Noisy gas meter
 

Greetings,

I am completing a basement conversion. I have a compact, silent, electronic
electric meter down there, but the gas meter is one of the chunky mechanical
types (manufacturer "Schlumberger"). The problem is that it can be rather
noisy, giving off a high-pitched whine sound when gas is being used and
making a knocking sound, presumably as the meter turns.

My question is whether this is serviceable or whether the only way to
eliminate such a noise would be to replace the gas meter. It states on the
meter that it is the "Property of Transco".

I assume that neither is an acceptable DIY job, given the nature of working
with gas and my inexperience in such matters.

That being the case, who would I contact about either route (if applicable)?

TIA.

My question is whether this is serviceable or whether the only way to
eliminate such a noise would be to replace the gas meter. It states on the
meter that it is the "Property of Transco".

That being the case, who would I contact about either route (if
applicable)?


I'm not sure, but I believe tampering with gas meters may bo some sort of
offence.

Perhaps try contacting Transco, seeing as it's their property and
responsibility.

RedOnRed wrote:

I'm not sure, but I believe tampering with gas meters may bo some sort of
offence.

Perhaps try contacting Transco, seeing as it's their property and
responsibility.

But don't expect the replacement to be any quieter - ours wasn't :(

Lee

--
Email address is valid, but is unlikely to be read.

Replace the meter governor. Tip me hat to you ;-)

On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 19:32:13 +0100, JustMe wrote:

Greetings,

I am completing a basement conversion. I have a compact, silent, electronic
electric meter down there, but the gas meter is one of the chunky mechanical
types (manufacturer "Schlumberger"). The problem is that it can be rather
noisy, giving off a high-pitched whine sound when gas is being used and
making a knocking sound, presumably as the meter turns.

My question is whether this is serviceable or whether the only way to
eliminate such a noise would be to replace the gas meter. It states on the
meter that it is the "Property of Transco".

I assume that neither is an acceptable DIY job, given the nature of working
with gas and my inexperience in such matters.

That being the case, who would I contact about either route (if applicable)?

Read the gas fitting FAQ.
You may well find that a noisy gas meter is one that is about to fail.
If the meter is in poor order it may have quite noticable periodic
variations of outlet pressure when the boiler is on.
If the pressure is out seriously out of spec then Transco can be called to
replace the unit.


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

JustMe wrote:
Greetings,

I am completing a basement conversion. I have a compact, silent,
electronic electric meter down there, but the gas meter is one of the
chunky mechanical types (manufacturer "Schlumberger"). The problem is
that it can be rather noisy, giving off a high-pitched whine sound
when gas is being used and making a knocking sound, presumably as the
meter turns.

My question is whether this is serviceable or whether the only way to
eliminate such a noise would be to replace the gas meter. It states
on the meter that it is the "Property of Transco".

I assume that neither is an acceptable DIY job, given the nature of
working with gas and my inexperience in such matters.

That being the case, who would I contact about either route (if
applicable)?

TIA.

Replacing the meter is not a DIY job as obtaining a new gas meter may be
tricky to other than Transco. Also the meter number of old and new meters
needs to be logged and put into 'the system'. Ours was changed 2 years ago
when we moved into our place and the digital display on the old one was
unreadable (crazed plastic on the display). Transco were around within 45
minutes and changed the meter within 15. The new meter already had a
non-zero reading on it, so that was logged and passed onto our supplier and
our bills carried on without any problem. Doing it yourself would cause a
problem with the first meter reading.

David

"JustMe" wrote in message
...
Greetings,

I am completing a basement conversion. I have a compact, silent,
electronic
electric meter down there, but the gas meter is one of the chunky
mechanical
types (manufacturer "Schlumberger"). The problem is that it can be rather
noisy, giving off a high-pitched whine sound when gas is being used and
making a knocking sound, presumably as the meter turns.

My question is whether this is serviceable or whether the only way to
eliminate such a noise would be to replace the gas meter. It states on the
meter that it is the "Property of Transco".

I assume that neither is an acceptable DIY job, given the nature of
working
with gas and my inexperience in such matters.

That being the case, who would I contact about either route (if
applicable)?

