Smelled gas, called cadent, gas leak detected, do i need to replace the whole pipe?

[naterac]

Hi,

Yesterday morning my partner smelled gas in the flat and called cadent, the gas man came and he was not able to pinpoint where or even if there was a leak inside the flat, he tested the pressure and detected a drop of 1.5 milibar on the 2 minute test so he capped the pipe and said i needed to have it fixed. Worth mentioning that i live on the 5th floor and the meters are in the ground floor.

I then called an engineer and he confirmed that there is a drop of 1.5, but couldn't detect any gas leak inside my flat, he said that the leak must be somewhere else between the ground floor and my flat, also when he was testing we couldn't smell any gas.

He then capped my gas pipe again and said that most likely i'll have to change the piping from the ground floor all the way up to my flat because i reported a smell of gas and by law i now need to prove that my pipe has 0 drop even though a 1.5 drop is within the acceptable levels.

My questions are:
1- Is this true? if the engineer couldn't find a leak inside my flat do i need to replace the whole pipe even though we couldn't smell gas anymore (for all i know the smell we sensed yesterday morning was coming from somewhere else)

2- If i do have to replace the pipe, do i have to pay for it (i have a leasehold on the flat) or does the freeholder have to pay for it?

Thanks,

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Where does your gas pipe run inside the property eg just straight to the boiler along the wall etc

 

[naterac]

Where does your gas pipe run inside the property eg just straight to the boiler along the wall etc

The boiler is attached to the wall that is adjacent to a hallway outside my flat, the pipes run through the ceiling of that hallway, into my flat's ceiling and then straight to the boiler. So i think that there must be less than two meters of that pipe inside my flat.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Any other gas appliances?

 

[naterac]

Any other gas appliances?

Nope, just the boiler, the kitchen is electric.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Did your engineer isolate the boiler ? And re do the test ?

 

[naterac]

Did your engineer isolate the boiler ? And re do the test ?

Yes he did, the leak is definitely somewhere between the gas meter and the lever that isolates my boiler from the pipe. His device didn't pick any gas readings inside the boiler nor around te pipe joints nor around the lever.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

needs further investigation or to just replace the line as it’s short

 

[naterac]

needs further investigation or to just replace the line as it’s short

What do you mean by replacing the line? the whole pipe from the gas meter? it's 5 floors! tracking where the leak is along the whole pipe i guess is just not possible.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Don’t you have an isolators and test point inside the flat ?

 

[naterac]

Don’t you have an isolators and test point inside the flat ?

I'm far from being an expert in these things, but i think i do, have a look at the boiler. I believe the test point is the thing right next to the red broom stick and the isolator is the yellow lever?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yep did he test from there or the one by the meter ?

 

[naterac]

Yep did he test from there or the one by the meter ?

both, but the pressure drop shows when he tests on the one by the meter.

 

[Gasmk1]

not being a clever clogs but your supply from the meter outlet looks like tracpipe so I would imagine there are no joints on the length (that's the whole point of tracpipe and its equivalent) so I would probably say your leak is more than likely on the meter or the boiler. I Amy be wrong but tracpipe is stainless steel and coated in plastic sleeving so any leak on that would be impossible to trace. I suggest you find another gas engineer to try again one who can test each bit separately. to ascertain which part of installation is leaking. if it is on the tracpipe be prepared for an expensive job. It’s a wrap! Gas pipe with an extra sleeve - https://www.phamnews.co.uk/its-a-wrap-gas-pipe-with-an-extra-sleeve/

 

[Gasmk1]

as for freeholder paying I don't know its something you would have to take up with them.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

both, but the pressure drop shows when he tests on the one by the meter.

did he close the valve to the left of the boiler ?

 

[Scott_D]

not being a clever clogs but your supply from the meter outlet looks like tracpipe so I would imagine there are no joints on the length (that's the whole point of tracpipe and its equivalent) so I would probably say your leak is more than likely on the meter or the boiler. I Amy be wrong but tracpipe is stainless steel and coated in plastic sleeving so any leak on that would be impossible to trace. I suggest you find another gas engineer to try again one who can test each bit separately. to ascertain which part of installation is leaking. if it is on the tracpipe be prepared for an expensive job. It’s a wrap! Gas pipe with an extra sleeve - https://www.phamnews.co.uk/its-a-wrap-gas-pipe-with-an-extra-sleeve/

Trouble is you cant know whats happened along its length, could have a fitting, could have a screw through it, could have rubbed on something over the years and have a small hole.
If there is a drop and smell of gas has been reported it has to be capped until repaired/replaced

 

[naterac]

did he close the valve to the left of the boiler ?

Yeah he did

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Well then your buggered it’s the trac pipe line or fittings did he spray the fittings either end with fluid ?

 

[naterac]

Well then your buggered it’s the trac pipe line or fittings did he spray the fittings either end with fluid ?

yes he did and he didn't get any bubbles. So we need to replace the whole trac pipe all the way from the ground floor? is it true that it needs to be replaced by law because i reported it? and last question, could you give me a ball park figure in £ on what i'd be looking at? 1000? 5000? 10000? 20000?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Correct unless you can find the leak might be worth just pressure testing the trac pipe as a last resort

And it’s off because you have reported a smell of gas and there’s a drop

couldn’t as there’s a load of factors

 

[Scott_D]

You might kick yourself for reporting it but there is a leak and it need fixing.

are you sure the pipes don’t go into a service void?

 

[Last Plumber]

by law i now need to prove that my pipe has 0 drop even though a 1.5 drop is within the acceptable levels.

There is no drop allowed on pipe work only (once appliances are isolated). That's why it cannot be left on.
Is the pipework accessible as scott mentioned? e.g. service duct.

 

[Gasmk1]

Trouble is you cant know whats happened along its length, could have a fitting, could have a screw through it, could have rubbed on something over the years and have a small hole.
If there is a drop and smell of gas has been reported it has to be capped until repaired/replaced

Trouble is you cant know whats happened along its length, could have a fitting, could have a screw through it, could have rubbed on something over the years and have a small hole.
If there is a drop and smell of gas has been reported it has to be capped until repaired/replaced

That’s why I said to test each section and fully determine whether it is the tracpipe spent many years doing trace and repairs on domestic and commercial

 

[Gasmk1]

Where did you small the gas