The smell of gas

[Master of None]

Last night around 8pm I went to cook dinner on the stove. The spark igniter would not light the hob so I fumbled for my lighter, I the realised I could not smell any gas. I turned it up and put my nose to it and I could feel the gas but no smell. I decided to call the gas company because I thought someone could leave an unlit appliance on and not smell it. There was definitely gas there as I was now cooking. Gas company called me back around 11.30pm for my address. Gave it and said"I don't have a leak or a supply problem its just the smell has not been added to the gas, so you don't have to send any one round, Its not a problem with my house". "yes of course will contact the gas supplier and make sure they are adding enough odour" came the reply.
Next morning at 8am 2 gas guys almost broke my door down. They tested the meter with an instrument an said the reading was 87 which is ok. I invited them in and they tested at the hob. There was no smell even with my nose at the ring. After a say 10 seconds it started to smell and got stronger. The man with the instrument said thats ok. I said there was defiantly no smell last night, to which the guy responded rather bluntly "thats impossible you are in a low pressure area" wandered of leaving me to feel like a right cnob.

Sorry about the rant but did I do the right thing to call? or is it not really an issue, just for future reference.

Thanks.

 

[moggridgeplumbing]

Always call - Better safe than sorry! No matter how silly you think the question.

 

[misterdubya]

Maybe you had a cold yesterday?

Mr. W.

 

[Master of None]

Maybe you had a cold yesterday?

Mr. W.

Nope my nose was working perfectly. It just did not smell. Makes you realise why they add the smell. You could have a house full of gas and not know it.
And why would "thats impossible you are in a low pressure area" have anything to do with the lack of odour. And why did they have to get me out of bed at 8am when I had already said there was not a problem at my house? Did the think my house was somehow removing the smell?
I presume last night there was a huge slug of gas in the system without the added odour and by this morning it has been used.

Anyway

Thanks guys.

 

[xr4x4]

Well, looking at it from another way, who else's house could they knock at to diagnose the problem you say you had in your area?

 

[misterdubya]

Well, if you didnt have a cold, were you cooking with garlic & onions?

Mr. W.

 

[Master of None]

Well, looking at it from another way, who else's house could they knock at to diagnose the problem you say you had in your area?

I suppose.

Mdub
This was before I started cooking.
The normal smell of gas is realy strong (just had a quick sniff) and I had my nose to the unlit burner, no smell.
I presume everyone knows natrual gas has no smell until the gas company adds it to enable you to smell an escape.
Is it beyond comprehension that the smell adding machine broke down for a bit yesterday.

Does no one beleve me
It realy happened, just after I left the alien spacecraft.

 

[bengasman]

It really doesn't matter if it happened or not. Standard rule: if you suspect any problem with gas, call 0800 111 999. End of.

 

[Boilerman2]

Don't knock it there are some stange things going on with our supply networks at the moment there is a small costal town in Suffolk where an "Un-specified" event has occured within the supply network ther result of which is a very fine red rusty dust getting through the mains into appliances Gas control valves on Premix Burners are failing due to contamination !!