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Original poster

Do emergency gas engineers turn off supplies if asked, or only in emergencies?

16 replies

nothingevergoesright · 01/10/2023 19:08

DM has just had the National Gas Emergencies engineer out. She could smell gas. This is about the fourth time she's called them out in the last year.

The engineer has disconnected the supply in both houses (technically one house is an extension). In the extension they said there was a leak (maybe behind the gas cooker), and apparently in the 'proper' house, there may be a leak behind the very, very old boiler.

She had the boiler in the extension serviced a couple of months ago. Both places have separate heating and hot water system and boilers.

The set-up is weird, she can't live in the proper house as the bedrooms are full-up and she keeps one dog in there, the other dog in the extension, as they fight, so they're separate.

My problem is DH is telling me that I need to phone the National Gas Emergencies to find out if DM did have a leak, or if she thought that there was, and asked them to disconnect 'just in case'. In fact he's refusing to speak to me as I said I didn't think I could phone the emergency line just to ask.

Does anyone know if they disconnect supply for worried people without any problems, or only if they detect a leak?

OP posts:
LIZS · 01/10/2023 19:17

If they think the supply needs attention ie leak or condemn an appliance they will disconnect it. There should be a number to call on the sticker they attach to the meter.

IslaWinds · 01/10/2023 19:22

In my experience, only if they detect a leak will they shut off the gas. I think any desire to shut off the gas, they tell you to contact your energy company to disconnect service.

XenoBitch · 01/10/2023 19:28

I had my gas shut off recently because my carbon monoxide alarm went off. They didn't do any detection at all... just shut it all off. Turns out, the alarm was just old and dying, but gas was shut off anyway. The emergency service don't do any checks really. That is down to your usual gas supplier to sort out.

Mine was a pain as when it came to turn it back on, a small gas leak was detected that would not have been noticed had I not called the emergency line. Went without gas for a week because parts had to be ordered.

IslaWinds · 02/10/2023 09:23

Odd, have had emergency services round three times in my current home and they always come inside and check for leaks in our house. Once was when the CO alarm went off in my DD’s bedroom where there was an old gas light fixture that was documented as cut off and isolated. Well apparently it had only been capped and there was a leak. Maybe they adjust based on age of house? I put the expiry date on the back of my CO alarms so it was obvious this one was only sort of two years into its seven year life.

user1471538283 · 02/10/2023 10:25

I had to ring to report what I thought was a gas leak. I didn't have one but my neighbor did and they turned off his gas immediately until it was sorted out.

user1497207191 · 02/10/2023 10:31

IslaWinds · 01/10/2023 19:22

In my experience, only if they detect a leak will they shut off the gas. I think any desire to shut off the gas, they tell you to contact your energy company to disconnect service.

Not always, my mother had her gas cut off during a routine annual service because the engineer decided her gas fire wasn't compliant with some "new" standards, many years ago, no suspicion of a gas leak, just condemned it.

A few years ago, a so-called "Gas Safe" qualified engineer fitted a new boiler for us. It never worked properly and we had the guy out a few times to check it, but he kept claiming it was absolutely fine and blamed us for not understanding how a combi boiler works! Eventually we got the manufacturer to send out an engineer under their warranty and he immediately diagnosed it as not being fitted properly, installation checklist hadn't been completed and signed off (i.e. pressure & temperature readings etc)., so he shut off the supply, again, not because it was leaking, but because of installation errors.

So, yes, they can (and do) shut off the supply if they feel it's dangerous in any way, not just because they can detect a leak.

user1497207191 · 02/10/2023 10:32

@XenoBitch

The emergency service don't do any checks really. That is down to your usual gas supplier to sort out.

Yep, I agree with that. It's not their job to sort out problems, their prime role is safety, and that is usually limited to shutting off the supply.

(Unless it's a problem outside the house, i.e. a leak or blockage before the gas gets to your meter, in which case they call out the grid suppliers to dig up your road/drive to sort it out, and in the meantime, cut off the supply at the street).

Soontobe60 · 02/10/2023 10:37

IslaWinds · 02/10/2023 09:23

Odd, have had emergency services round three times in my current home and they always come inside and check for leaks in our house. Once was when the CO alarm went off in my DD’s bedroom where there was an old gas light fixture that was documented as cut off and isolated. Well apparently it had only been capped and there was a leak. Maybe they adjust based on age of house? I put the expiry date on the back of my CO alarms so it was obvious this one was only sort of two years into its seven year life.

Edited

A carbon monoxide detector cannot detect Natural gas! Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas created when fuel is burned in the presence of low levels of oxygen. Carbon monoxide is very different from methane and cannot be detected with the same sensor.

Soontobe60 · 02/10/2023 10:38

XenoBitch · 01/10/2023 19:28

I had my gas shut off recently because my carbon monoxide alarm went off. They didn't do any detection at all... just shut it all off. Turns out, the alarm was just old and dying, but gas was shut off anyway. The emergency service don't do any checks really. That is down to your usual gas supplier to sort out.

