Hello, just wondering if anyone else knows what the process is like for the gas company to install a new meter. I'm getting a large pool heater and this is likely going to be part of the process. Do they typically need to dig underground? Is it longer than a day? Does the side of my house turn into a construction zone?
New gas meter installation process
- Thread starter hyperchord24
- Start date
No they will simply just change the meter out. The service is high pressure and likely has enough BTUs for your purpose. When they changed mine it took about a 1/2 hour.
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,967
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
They will check first if your line is high pressure. If so, they will replace your meter with a model that allows a high pressure port. If your line is not high pressure, I doubt they will dig and put one in. In either case, I don't think there will be any digging.
Its a model with a high pressure regulator. Idk if that means they'll just remove it. Pics
Attachments
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,967
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
Who told you that you needed higher pressure or more gas supply? Only the gas company or a competent gas plumber would know for sure.
Yeah, I know. The gas company said that it'll likely be the case since the heater alone will be 350k btu, but they said to call back with exact btus of all the gas using appliances in my house. Ive had 2 hvac guys at my house and they were unsure. Idk where they got their licenses from
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,967
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
I was told the same thing. When the gas company came out, they replaced my meter but the tech told me it was being replaced with the same model and only because the new meter already had the high pressure port installed on it so it was easier than adding it to my existing meter. He said my meter had plenty of flow for my total needs, which were around 800 btus (pool heater, cooktop, 2 gas furnaces, water heater, 2 gas fireplaces).
You will have to dig a trench 3 foot wide by 5 foot deep from the street to the house so that the gas company can install the new line.
You will have to replace all of the existing gas lines with high pressure rated pipes.
You will also have to replace all of the existing appliances with high pressure rated appliances.
This usually requires that you remove all of the drywall in the house so that the plumbers can get access to the pipes.
It normally takes a few weeks for the plumbers to finish replacing the pipes and then you can reinstall the drywall.
Typical cost will be in the $30,000.00 to $50,000.00 range for someone to do all of the necessary work.
Ok, that’s a “worst-case” scenario.
Most likely, the gas company will just replace the meter and that’s all you need to do.
You will have to replace all of the existing gas lines with high pressure rated pipes.
You will also have to replace all of the existing appliances with high pressure rated appliances.
This usually requires that you remove all of the drywall in the house so that the plumbers can get access to the pipes.
It normally takes a few weeks for the plumbers to finish replacing the pipes and then you can reinstall the drywall.
Typical cost will be in the $30,000.00 to $50,000.00 range for someone to do all of the necessary work.
Ok, that’s a “worst-case” scenario.
Most likely, the gas company will just replace the meter and that’s all you need to do.
It's a 250 meter and the heater will be 350 just by itself.
I think that a new meter will be required, but the gas company will have to decide based on the total load.
In any case, you want to make sure that you verify the gas pressure as the heater runs to make sure that it is in range while the heater is running.
When I put my pool in I called the gas company and told them all of the gas appliances in the house including the new pool heater. Based on this information the gas company said I would need a new meter. Came out and switched it in an hour. No digging. Wasn’t free though. About $700
PG&E replaced mine for free. Then I sent all their kids to college and bought hundreds of sets of braces.