What’s involved in a gas meter upgrade?

Understanding Why You Might Need a Gas Meter Upgrade

Several factors can necessitate upgrading your gas metre:

• Increased gas usage - Significant growth in your household’s gas consumption due to additional appliances or a larger household may surpass the capacity of your current meter.
• Adding new gas appliances - When adding major new gas appliances like central heating or a pool heater, your meter may no longer support the flow rate required by new appliances, necessitating an upgrade.
• Safety and efficiency upgrades - Older metres may not meet current safety standards. Upgrading provides an opportunity to install the latest metre technology for enhanced safety, accuracy and efficiency.
• Meter replacement program - Your gas meter may be due for an upgrade under your provider’s routine meter replacement program after 15-20 years. Digital smart metres allow remote reading and remote reading and potential energy savings insights.

Upgrading ensures regulatory compliance and prepares for future consumption demands. It also allows you to take advantage of new metering technology benefits. If you are adding major new gas appliances or fixtures, contact your utility company to discuss metre upgrades.

Preparing and Submitting a Gas Meter Upgrade Application

Upgrading your gas metre starts with contacting your gas distributor, which will be different depending on your location. In the Bankstown area of Sydney, your gas distributor is most likely Jemena.

Contact your gas distributor with these details ready for a metre upgrade:

• Your name and contact details
• Your address and gas meter number
• Reason for the upgrade, such as new appliance installations
• Details of any new gas appliances you plan to install e.g. central heating system

Accurate information expedites the upgrade application and avoids delays. Your gas distributor will assess your consumption and the capacity of your existing meter to decide if an upgrade is necessary, especially if you’ve introduced new gas appliances.

You may also need to submit the following with your application:

• Proof of identification and address e.g. driver’s licence and utility bill
• Documents showing new gas appliance specifications e.g. brochures
• Site drawings indicating the planned metre location

Your gas provider will organize a site visit to verify the current gas setup and assess the suitability for meter upgrade. During this inspection, the technician will check that pipes and appliances meet safety and compliance standards.

The team at Bankstown Plumbing can assist with every step of the gas metre upgrade process. Get in touch if you need any help with paperwork, technical specifics or coordinating site visits.

Scheduling the On-Site Visit and Access Requirements

This is done to inspect your existing gas setup, determine the best metre location and confirm that installation is possible.

When scheduling the site visit, be prepared to provide:

• Suitable dates and times for when you or another responsible adult will be home
• Details of any dogs or access issues they should be aware of
• Your contact details so they can call if running late

For legal compliance, all gas appliances must be deactivated prior to technician access. This allows them to safely conduct leak checks and assessments.

In the site visit, the technician will discuss process details, additional costs, and highlight any pre-installation issues.

We also work efficiently to provide a quick turnaround on your gas metre upgrade so you can enjoy the benefits sooner.

What to Expect During the Meter Installation Process

The gas metre installation process typically involves the following key steps:

1. The technician will firstly shut off the gas supply to commence safety measures. All gas appliances must be switched off by the resident prior.
2. Removing your old meter - The old gas meter will be disconnected and removed from the piping.
3. Inspecting pipes & fittings - The technician thoroughly checks the gas pipework and fittings for leaks, damage or non-compliant issues.
4. Installing new metre - The new gas metre is mounted to the gas inlet and outlet pipes. Seals are applied to prevent leaks.
5. Operational tests with safety checks ensure proper function and leak prevention before resuming gas supply.
6. Restarting gas appliances - The technician will assist you to relight your appliances once the completion paperwork is signed.

Although efforts are made to reduce inconvenience, the gas service will typically be suspended for 1-2 hours. The benefit is a new metre meeting all safety standards with the option of smart metre functionality.

The team at Bankstown Plumbing manages the entire process, ensuring your gas upgrade is smooth, efficient and worry-free. Contact us to arrange an obligation-free quote.

Timeframes and Potential Costs

The timeframe for a standard gas metre upgrade can vary depending on factors like:

• Approval wait time after application submission averages 10 business days.
• Initial site visit scheduling usually ranges between 1 and 2 weeks.
• Obtaining a new metre can take between 1 and 4 weeks from order date.
• Installation completion - 1 full day once scheduled

So in total, the gas metre upgrade process can take approximately 3-8 weeks from your initial application to finalisation. Complex upgrades, particularly those that may affect life support equipment, may take longer.