Mine was a pain as when it came to turn it back on, a small gas leak was detected that would not have been noticed had I not called the emergency line. Went without gas for a week because parts had to be ordered.

A carbon monoxide detector cannot detect a natural gas leak. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas created when fuel is burned in the presence of low levels of oxygen. Carbon monoxide is very different from methane and cannot be detected with the same sensor.

Ivebeentogeorgia · 02/10/2023 10:39

We called the emergency gas service out last week because we had our old oven removed and could smell gas. We had already turned the gas off to the house which you can do from your own gas meter- there’s a lever to pull. The gas man came round with his detector and found the leak and sealed it off. Then we could switch the valve back on.

IslaWinds · 02/10/2023 18:44

Soontobe60 · 02/10/2023 10:37

A carbon monoxide detector cannot detect Natural gas! Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas created when fuel is burned in the presence of low levels of oxygen. Carbon monoxide is very different from methane and cannot be detected with the same sensor.

Show quote history

Appliances that use gas like boilers, hobs, fireplaces and such usually leak CO when they are also leaking gas. That’s why if your CO alarm goes off you’re supposed to call the gas emergency services.

IslaWinds · 02/10/2023 18:45

user1497207191 · 02/10/2023 10:31

Not always, my mother had her gas cut off during a routine annual service because the engineer decided her gas fire wasn't compliant with some "new" standards, many years ago, no suspicion of a gas leak, just condemned it.

A few years ago, a so-called "Gas Safe" qualified engineer fitted a new boiler for us. It never worked properly and we had the guy out a few times to check it, but he kept claiming it was absolutely fine and blamed us for not understanding how a combi boiler works! Eventually we got the manufacturer to send out an engineer under their warranty and he immediately diagnosed it as not being fitted properly, installation checklist hadn't been completed and signed off (i.e. pressure & temperature readings etc)., so he shut off the supply, again, not because it was leaking, but because of installation errors.

So, yes, they can (and do) shut off the supply if they feel it's dangerous in any way, not just because they can detect a leak.

Show quote history

The routine annual service isn’t done by the emergency gas services.

SpiritOfEdna · 02/10/2023 19:23

Right I have just had this - so the CO monitor was going off 4 big beeps and the red light flashing continuously, which according to google is a CO Leak, we put the device outside for 10 minutes, it stopped, so we brought it back in and off it started 10 minutes later. So: phoned emergency gas line - they asked us some questions, did we have any headaches etc and they determined we needed a call out, we had to turn off the boiler, the fire wasn’t on, so all good, and open a window/door.
Emergency engineer was with us in 20 mins.
same questions about headaches etc.
He got a CO detector out and walked round the house - at this point he thought it might be a defective CO monitor as it was quite old.
He did however, detect a very small amount of CO in the hall so he capped off the gas and recommended we get the fire and boiler checked out the next day. He gave us a new alarm, a fan heater and a one ring hot plate - so we were looked after very well. He also checked that all was good with the neighbours.
He was very through (and young!).
Sorted out an engineer today - same conclusion as emergency guy that it was a dodgy old monitor but again did a thorough check and let me see the readings etc.
So long story short: emergency engineer did what according to his processes was the right thing to do. I am not sure anything I would have said would have swayed him.
Hope that helps, SoE

Soontobe60 · 02/10/2023 21:56

IslaWinds · 02/10/2023 18:44

Appliances that use gas like boilers, hobs, fireplaces and such usually leak CO when they are also leaking gas. That’s why if your CO alarm goes off you’re supposed to call the gas emergency services.

Show quote history

They only leak CO if they are in use though.

Truthfully555 · 04/12/2024 16:56

We had an engineer -he wasn't emergency - turn off the gas without warning just because he couldn't do the yearly check when he wanted. The appointment has been rebooked a number of times and had been confirmed rebooked nearly 2 weeks ago but the housing association is dealing with one or more other companies and messages don't get passed well. We've had notes that they tried to check when the appointment wasn't scheduled or had been rebooked. Turning off the gas and no available engineer to turn it back on till 24hrs later was a shock. According to the "at risk notice" under the door, they're supposed to ask permission beforehand and besides one doorbell ring there were no phone calls or other rings etc. There was actually someone home when the door rang and it was answered promptly because a delivery was expected but no one answered the intercom in response and in fact we went out the front door in dressing gowns to look for someone and call out and saw no one had no response besides the note slid under a door later.

DrZaraCarmichael · 04/12/2024 16:59

When you phone the emergency number they take all sorts of details from you and ask what the problem is. If you say "I smell gas" they send someone to switch it off - this may or may not be the same person who looks at whether there's an issue. The first aim is to make things safe.

If there is any doubt I would imagine the engineer is erring on the side of caution.

Reading between the lines it sounds as if your mother is struggling massively - are social services involved? Is it a hoarded house?

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