Upgrading your gas meter ensures ongoing accuracy in gas measurement and billing. Our experienced technicians can handle all aspects of upgrading your residential or commercial gas meter.
Upgrading your aging gas meter is an important process that ensures your meter continues to provide safety, reliability, and efficiency for your gas supply. As metres age past their service life, components can deteriorate leading to leaks, measurement issues, or even complete failure. Replacing old metres before problems occur is vital.
This article outlines everything involved in upgrading gas metres - from application to finalisation. We’ll describe the upgrade process, timeframes, costs, and what you need home preparation-wise. You’ll also learn key reasons for replacement like life expired metres, as well as insights into potential appliance upgrades or changes.
By the end, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of what to expect during a gas metre upgrade. This will ensure you can prepare accordingly, ask the right questions, and assist where required. With all the information at hand, the process will be straight-forward for you as we handle the coordination and work.
There are several important reasons you may need to upgrade your gas metre in Saint Marys:
An upgraded gas meter also allows you to access your gas supply more reliably, with faster leak detection and reduced risk of failure. As specialists, we’ll ensure you fully understand the reasons and benefits before commencing any upgrade.
Older analogue gas metres can lose accuracy over decades of use. This results in incorrect readings and potentially higher bills if the metre under-reports actual usage. By upgrading to modern digital gas meters, you benefit from far more precise measurement of gas consumption.
Digital gas metres utilise sophisticated technology that provides gas usage data down to the exact cubic metre. This precision monitoring removes estimation, leading to gas bills that precisely match the amount of gas used. For households with fluctuating usage, an accurate metre can lead to notable savings.
It’s also important for businesses relying on gas appliances or processes. Inaccuracies mean you may be paying for gas not actually consumed, which hits the bottom line. Upgraded digital metres ensure you only pay for the exact gas usage on-site.
As your local experts, we’ll ensure your new digital gas metre is calibrated and tested before installation. This guarantees it’s working exactly as intended from day one for optimal accuracy.
Upgrading ageing gas metres can also help increase supply pressure. Over decades of use, internal components and piping corrode leading to narrowing pipes or restrictions.
This reduces how much gas can flow, potentially impacting appliance performance. Insufficient pressure can cause problems like:
By upgrading the metre and connected pipes, full pressure capacity is restored. Your upgraded gas system can once again deliver strong, consistent gas flow to all appliances. This leads to optimal efficiency - water heating faster, stronger stove flames for quicker cooking, while pool and central heating runtimes are minimised.
Our gas specialists will ensure your upgrade enables adequate pressure. We may also recommend further solutions if the issue extends beyond the metre itself.
Upgrading your gas metre follows a defined process from start to finish. Here is what to expect step-by-step:
The typical end-to-end process takes 15-20 business days. As your supplier we project manage everything, while keeping you updated throughout.
To commence the gas metre upgrade process, we first submit a formal Application (Form A) to your distributor on your behalf. This kicks off the behind-the-scenes work to get your upgrade approved and scheduled.
When submitting, we provide full site details like:
We’ll also outline the reasons for upgrade alongside required specifications for the replacement digital metre and associated components. Photos, diagrams, and supporting documentation may also be included as evidence.
Once lodged, your distributor will review all details before confirming next steps. We’ll keep you informed of progress throughout this initial application phase.
Once we submit the application for your gas metre upgrade, it goes to your distributor for review and processing. As the entity responsible for the gas network, they ensure all upgrades meet strict compliance and safety standards.
The distributor will evaluate the age, condition, and type of your existing metre alongside the proposed replacement model. They assess the supply requirements for your home, consider any special site conditions, and determine if a site inspection is necessary. This may involve a qualified gas fitter visiting to provide recommendations if complications are noted.
Following their full review, the distributor will send us formal approval to proceed. This permits our gas technicians to do the required work to swap out your old metre. It also means they take over coordination with you if gas supply interruptions are unavoidable during the upgrade.
With distributor green light, we can swiftly move forward with fitting your property with a new precision gas metre. Their diligent processing ensures it meets regulations and provides optimal accuracy.
Before our technicians visit to upgrade your gas metre, ensuring clear access and a safe workspace is important. This responsibility falls to you as the homeowner.
Our gas fitters will need vehicle access close to the metre and a 2 metre clearance zone around the site. Overgrown plants, debris, vehicles, and other obstructions should be removed where necessary. Check fences, gardens beds, structures do not block access.
Technicians also cannot work in muddy, excessively wet, or flooded areas due to electrical safety risks. Ensure the metre box and surrounds have adequate drainage if applicable.
If your site has a gate, walkway, stairs, or other entry points, verify these allow safe passage of equipment likegas cylinders. Overhead hazards like low trees or powerlines must also be addressed if present.
Advising us of any animals on site is appreciated so we can take precautions. Additionally, inform us if anyone at the property depends on electrical life support equipment.
Preparing your site means our gas metre upgrade can proceed safely, efficiently, and without service delays. For any access concerns, please contact us promptly so we can plan solutions.