Phone Transco, I had a new meter within 2 hours, and then another and then
they decided that the pipe needed pumping out. It was the pumping that cured
the noise problem, apparantly they introduce a small amount of oil into the
system to keep there valves etc lubed, this can collect in certain areas (
my pipe ) and give the same symptoms as you have.
Took 3 months, 4 visits, 2 meters and a big compressor but they got there in
the end.

Regards Jeff

JustMe wrote:
Greetings,

I am completing a basement conversion. I have a compact, silent, electronic
electric meter down there, but the gas meter is one of the chunky mechanical
types (manufacturer "Schlumberger"). The problem is that it can be rather
noisy, giving off a high-pitched whine sound when gas is being used and
making a knocking sound, presumably as the meter turns.

My question is whether this is serviceable or whether the only way to
eliminate such a noise would be to replace the gas meter. It states on the
meter that it is the "Property of Transco".

I assume that neither is an acceptable DIY job, given the nature of working
with gas and my inexperience in such matters.

That being the case, who would I contact about either route (if applicable)?

TIA.



Schlum. U6 I assume? I used to work for them way back when although they
are now called Actaris I think.

It's not serviceable and almost certainly illegal to try anything like
that.

In any case ... you won't be able to "tinker" internally without
removing the pressed steel banding around the centre of the meter, and
then you would not be able to reseal etc (without a "banding machine" -
not DIY!). Also, taking off the index will do you no good and just look
like tampering.

FYI: the meter has a mechanical set of diaphragms which use differential
pressure to rotate the index. It seems the mechanism is making a sound,
probably a resonant effect ... just like the one at my house!

They don't cost all that much IIRC (around £20) but Transco would have
to do the work which would be the larger cost and then you may get a
meter with the same issue.

If you can persuade them to fit an E6 (electronic/ultrasonic) then there
are no moving parts. I think that they don't bother with these any more
though on cost/quality grounds so this might be tricky.

Alex.

I work for them - meter bellows are seized and linkages squeek - hence high pitch.
Only ring Transco on 0800 111 999 if you can smell gas.
Since july 12th last year your gas supplier must give transco the approval to change a gas meter. - its called metering separation.
You may be able to have it changed by ringing us direct as having it reported as a "check for safety" but if your gas supplier does not have a metering contract in place we cant change it.
Ring your supplier 1st - unless you can smell gas obviously

On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 17:44:41 +0100, Transco_Boo_Hiss
wrote:


I work for them - meter bellows are seized and linkages squeek - hence
high pitch.
Only ring Transco on 0800 111 999 if you can smell gas.
Since july 12th last year your gas supplier must give transco the
approval to change a gas meter. - its called metering separation.
You may be able to have it changed by ringing us direct as having it
reported as a "check for safety" but if your gas supplier does not have
a metering contract in place we cant change it.
Ring your supplier 1st - unless you can smell gas obviously
i wonder where you work in Tranco?
email me


ta

what for? I aint moving the service for ya!

"Transco_Boo_Hiss" wrote in
message ...

tarquinlinbin Wrote:
On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 17:44:41 +0100, Transco_Boo_Hiss
wrote:
-

I work for them - meter bellows are seized and linkages squeek - hence
high pitch.
Only ring Transco on 0800 111 999 if you can smell gas.
Since july 12th last year your gas supplier must give transco the
approval to change a gas meter. - its called metering separation.
You may be able to have it changed by ringing us direct as having it
reported as a "check for safety" but if your gas supplier does not
have
a metering contract in place we cant change it.
Ring your supplier 1st - unless you can smell gas obviously-
i wonder where you work in Tranco?
email me


ta


what for? I aint moving the service for ya!


--
Transco_Boo_Hiss

Thanks to everyone for the replies.
I was confident that it wasn't a DIY job, but your advice has been very
useful and I now know what my next step should be.
I wonder which Powergen number to use...what an awful lot of them there are
:o)
Cheers.

"JustMe" wrote in message
...


Thanks to everyone for the replies.
I was confident that it wasn't a DIY job, but your advice has been very
useful and I now know what my next step should be.
I wonder which Powergen number to use...what an awful lot of them there
are

You should try pinpointing an appropriate number for Yorkshire Water :-(

Mary

:o)
Cheers.