What’s Involved in a Gas Meter Upgrade?

Why Upgrade Your Gas Meter?

Several compelling reasons may necessitate the upgrade of your gas meter:

1. Accuracy - Gas meters can become less accurate as they age, leading to erroneous readings of gas consumption. A new gas meter guarantees accurate billing based on your actual gas consumption.
2. Safety & Compliance - Upgrading an old gas meter ensures it meets the latest safety and compliance regulations.
3. Additional Gas Appliances - If you add new gas appliances like a pool heater or stove, your existing metre may not be adequate to handle the extra load. An upgrade allows for additional capacity.

As gas meters age and develop issues with accuracy or safety, gas providers often have meter replacement programmes. They may deploy a meter replacement program in residences proactively or upon request to sustain accuracy and promote safety standards throughout their service areas.

Upgrading ensures your meter accurately records usage and complies with all safety and legal standards. This means accurate billing and safe, reliable gas supply to your home.

When Is a Gas Meter Upgrade Legally Required?

There are a few situations where you may be legally required to upgrade your gas metre in Sydney:

1. Gas meters over 15 years old require an upgrade to meet safety standards and maintain accuracy.
2. An upgraded gas meter is essential when installing significant new gas appliances or when your system’s demand exceeds 155 MJ/h, such as with a large pool heater, to manage the increased load.
3. Your metre has been physically damaged - Any visible damage, tampering or corrosion means your metre must be replaced.
4. It is crucial that the meter matches the type of energy used – a mismatch, like a natural gas meter for an LPG supply, necessitates an upgrade.

As gas experts servicing Sydney, the team at Blakehurst Plumbing keep up-to-date with all requirements concerning gas metre upgrades. Contact us for an inspection and advice on whether your meter requires replacement. Learning about new gas meters and upgrading outdated ones ensures safety, accuracy, and compliance.

The Gas Meter Upgrade Process

Upgrading your gas metre is a straightforward process completed by qualified gas fitters. Here are the key steps involved:

1. Inspection & Assessment - A licenced gas fitter will come to examine your meter to confirm if an upgrade is necessary and suggest the suitable new meter.
2. Coordination involves the gas fitter working with your gas utility to schedule a convenient installation time. Supply will be shut off for safety during the 1-2 hour install.
3. The existing meter is safely disconnected and removed to facilitate the new installation.
4. Installation & Testing - After installing the new metre, it will undergo testing to ensure correct operation. The gas supply will also be turned back on.
5. Relighting Appliances - You don’t need to be at home for our technicians to relight your appliances once the gas supply is restored; we handle every aspect for you.

Certified gas professionals ensure a smooth replacement with consistent updates on schedules and supply interruptions. You don’t need home for post-installation support; we’re here to help relight your appliances and ensure your life support systems are functioning properly.

Requesting a Meter Upgrade

Upgrading your gas metre is easy. Simply contact our team at Blakehurst Plumbing on 1300 349 338 or [email protected] and we can schedule an inspection of your existing metre.

We assess the necessity for an upgrade and provide a clear explanation of the process for your understanding. Upgrades are usually coordinated through your gas utility to minimise supply disruptions.

To request an upgrade, we’ll need:

• Your name, your address and contact information
• Access to the metre location
• Details of any major gas appliances recently added

As your local gas experts, we handle everything from inspection to coordination and installation. Don’t hesitate to contact us to read more about gas meter upgrades or for any additional enquiries!

The Site Visit and Installation

Our licensed gas fitters rigorously inspect your current gas meter setup and connected appliances for safety during the site visit. We check for leaks, damage, corrosion and any potential hazards.

We confirm the gas metre upgrade is required and make sure the location allows for safe access and work space for the installers. Any preparation such as removing debris or trimming overgrown vegetation from around your property may be done if necessary.

During installation, the gas supply is shut off, and the current meter is disconnected. The new metre is mounted in place and reconnected to gas supply lines and appliances. Pressure tests are performed to detect any leaks before resuming the gas supply.

Our licensed gas fitters uphold industry standards, dedicated to your safety and satisfaction. We ensure that the new gas meters are installed correctly for continued safety and functionality. We relight any pilot lights on appliances once gas supply resumes.

With extensive experience upgrading metres across Sydney, our team manages the entire process for your convenience and peace of mind.