The final step when upgrading your gas metre is the installation and activation of the new digital metre. Our licenced technicians will first remove your old analogue metre and disconnect the gas supply at the point of attachment.
There will be an interruption to your gas supply during this transition, so we recommend having alternate cooking methods on hand and avoiding heating/hot water use for 2-3 hours. For safety, we’ll also shut off and relight all fixed gas appliances after the upgrade.
The new gas meter will be securely fitted and tested on-site for any leaks using sensitive detection equipment. We ensure full compliance with technical specifications from the distributor before reestablishing your gas supply.
Once the upgraded meter is connected and active, our team will check and relight your gas appliances at your property. You may smell a minor gas odour initially as pipes re-pressurise - this quickly fades. We’ll also explain the new metre and any notable changes to billing or supply.
Upgrading your obsolete metre takes ageing infrastructure out of the equation in terms of erratic gas supply. You can enjoy consistent flow thanks to the precision metering and monitoring of modern gas metres.
Upgrading your gas metre typically takes 15-20 business days from initial application through to final installation and activation. The full process involves coordination between ourselves, the distributor, and at times third-party experts or authorities.
Once we submit the application and necessary documentation, the distributor generally provides approval within 7-10 days. Larger sites may require an on-site evaluation by their technicians before giving the green light. We can then schedule your metre replacement around 5 days out.
Getting your meter changed by our gas specialists takes just 2-3 hours on-site. After thorough testing and relighting appliances, your upgraded gas metre will be complete. However, total downtime for your gas supply may stretch to 2-3 hours.
Factors that can impact timeframes include recent network upgrades in your area, specialist site access requirements, and managing interruptions for life support customers. Well keep you updated if any delays are expected and ensure minimal disruption to your gas supply.
Several cost factors are involved when upgrading your gas metre in Saint Marys. As this infrastructure falls under gas distributors, pricing ultimately depends on their commercial policies.
We will provide an estimate range however precise quotes are not possible upfront. Cost variance can occur due to:
Typically for residences, costs fall between $400 - $850 in Saint Marys. Pricing also includes management of applications, approvals, scheduling, on-site installation, appliance testing, and reinstatement of supply. No other charges apply.
Upgrading provides ongoing accuracy in gas monitoring alongside enhanced safety and performance. Our team works to secure the most suitable metre upgrade that balances reliability and value for money based on usage.
Upgrading your gas metre can occasionally require checks or upgrades to appliances like hot water systems, ovens and cooktops. New digital gas metres have very precise gas flow monitoring and may have higher pressure capacity.
This could impact older appliances used to analogue metres. We’ll evaluate compatibility and performance of all your gas appliances before and after installation. If issues are found, we may recommend an upgrade or replacement if the appliance cannot meet new gas metre requirements.
As your appliance experts, we’ll guide you through this process if needed. Replacement costs are not included in metre upgrade pricing but we can provide quotes to get ageing appliances up to current standards. With the metre and appliances aligned, you’ll benefit from optimised gas usage.
Ensuring a safe work area clear of obstructions is a crucial consideration when upgrading gas metres. As the property owner, you play an important role in preparing home access.
Technicians will need unblocked vehicle access within 2 metres of the metre location. Overgrown vegetation, debris, vehicles, and other impediments must be cleared. Check fences, gardens, structures do not restrict access.
The metre box and surroundings should have proper drainage. Muddy areas create electrical risks. Advise of any animals on site so precautions can be taken.
If anyone on site depends on electrical life support equipment, inform us beforehand so planning accommodates this critical need. Similarly, contact us immediately if special access arrangements are necessary.
By adequately preparing your property, our gas metre upgrade proceeds smoothly, efficiently, and most importantly, safely. Please assist us with ensuring a secure workspace so standards are upheld.
When selecting a gas fitter to upgrade your metre in Saint Marys, it’s important to choose a licenced professional familiar with local regulations. They should hold a Gas Work Authorisation Number (GWAN) issued by NSW Fair Trading as proof of accreditation.
Seek a gas fitter with extensive experience specifically upgrading metres in the Sydney region. They will understand the requirements and processes of local gas distributors like Jemena or Ausgrid. An established local business is ideal as opposed to a general handyman.
Ask prospective gas fitters about their training credentials, years of experience, and qualifications related to digital metre installations. Request examples of past metre upgrade projects. Verify they carry adequate insurance covering both on-site risks and rectification work.
An experienced, licenced gas fitter gives confidence the complex metre change process follows protocols. By partnering with competent professionals, safety, compliance, and reliability outcomes are upheld through the upgrade into the future.
Gas distributors like Jemena operate Time Expired Metre Replacement Programmes. These proactively replace old analogue gas metres that are nearing or past their 30-year service life.
Though still functioning, components in older metres deteriorate over decades of use. Replacing them preemptively prevents issues like leaks or failures down the track.
Upgrades under this programme come at no cost as part of maintaining safety and reliability. As a customer, you simply allow access for installations scheduled by your distributor.
Under these schemes, your old metre gets swapped for a new digital model with all the advantages we’ve covered like accuracy, pressure, and monitoring. They ensure gas infrastructure stays sound through the decades.
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