What’s involved in upgrading your gas meter?

Understanding Why Your Gas Meter May Need Upgrading

Homeowners and businesses may consider upgrading their gas meter for several important reasons:

• Enhanced safety features in newer meters help prevent leaks and hazards, aligning with updated safety standards.
• Smart meters offer technological advantages such as precise billing, enhanced leak detection, and remote shutoff capabilities.
• Increased efficiency is another benefit, as old meters can lose accuracy over time, resulting in overpayment for gas usage.

Our team specialises in efficient gas meter upgrades throughout Mascot, ensuring minimal disruption.

Upgrading to a newer meter offers key advantages such as:

• More precise gas usage tracking with digital smart metres.
• Early leak detection alerts via connected smart technology.
• Compliance with the latest safety and metering regulations.
• Remote reading capabilities eliminate the need for manual meter readings.

Contact our team at 1300 349 338 to learn more about whether your gas metre requires upgrading.

How Smart Gas Meters Function

Smart gas meters use advanced telecommunications to send usage data, unlike older meters that need manual readings.

The primary advantage of smart gas meters is their ability to provide consistent and accurate readings, which is crucial for households with life support equipment. Usage information can be seamlessly collected multiple times per day and transmitted via secured networks.

Real-time data ensures billing accuracy, reflecting actual usage instead of estimations. It also facilitates easier monitoring of gas usage to detect abnormal spikes that may indicate leaks or other issues.

In-home displays in smart meters enable users to monitor their daily gas consumption. This empowers customers to better understand their usage patterns and make adjustments to save money if needed.

Upgrading to a smart gas meter aligns households with contemporary metering technologies. This future-proofs your metering with innovative functions and enhanced safety.

The Gas Meter Upgrade Process Step-by-Step

The process of upgrading your gas meter involves the following steps:

1. Submit a request to your gas distributor for a meter upgrade, providing your address for reference. Provide your name, address, current meter number, and upgrade reason.
2. The distributor will assess your request and arrange a suitable time for the upgrade. Upgrades for residential properties usually take 5-15 business days to complete after approval.
3. On the scheduled day, the authorised technician will isolate the gas supply to your property and remove the old meter; your presence is not required. Expect a gas outage of 30 to 90 minutes.
4. The technician will install and ensure proper alignment and sealing of your new meter. They may need access to indoors to connect and test appliance pipes.
5. With the physical installation complete, the technician will record your new metre number and relay test results back to the utility company to finalise the changeover.
6. Finally, the technician will restore your gas supply and assist with appliance relighting as required. Your gas distributor will contact you to ensure everything is working smoothly.

Upgrading takes 2-3 hours with gas switched off for up to 1.5 hours. Technicians are experienced and take every precaution to minimise disruption to your property. Contact our Mascot plumbing team on 1300 349 338 for more information about managing the gas metre upgrade process.

Preparing for the Installation

Adequate preparation is essential for a seamless meter upgrade experience. Here are some key tips from the team at Mascot Plumbing:

• Clear the meter area, ensuring technicians have access to the meter and pipes.
• Stabilise any surface-mounted gas pipes near the meter to avoid damage.
• Protect the area - Cover nearby furnishings, vegetation or surfaces vulnerable to debris during works.
• Meet prerequisites - For complex installations, ensure prerequisite works like pipe adjustments are complete.
• Confirm timing - Verify the installation date and timeframe so you can be home during the gas shutdown.
• Back up codes - Note down electronic locker and security gate access codes for easy site access.

With the right preparation, your gas metre upgrade will be seamlessly conducted by our experienced technicians with minimum disruption to property and maximum safety assured.

Contact Mascot Plumbing on 1300 349 338 with any other questions about optimally preparing for your upcoming gas metre installation.

What to Expect During the Upgrade

On the day your gas metre is upgraded by our qualified technicians, here is what you can expect:

• Technicians will introduce themselves upon arrival, providing their credentials and identification.
• They will ensure safe access to your metre area before isolating the gas supply to your property. This may involve some pipework adjustments.
• Once the gas is safely shut off, they will remove and dispose of your old gas meter before installing the new gas meter in its place.
• The technicians will then reconnect and test all pipework, check for leaks and ensure your home when reconnected has a stable gas supply. This process takes 30-90 minutes with no gas.
• With your gas back on, they will assist you in relighting any pilot lights and appliances required. They may need to access areas indoors to test pipes and appliances.
• Before leaving, they will explain the new smart metre functions and reveal your new metre ID. An account changeover process will also take place.

The technicians take every care on site with protective floor coverings to prevent property damage. The entire upgrade process normally takes 2-3 hours to safely complete.

Contact Mascot Plumbing on 1300 349 338 if you have any other questions about what to expect when we upgrade your gas metre.

