Before you can take an accurate gas meter reading or address any potential problems with it, its important to know some basic information about the gadget like where to find it. If you couldnt find your gas meter in the case of an emergency shut off or when you are asked by your supplier to take a reading, you might have a problem. Even if you dont intend on taking monthly readings, its still smart to locate the meter . If you know how to get to the meter and understand its screen you wont panic when you need to access the meter in a hurry later on down the road.
Distance from The Main Street
If you have absolutely no idea where you meter is, the first step is to go outside and stand at the front of the property. By law, your gas meter must be either on the wall that faces the main road in front of your home, or along an adjoining wall. If the meter is on the adjoining wall, it must be within two metres of the front wall. This will narrow down your search for the meter in most cases. If your property is on the corner, and main roads run alongside two sides of the home, your metre could technically be on any of the four walls, assuming gas lines run beneath both roads. Technically, the meter can also be inside the home, but it must also be within two metres of the front wall.
Other Buildings
Bear in mind that in some cases the meter may be on another building on your property. While gas meters will be on the main home in most cases, if you cant find your meter either on or in your house, look on the side of your garage or other structures that are near the front road. The meter will also either on the front of the structure or within two metres of the front wall.
There are certain health and safety regulations that determine where the gas meter can be placed. For instance, the meter will not be within close proximity to a heat source or under a stair well. Likewise, the gas meter cant be in a bathroom or where it will be in contact with cement or become wet on a regular basis. The meter may be next to your electric meter, but it must be at least 150 millimetres away from the other meter.
Gas Meter vs. Electric Meter
If your energy meters are placed side by side, you may not know which one is measuring your electricity usage and which one is monitoring your gas usage. The easiest way to differentiate between the two meters is to look at the unit of measurement mentioned on the front of the meter. Gas meters will measure your use in a unit called either cubit metres or cubic feet. You may see an “M3†symbol instead of the words cubic metres. The electric meter will have a measurement unit of “kWh†on it.
Reading Meters
Once you find your meter, its wise to take a manual reading every month and send it to your energy supplier. This ensures that the bill you pay will be accurate, as opposed to being based on an estimate created by the supplier. You must usually submit your reading at least a few days before the end of your billing cycle, so that the company has time to factor your reading into the bill before it gets sent out. Contact your energy provider to find out how to go online or call in and report a reading.
Locating your gas meter is usually an easy process. If you absolutely cant locate it, you can always contact your energy supplier. If the company doesnt have a record of the meters location, you may be able to request that a representative come to your home and find the meter for you. Knowing where your meter is has bigger implications than just taking a reading; in the event of a gas leak, you should always know how to turn off the gas supply and report a sudden and extreme increase in gas use to your supplier.
For anyone shocked by their gas meter reading , the energy price comparison pages at uSwitch is one way of helping you to reduce your energy cost and is often recommended by Sam Jones.
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