What is a gas supply pipe?

05th July 2022

Are you moving into a property that doesn’t currently have gas? You’ll need to get in touch with your local gas transporter to see if you can get connected. This will involve tapping into the main gas pipe and connecting it to the meter in your home. Here we’ll discuss what a gas pipe connection is and the steps have one installed.

Which bit is the gas pipe?

Gas pipes are the pipes that connect the gas main for the street you live on, to the gas meter in your property. They are installed and maintained by the National Grid or an approved gas transporter company.

A gas line connection must be linked up to a meter. The meter regulates the pressure of the gas leaving it so your gas appliances can operate safely and efficiently. It also measures the amount of gas you are drawing from the National Grid so that your gas supplier can issue an accurate bill. The size of the gas pipe that connects to the meter will be selected based on your gas requirements, to ensure an adequate supply of pressure is sustained at all times.

Types of gas pipe

Different types of gas pipe can be used to connect your home to the main gas supply. Traditionally, metal pipes were used. However, today many gas transporter companies are upgrading their pipework to plastic (Polythene) instead. Polythene gas pipe is noncorrosive and durable, making it ideal for safely transporting natural gas or Liquefied Petroleum gas to homes.

Gas line installation

If the gas doesn’t work in your property, it may be because it’s either not connected to or has been disconnected from the main gas supply. To get gas to your property, you will need to contact your local gas transporter to get connected to the mains. They will provide you with a quote for connecting up your home to the gas main pipe. The cost will depend on how much work needs to be done and how long it will take.

To get an accurate quote, the transporter company will ask you questions about the amount of gas you’ll require. They’ll want to know, on average, how many kilowatts you think you’ll be using with all of your gas appliances on. They will also require a plan of your property, so they can identify the best installation points for your gas pipework.

Can’t get connected to a gas main pipe?

Occasionally, a gas transporter will refuse to provide a gas pipe connection. There is usually a good reason for this. It might be that the current pipework is in a dangerous condition and needs upgrading before a connection is possible.

Another reason could be that there is not a gas main close enough to connect to. Gas transporters will only connect you up if you are within 23 meters of a gas main pipe. It is possible to request that a new pipe is installed to connect your property to the mains, however, it can be very costly. It may be better to look into alternatives like LPG, oil or renewables like heat pump technology.

05th July 2022

Choosing a gas supplier

Once you are connected to the gas main pipe, you’ll need to get in touch with a gas supply company. This will be the company that bills you for the gas you use. If you’re not sure who supplies gas in your region, you can always ask the gas transporter which companies you can use. Alternatively, do an online search. Be sure to use comparison tools to get the best quote.

The gas supplier will need to install a meter on your property to monitor your usage. This may come at an additional cost to your energy tariff. Ask the question upfront to avoid unplanned costs.

Gas pipe removal

Most gas distributors offer gas pipe removal services, so should you wish to disconnect your property from the gas supply, it’s them you need to get in touch with. It’s important to make sure your property does not have a live gas supply if it’s soon to be demolished or redeveloped, as it could be extremely dangerous.

Once your gas supply has been disconnected, the gas transporter will issue a site clear certificate, confirming it is safe to proceed with your work.

Connecting appliances to your gas supply

If your property is connected to the gas main pipe and you’ve had a meter installed by a supplier, you’ll be able to begin connecting appliances to your gas supply. Well, we say ‘you,’ but actually, you’ll need to get a Gas Safe registered engineer to do this on your behalf.

In the UK, you must be a qualified and competent gas engineer and registered with Gas Safe to work legally on gas appliances and gas carrying components, like a gas pipe. As we’re sure you already know, gas is pretty dangerous, so it’s advised that you do not attempt any work yourself.

If you need any gas work doing in your property, e.g. connecting gas hob to gas pipe, get in touch with a gas engineer who will be able to carry out the work safely. They will ensure your gas pipe is providing the right gas pressure for your appliances to operate efficiently and that everything is 100% safe.

Protecting your gas supply pipe with boiler cover

If you’re looking to protect your gas supply pipe, most boiler cover providers will include protection as standard with their cover plans.

If you are interested, Hometree offer gas supply pipe protection as part of their boiler care plans.