Final Steps to Complete the Upgrade

After installing your new gas metre, there are a few final steps our technicians complete to finish the upgrade:

1. Pressure testing - We thoroughly test for leaks and ensure the new gas connections are absolutely airtight before turning the gas back on.
2. We check the new meter functions by ensuring the dials move correctly, registering usage accurately.
3. You receive all necessary certification documents proving your new meter meets legal and safety standards.
4. Invoicing - You’ll receive a detailed invoice for the gas meter upgrade and instructions for re-igniting appliances.
5. We advise on meter maintenance schedules to keep your new meter in optimal condition.

Safety is our top priority. Our licensed technicians, trained and compliant with all industry regulations, ensure a professional meter upgrade. Proper installation and testing ensures your home’s gas supply remains completely safe.

With the paperwork complete and your new metre functioning as required, the upgrade is finished. Your home now has an accurate, legally compliant gas metre meeting the latest safety and performance standards.

Timeline for Completion

A standard gas metre upgrade usually takes 15-20 business days from initial inspection to completion. This includes:

• 2-3 days for inspection & assessment
• 3-5 days for coordination & scheduling
• 1 day for removal & installation
• 2-3 days for certification & paperwork

Installation necessitates a brief gas supply interruption for 1-2 hours to remove the old meter and fit the new one.

Completion times may differ based on coordination with your gas provider, parts availability, and unforeseen complexities. We’ll keep you updated if any delays are expected.

Once the new metre is installed, we pressure test connections, complete paperwork, and restore your gas supply within a day. We are on hand to help you relight any appliances after the upgrade.

While each home is unique, you can generally expect 15-20 business days until your new, compliant gas metre is fully installed and operational.

Costs and Fees for Meter Upgrades

Upgrading your gas metre does involve some costs, which can vary depending on factors like:

• The specific type of gas meter needed
• Any modifications needed to fit the new metre
• The service and installation rates of your specific gas utility

As an estimate, the costs typically range from:

• $250 - $800 for the gas meter itself
• $150 - $350 for installation and labour costs
• Any additional gasfitting alterations or extensions if required

There may also be some regulated charges from your gas utility to cover their administrative fees, attendants on the day for metre swaps and more. These fees may vary from $0 to $300, contingent on the provider.

We’ll inspect your individual setup and provide an accurate quote outlining all costs before proceeding with the metre upgrade. There are no hidden fees or surprise charges - we’re fully transparent about what to expect.

Upgrading old metres is crucial for safety and accuracy. Our team strives to make the process as seamless and cost-effective as possible.

Safety Checks and Access During Upgrades

Safe access to the gas metre is crucial during upgrades to avoid hazards and ensure our technicians can work efficiently. We’ll discuss requirements at your site inspection.

Typically, we need:

• 1 metre clearance around the metre with no obstructing items
• No vicious animals able to access the metre area
• A clear safe walkway to reach the metre
• Any fences/gates unlocked on the day for entry

For safety, the metre may be temporarily shut off via valves during the upgrade. Our team follows strict gas compliance standards including:

• Checking for gas leaks before/after with detection tools
• Wearing appropriate safety gear throughout
• Barricading work areas from access
• Coordination with emergency services if needed

By providing suitable access and allowing technicians to safely isolate and conduct checks, gas metre upgrades are completed securely for all parties.

Connecting New Appliances After Upgrade

Following a meter upgrade, the installation of new fixed gas appliances necessitates a thorough evaluation to ascertain if the supply pipework can accommodate the increased load.

Our technicians will perform an assessment to determine if your existing gas pipes have adequate capacity and pressure for additional appliances, or if upgrades are needed. Factors we consider include:

• Type, size and gas consumption rates of planned appliances
• Diameter of existing gas pipes
• Length of pipe runs required
• Capacity of your upgraded gas metre

In some cases, existing gas pipes may be unable to safely handle increased demand from new appliances. We can replace pipes with wider diameters or install additional connection points to boost capacity.

Alternatively, we may prescribe restrictions around number of appliances running simultaneously to stay within safe limits.

We evaluate your requirements and provide guidance for a trouble-free installation of appliances after your gas meter upgrade. We handle any necessary service pipe upgrades as well during installations.