Potential Costs and Considerations

Upgrading your gas metre in the Mascot area can involve certain costs depending on your situation:

• A standard meter upgrade typically incurs a fee ranging from $200 to $300.
• Some complex installations might qualify for a replacement program to mitigate additional costs.
• Associated works - Additional gas pipe or appliance adjustments may add hourly labour costs.
• Special programs - Some providers offer cost-free upgrades under the meter replacement program. Check your eligibility.

Technicians will inform you of any additional fees before installation begins. We take transparency of costs seriously at Mascot Plumbing.

Certain households may also be eligible for rebates when upgrading old, inefficient gas metres under sustainability schemes. Our team can advise if any zrebate options apply to your situation.

To learn more about typical fees and potential rebates for upgrading your gas metre in the Mascot area, contact our team on 1300 349 338.

Service Disruptions and Timeframes

Upgrading your gas metre will require temporary disruption to your gas supply. Our technicians isolate the gas to safely conduct removal of the old metre unit and installation of the new smart metre, with gas off for typically 30-60 minutes.

The complete smart meter installation takes about 2 to 3 hours. We schedule upgrades on weekdays during standard business hours, with The completion time depends on your property’s installation complexity:

• Standard upgrade: 5-15 business days from approval
• Complex upgrade: Up to 20 business days where prerequisite works are required

Our experienced technicians strive to minimize disruption during the process. We’ll provide advance notice of installation timeframes and any need for prerequisite pipeworks. Contact Mascot Plumbing on 1300 349 338 if you have any other questions about service disruptions or timeframes when we upgrade your gas metre.

Ensuring Appliance Compatibility

It’s important to check that all your gas appliances will be compatible with your new smart gas metre before installation. As the latest metering technology, smart metres utilise different transmission frequencies that older appliances may not recognise.

Verify appliance compatibility with your new meter by consulting manuals or manufacturers. Our technicians can also assist with basic compatibility checks during site inspections.

Some pilot light appliances may be extinguished when the gas supply is shut off during the upgrade. Our technicians will help relight gas appliances where needed, but complex cases may require a specialised gas fitter to attend site after the metre installation is complete to adjust appliances accordingly.

Ensuring gas appliance compatibility beforehand can avoid any issues after installation. Contact our Mascot team on 1300 349 338 if you need assistance determining appliance readiness for your upcoming metre upgrade.

Safety Tips and Maintenance for New Meters

While a new meter enhances safety, appropriate maintenance afterwards is vital. Here are some key safety and maintenance tips from Mascot Plumbing’s gas fitting experts:

• Check for leaks - Carefully inspect gas connections for any sign of leaks which may require tightening. Always perform leak checks after relighting appliances.
• Keep vents clear - Ensure ventilation openings on your metre box remain unblocked to prevent gas buildup.
• Protect the metre - Shelter your gas metre from vehicles, foliage and rain dripping as physical damage can impair safety mechanisms.
• Ensure the meter’s dial rotates to confirm gas is flowing correctly.
• Annual inspections - Arrange yearly metre safety checks by qualified gas fitters to detect any issues early.

At Mascot Plumbing, we prioritize safety above all. Regular maintenance and inspections ensure your meter’s performance and property safety.

Contact our team on 1300 349 338 for professional assistance maintaining and inspecting new or existing gas metres.

FAQs and Common Concerns Addressed

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about gas metre upgrades:

Is the meter upgrade process safe?

Yes, our licenced technicians follow strict safety procedures when upgrading gas metres, including completely isolating the gas supply before removal of old metres. New smart metres also have enhanced safety features.

Do I need to be home during the upgrade?

No, you don’t need home when we service your metre, as long as we can access the metre area. We recommend having someone on site to allow access and assist with relighting appliances after the gas comes back on.

How long does a standard upgrade take?

From approval to completion, if you need upgrade, a standard gas meter upgrade takes 5-15 business days. The installation itself takes 2-3 hours with 30-90 minutes of no gas supply.

Who do I contact for more information?

You can contact Mascot Plumbing on 1300 349 338 to learn more about gas metre upgrades, discuss any concerns and schedule an installation.

How will I know how my new metre works?

Technicians will guide you through your new meter’s functions, related to your energy management, before departure. You can also find user manuals online or contact your gas provider for guidance.

Contacting Your Gas Company for Support

If you require any further assistance regarding your gas metre upgrade, don’t hesitate to contact your gas utility company directly. They have dedicated customer support teams ready to help with:

• Queries about your scheduled installation date, timeslots or metre upgrade requirements
• Understanding new smart metre functions, readings or connectivity
• Troubleshooting any issues with gas supply, appliances compatibility or performance post-installation
• Clarifying potential upgrade costs, complex installation fees or eligibility for rebates

Be sure to have your account details on hand when you call. The team at Mascot Plumbing can also offer guidance on liaising with your gas company pre and post-metre upgrade. Reach us on 1300 349 338 or [email protected].