Gas Box outside house

[Suze012]

Last night out radiators and hot water wouldn't come on, had someone look at it today and they said it was some problem with the Gas box outside our house. Someone had turned something off?

Is that possible? surely someone can't just switch off our gas from the outside at a press of a button?

Anyone have any knowledge on this?

Thanks

 

[kevplumb]

this is an lpg box but yours will be similar

open the door and close the emergency control result no gas

key from any plumbers merchant app 50p

was a favorite trick with the little darlings where i used to live

 

[Suze012]

Thanks.. Yeah he seemed to think it was kids too, looks like they know more about gas than I do!

Least I know what to look out for if it happends again

 

[JohnD]

I've seen it happen to a neighbour of mine whose house is beside a path to a middle school little urchins

I was wondering if there was a key-lock that can be fitted instead of the usual triangular budget key? The gas meter agent would need to have a standard key to it.

 

[noonespecial]

Yes I came across it too some years ago before fail devices were the norm - but that was by a feuding adult. In those days it was an extremely dangerous prank.

 

[danlightbulb]

My parents had this problem where they used to live.

My dads solution was to fit one of the hasp & staple with a padlock to prevent access to the key hole.

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=101153&ts=06096&id=11119

Unfortunately this means that the gas man will drop a note through the door and you have to read the meter yourself. I don't think there is any legal requirement for access to the meter but I could be wrong.

Ps. It also used to happen with the electric - the little *******s used to pull the fuse!

 

[gazer]

Transco will fit a anti vandal box which is metal, but guess what it has the sme key.

 

[Suze012]

You can ask transco for a new box?

The gas box at the side of my flat which is basically a communal walk way and is where my gas box is and the door is off it, so I can't close it..

Ive seen them for around £50.00 but i think thats a lot to pay.

 

[Agile]

I dont think Dan above is CORGI registered!

My view is that an emergency gas control is required to be accessible at all times!

If there was another one indoors then that would suffice.

Tony

 

[loafer]

the little pranksters in the peak district like to do it to lpg valves too and they arnt even located in boxes!!!!

Be nice to ickle cheelderen or they nail roadkill to your door

 

[fitz1]

Ur lucky love. Where i live they do it to pinch the meter.

 

[JohnD]

I wonder if you'd be allowed to lock it with a yellow FB padlock (=Fire Brigade has a standard key and probably Transco do too)

 

[Nickthedentist]

I came home last year to find my boiler wasn't working. I went to the meter box and found that someone had not only switched off the gas supply, but also disconnected the "anaconda" pipe from the pipework going into my house. Nothing capped off, gas could be made to gush out if the main stop valve was opened

I suspected it was the work of idiotic kids, but when I phoned Transco, they said that it must have been done by the contractors who were relaying the main in the road - they said they were always forgetting to connect things back up again I was not impressed - the contractors didn't even have the courtesy to leave a note or anything!

Nick