's showing that you're using gas, even though you're not. Anyway, we did a creep test and the meter isn't reading.
You could try bringing in the ombudsman. They don't seem to have much power and aren't always that bright, but their involvement may encourage the supplier to be more reasonable. Otherwise, maybe your old meter was reading low !
Try running with an electric fire and microwave meals for a while instead. Unfortunate time of year but maybe do without the c/h and buy a few electric fan heaters for use during a testing period ?
Try running with an electric fire and microwave meals for a while instead. Unfortunate time of year but maybe do without the c/h and buy a few electric fan heaters for use during a testing period ?
So when it the CH switches off at night, has the temperature dropped very much by the morning before it comes on again? For instance, my thermostat is set at 22° in the evening and is still at 21° in the morning or 20° if it's been particularly cold as we have good insulation. Are you still setting your temperature at the same level?
Last year I was paying £33 so mine has gone up by 20% this year but that is for gas and electricity.
Last year I was paying £33 so mine has gone up by 20% this year but that is for gas and electricity.
When I get up in the morning the CH has already been on for 15-20 mins, so house has been heated again, so no idea if it drops overnight. I'd guess it hasn't dropped too much, as the timer goes off at either 8.15 or 8.30pm and it's still not cold when I go to bed between 11 and 12.
The thermostat is set around 17 - 18 degrees .... so it's not set that high.
The thermostat is set around 17 - 18 degrees .... so it's not set that high.
Gas usage with old meter:
Dec 2016 - 48 units
Dec 2018 (2017 unavailable) - 50 units
Gas usage with new meter:
Dec 2019 - 117 units
Gas usage with old meter:
Jan 2019 - 55 units
Gas usage with new meter:
Jan 2020 - 88 units (away on holiday for 2 weeks and thermostat was set to approx 15 degrees).
Am I the only one that thinks something just isn't right here??
Dec 2016 - 48 units
Dec 2018 (2017 unavailable) - 50 units
Gas usage with new meter:
Dec 2019 - 117 units
Gas usage with old meter:
Jan 2019 - 55 units
Gas usage with new meter:
Jan 2020 - 88 units (away on holiday for 2 weeks and thermostat was set to approx 15 degrees).
Am I the only one that thinks something just isn't right here??
Right ..... we've finally sussed this .... having checked through some old bills .....
Our energy supplier will now be receiving a sarcastic email, for not spotting the obvious ......
.... how are we meant to know that our old meter recorded the usage in cubic feet and our new meter records it in cubic metres??
They're 2 completely different readings. The conversion rate is to multiply by 2.83 which is roughly how many more units we're using .... but the bill works out roughly the same.
I'm relieved to finally get to the bottom of this' but a bit angry with our energy supplier, as they should have surely known that the old meter measured in different units to our new one. I was "that" close to having our meter sent off for testing .... I would have been landed with a bill for roughly £200 as it's clearly not faulty.
Our energy supplier will now be receiving a sarcastic email, for not spotting the obvious ......
.... how are we meant to know that our old meter recorded the usage in cubic feet and our new meter records it in cubic metres??
They're 2 completely different readings. The conversion rate is to multiply by 2.83 which is roughly how many more units we're using .... but the bill works out roughly the same.
I'm relieved to finally get to the bottom of this' but a bit angry with our energy supplier, as they should have surely known that the old meter measured in different units to our new one. I was "that" close to having our meter sent off for testing .... I would have been landed with a bill for roughly £200 as it's clearly not faulty.
//// If the conversion rate is 2.83 the old one must have measured per 100 cubic feet. The units should have been showing on the statements ////
Yea you're correct :)
//// Sorry, but Cubic Meters have been the unit for a good few years now . I actually thought all meters were now Cubic Meters. I remember our Meter being replaced Years ago ! /////
When the guy changed our faulty meter, he told me how long ago it was installed. I can't remember the exact year, but it was in the 1980's lol :P
Yea you're correct :)
//// Sorry, but Cubic Meters have been the unit for a good few years now . I actually thought all meters were now Cubic Meters. I remember our Meter being replaced Years ago ! /////
When the guy changed our faulty meter, he told me how long ago it was installed. I can't remember the exact year, but it was in the 1980's lol :P
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