The cost of a gas meter upgrade encompasses the meter, installation labour, and any necessary custom pipe modifications. As a guide, basic upgrades typically range from $550 - $1500 depending on metre type. We are happy to provide an accurate flat rate quote for any job after visiting your property to scope requirements.

Acknowledging cost concerns, you may access government rebates and financial assistance, subject to eligibility. Contact Bankstown Plumbing to explore suitable options that could save you hundreds off your gas metre upgrade.

Safety Checks Performed During Installation

When a gas metre upgrade is taking place, licenced technicians follow strict safety procedures aligned with Australian Standards to safeguard occupants.

Key safety checks conducted include:

• Technicians employ high-pressure air or nitrogen for leak detection in the system.
• Leak detection - Electronic detectors are used to find gas leaks before relighting appliances.
• Inspection of flues to ensure proper ventilation is imperative.
• Purging air - Pipes cleared of debris/contaminants that could affect gas flow
• Electrical safety - Earthing arrangements and bonding compliances are verified
• Flame failure response - Shut off devices are checked to cut gas if flames are extinguished

After completion, the technician will explain your new gas meter’s safe operation and help relight your appliances.

Rest assured Bankstown Plumbing’s licenced technicians diligently follow all procedures throughout the metre upgrade to guarantee safety for your home or business.

The Benefits of Digital Gas Meters

Upgrading to a digital gas metre provides several advantages over traditional analogue models including:

• Digital metres facilitate remote, wireless data transfer, eliminating manual reading requirements.
• Digital metres offer precise gas consumption records, removing the need for estimations.
• Leak monitoring - Smart sensors detect gas leaks and independently shut off the supply to prevent dangers, concurrently tracking electricity use.
• Cost savings - With detailed consumption tracking, households don’t need to guess their usage and can potentially reduce their bills.
• Outage alerts - Network-connected digital metres can identify supply issues and send status alerts.
• User-friendly monitoring - Digital interfaces and apps facilitate easy and clear tracking of your gas and electricity consumption.

With over a decade of catering to our customers, discover how Bankstown Plumbing expertly manages every facet of transitioning to sophisticated digital gas metering without hassle. Contact our team to discuss how a digital upgrade can benefit your home or business.

Collaborating with Your Local Gas Distributor

Upgrading your gas metre requires working closely with your local gas distributor, whether that is Jemena, Ausgrid or another company depending on your location.

The distributor plays a key role across the entire gas metre upgrade process including:

• Reviewing and approving upgrade applications
• Conducting safety checks and site assessments
• Scheduling installation dates and times
• Supplying the new gas metre hardware
• Managing the physical metre exchange on the day
• Inspecting work completed by technicians
• Reconnecting gas supply once the job is signed off

Bankstown Plumbing, as your licensed gas fitting specialists, will handle all dealings with your local gas distributor for you. We take care of all paperwork, coordination and manage each step from application to approval efficiently with the goal of minimum disruption to you.

Upgrading your gas infrastructure is a complex process with obligation and safety requirements. Having Bankstown Plumbing oversee and project manage the end-to-end job ensures a smooth upgrade experience working hand-in-hand with your local gas distribution partner.

Completing the Upgrade and Next Steps

Once your new gas metre installation is complete, the technician will perform final safety checks before restoring your gas supply and relighting any pilot lights.

Key final steps include:

• Confirming all paperwork is signed off
• Reactivating your gas supply and aiding you in relighting appliances
• Testing operation of the new gas metre
• Assisting homeowners in relighting any gas appliance pilot lights that were extinguished
• Supplying you with safety guidelines and operational details for your new meter

With your upgraded gas infrastructure now in place, Bankstown Plumbing encourages you to reach out for any additional queries, support or follow-up maintenance needs. We also offer complimentary first-year servicing of new metres to ensure optimal performance.

Please feel welcome to email, call or book an appointment regarding:

• New metre usage optimisation advice
• Energy bill savings consultations
• Additional gas appliance installations or upgrades
• General plumbing maintenance requirements

Upgrading your meter is an important investment in your home’s safety, efficiency and functionality. The team at Bankstown Plumbing will continue to be on hand to help you maximise the benefits while meeting all compliance obligations.