Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

Hi

I wonder if anyone could offer some advice. We have a townhouse on Esuri and a few days ago noticed a smell of gas coming from our gas meter cupboard which is shared with our neighbour.

A guy from a local company came out to investigate and advised that we may need a new regulator fitted at a cost of 350 euros. Although this cost will be shared with our neighbour, it does seem quite high!

I thought maybe the gas regulator would be the responsibility of the gas company rather than the house owner but maybe I'm wrong.

If anyone else has had to have the gas regulator changed I'd appreciate their advice on cost and recommendation of an approved gas fitter.

Thanks

Ed and Lin

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

They are a shared regulator

I will talk to friends who have places on Lomas. There is a Spanish guy who friends have used, his mate works for Gas Natural who connects them up. Ill try and check the cost as well

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

Many thanks guesswork.

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

Switch to bottle gas. This regulator "issue" is a ridiculous 'legal scam'... You will end up having to have a new regulator every few years. Don't pay their blackmail money,,,, switch to bottle, no standing charge, better shower pressure and less hassle. The cost to have your boiler converted is equal, maybe a few euros more depending if the bottle gas place has an offer on 'no deposit for the bottles', sometimes a deposit is needed. Once converted you can pop along to the shop, next to the fish market, get your contract and go buy the bottle or two, whatever you need. Or the fitter can get it for you, he may charge the deposit though. Many of us can recommend a good reliable gas guy called Francisco, (he sings opera as well). And speaks English ,,,, Your neighbour can decide to convert as well or have the regulator repaired by themself. You are only responsible for your part, what they decide to do is up to them. If you want Francisco number, let me know. Al.

UOTE=Lin and Ed;12171536]Hi

I wonder if anyone could offer some advice. We have a townhouse on Esuri and a few days ago noticed a smell of gas coming from our gas meter cupboard which is shared with our neighbour.

A guy from a local company came out to investigate and advised that we may need a new regulator fitted at a cost of 350 euros. Although this cost will be shared with our neighbour, it does seem quite high!

I thought maybe the gas regulator would be the responsibility of the gas company rather than the house owner but maybe I'm wrong.

If anyone else has had to have the gas regulator changed I'd appreciate their advice on cost and recommendation of an approved gas fitter.

Thanks

Ed and Lin[/QUOTE]

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

Gas regulators are designed to vent a little gas occasionally (when an appliance starts using gas after a period of no usage), so unless there is a constant smell of gas, I wouldn't worry about it.

I once called our gas utility about a smell of gas, and the behaviour of gas regulators was explained to me by the technician after he came out to investigate found no problem.

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

Good point, yes the regulator should express some pressure occasionally and if they functioned correctly, maybe they would.
But in Costa Esuri, when this happens, ie a smell of gas, what generally happens is, someone reports a smell of gas, someone comes to disconnect the meter - you can not afford to mess around with gas...
Someone else comes to tell you the regulator is broken and needs to be replaced, yes at a very high cost. €350 sounds about right these days.
And this will happen every few years, just as it has been for the past eight or so years.
This issue started about two years into the development. Initally gas natural replaced the regulator, no problem. As soon as they realised it was a constantly recurring issue, they washed their hands and put the costs to the property owners. We've been to the Spanish version of trading standards, the local Town Hall, talked to gas natural, even lawyers......only outcome, pay for a new regulator!
With there being two properties with different times of occupancy depending on one regulator, someone will arrive, have no gas supply and a massive outlay waiting for them.
The only way to take control over your own supply is to convert your boiler to bottle gas.
Obviously, you decide!

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

Calculate all your gas costs making allowances for regulator changes.

Then do the same for an all electric house.

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

Thanks to everyone for the advice. It's unbelievable that the gas company were able to dump the responsibility of these regulators onto the house owner. I had no idea that we were responsible for this cost - it's certainly been an eye opener!

We did call out the gas company and an engineer came and switched the gas off as the smell was overwhelming! He also did tests in the road and up and down the path outside all the houses. With his limited English and our limited Spanish we established it was the regulator causing the gas leak!

We were put in contact with Francisco and he quoted us for a new regulator (and it was quite a bit cheaper than 350 euros) but in the end we went for a second hand one which has a 6 month guarantee. Our gas boiler is probably on its last legs so we'll switch to an electric boiler when that packs up - as we are not permanent residents I believe it will be more economical in the long run.

Thanks again.

Lin & Ed.

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

Hi there. Sounds like you're all sorted, great news. If you've found the same Francisco (sings opera) you've struck lucky. He's an honest guy. And although I wasn't sure of current prices, he always offered fairer prices than other quotes. Good luck with it all.
Al.

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

Although Alice's earlier advice on switching to bottled gas is a good option as you then do not have to pay the standing charges and could possibly manage with a lower (cheaper) potencia too.
PS Unless you are on the top floor of course :lol:

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

top floor; Solar and only electric & water and Bob is your uncle

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

Hi I live in Las Colinas a few years ago I paid a lot of money to get my gas boiler working correctly ,the gas company told me the problem was the altitude (I am on the 2nd floor and that was the reason that my water pressure was preventing the gas boiler from kicking in ) .I paid lots for their good advice but remained sceptical as my neighbours have gas boilers functioning without any issues .and so I changed to an electric boiler and I have been happy ever since moral of the story .There are good and bad everywhere ??????

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

I`ve worked in the domestic gas industry and can assure you if I could smell gas I would not stay in that house until that was stopped , its lethal as many have found out .

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

Hola

I thought that when the UK changed to natural gas they made sure you couldn't commit suicide by putting your head in the gas oven (as many did on town gas)

So the question is - is Spanish gas lethal?

Davexf

Re: Regulator in gas meter cupboard
 

I was thinking the same thing - I think he was referring to the risk of explosion and fire.

I don't know of anywhere in the world that still uses coal gas, aka "town gas", which is toxic because it contains a high concentration of carbon monoxide.

It wasn't so much that when converting to natural gas they "made sure you couldn't commit suicide by putting your head in the gas oven", it's more that natural gas simply isn't toxic in the same way that town gas is - it contains only hydrocarbon gases - mostly ethane, propane, and butane which are not toxic even at fairly high concentrations, as you might experience when there is a gas leak, or by putting your head in the oven. Even the unpleasant gas smell has to be added because natural gas is naturally odourless.

There is a risk that very high concentrations of natural gas could suffocate you, but that is true of any gas that isn't oxygen.