Skip to main content
L
OVO Staff
Laurence.H_OVO
OVO Staff
September 1, 2024
Solved

Moving a semi concealed gas meter to wall mounted smart meter

  • September 1, 2024
  • 6 replies
  • 300 views

Hi,

I’ve got a smart appointment booked and have ask for the engineer to replace my current semi concealed, traditional gas meter with a wall mounted smart meter. I have a few questions which I couldn’t get answered when booking, and wondered if anyone here might know…

  1. The meter is in a raised plant bed (which I’m removing) outside directly in the middle of the house. I’d like to move it a foot or so to the right so that it’s not so visible. Will the engineer be able to move it slightly without the transporter being involved?
  2. As the meter is going from semi concealed to wall mounted, will I need to have purchased a new meter box before the appointment? Will the engineer be able to fit this for me?
  3. What size will the meter box need to be to ensure the new meter fits?

thanks so much for your help

Best answer by Nukecad

That definitely looks that the ECV will need to be relocated to the new enclosure. (To me it also looks possibly just a bit more than 1-metre overall, assuming that your existing box is about 500mm wide - mine is 485mm).

If you want it done without the gas being off for too long then the way that I would timetable it is:

  1. Let OVO replace your current meter where it is now. You say that’s already booked.
  2. Get a new wall mounted backplate and enclosure fitted where you want it to be.
    Then when you are ready, and preferably all on the same day because you will have no gas until it’s all done:
  3. Get the ECV moved to inside the new enclosure, by the transporter.
    (They can probably leave once they have done that and checked that it’s gas tight).
  4. *Have your house gas piping extended to the new enclosure, by you own qualified gas fitter.
  5. Get the meter moved to inside the new enclosure, by OVO and connected to the new ECV and piping.
  6. Have all new connections checked for gas tightness.

*If that yellow pipe is the gas pipe into you house, or if the pipe to inside is behind the box, then it will definitely need to be extended to the new meter enclosure.
I doubt that either the meter, or transporters, engineers will to do that for you, that’s your piping not OVO’s or the transporters.
Your gas fitter may be able to put the extension pipe in place from the new box to the existing pipe and leave the final connection to the existing pipe until the gas is off on the day of the meter move.

So you would end up with 3 different gas engineers/fitters, each having to do their own bits of the job in a particular order.
(and keep your fingers crossed that it all goes smoothly).

6 replies

Nukecad
Super User
NukecadSuper User
Super User
September 1, 2024

Hi,

I’ve got a smart appointment booked and have ask for the engineer to replace my current semi concealed, traditional gas meter with a wall mounted smart meter.

Who did you ask?
Have you actually informed OVO that you will want/need a new wall mounted enclosure to be fitted as part of the job?
Have you asked OVO if they will supply an enclosure and fit it for you?
Have they agreed to do that?

You are asking questions about it here so I’m assumintg that you haven’t done any of that.

PS. When is the exchange appointment booked to happen?

Difficult to say without knowing just what you have asked for and if it has actually been agreed.

The Smart Meter engineer might be able to do it as long as the existing main feed and Emergency Control Valve are staying where they are now, but if the ECV needs to be relocated as part of the job then that will involve the gas transporter.

This  may be of help: https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/how-to-move-your-gas-or-electricity-meter/

I’d suggest though that being outdoors the ECV should be inside any new enclosure and so will probably need to be moved.
Can you post a photo of your existing meter and enclosure, with a discription or indicatation indication of where you will want the new enclosure?

 

Usually a meter exchange is just replacing the existing meter(s) in exactly the same position. (Or as close as possible).

Meter enclosures and backplates are the homeowners responsibility to have fitted and maintained.
I strongly doubt that the meter engineers carry them round as standard.

To fit a new wall mounted enclosure the wall needs to be drilled to securely fix the metal backplate that has to carry the weight of the meter, and then the meter  and the enclosure/overbox is fitted to that backplate.

I’d suggest that in your situation then unless OVO have agreed to fitting a complete new backplate and enclosure for you then the meter engineer will simply replace the current meter where it is now and leave it for you to arrange having it moved later.

If you do already have a new wall mounted backplate and enclosure fitted then the engineer may (or may not) be able to fit the new meter in it.

All in all it would probably be better to avoid possible problems and just have the meter replaced where it is now. Then you can take the time to properly plan having it moved when you are ready to do so and have everything in place.
 

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
    Shads_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    Shads_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    September 2, 2024

    Hi @Laurencehand,

     

    I can see our forum volunteer has given some great advice here already.

     

    We can only complete gas meter moves where all the following criteria are met:

    • The meter is being moved less than 1 metre on the same wall
    • The Emergency Control Valve (ECV) does not need to be moved
    • The meter is currently inside and the new location is inside
      • If it's outside in a meter box, the transporter will need to move it as the ECV will also need to be moved

    If the meter is moving from a semi-concealed position to being mounted on a wall, we may need to complete a meter exchange first. 

     

    If you’re able to post some pictures of your meter set up this would be really helpful. It may also be worth contacting our Support team who’d be able to give more advice.

    L
    OVO Staff
    Laurence.H_OVOAuthor
    OVO Staff
    September 3, 2024

    Thanks both for that info. It’s outside so I’m assuming I will need to get the transporter involved first. Do you know how I contact them? I did relay all of this when booking the appointment but they just added notes to the booking, so I wasn’t too reassured that it would be able to go ahead.

     

    I’ve attached some photos of my meter set up. 
     

    thanks 

    Nukecad
    Super User
    NukecadSuper UserSolved
    Super User
    September 3, 2024

    That definitely looks that the ECV will need to be relocated to the new enclosure. (To me it also looks possibly just a bit more than 1-metre overall, assuming that your existing box is about 500mm wide - mine is 485mm).

    If you want it done without the gas being off for too long then the way that I would timetable it is:

    1. Let OVO replace your current meter where it is now. You say that’s already booked.
    2. Get a new wall mounted backplate and enclosure fitted where you want it to be.
      Then when you are ready, and preferably all on the same day because you will have no gas until it’s all done:
    3. Get the ECV moved to inside the new enclosure, by the transporter.
      (They can probably leave once they have done that and checked that it’s gas tight).
    4. *Have your house gas piping extended to the new enclosure, by you own qualified gas fitter.
    5. Get the meter moved to inside the new enclosure, by OVO and connected to the new ECV and piping.
    6. Have all new connections checked for gas tightness.

    *If that yellow pipe is the gas pipe into you house, or if the pipe to inside is behind the box, then it will definitely need to be extended to the new meter enclosure.
    I doubt that either the meter, or transporters, engineers will to do that for you, that’s your piping not OVO’s or the transporters.
    Your gas fitter may be able to put the extension pipe in place from the new box to the existing pipe and leave the final connection to the existing pipe until the gas is off on the day of the meter move.

    So you would end up with 3 different gas engineers/fitters, each having to do their own bits of the job in a particular order.
    (and keep your fingers crossed that it all goes smoothly).

    I said, Hey - Watts going on.
      L
      OVO Staff
      Laurence.H_OVOAuthor
      OVO Staff
      September 3, 2024

      Thanks @Nukecad - that’s super helpful!

      Nukecad
      Super User
      NukecadSuper User
      Super User
      September 3, 2024

      What could possibly go wrong with booking 3 different engineers to attend in the right order, at the right times, on the same day?

      No don't think about that, it will probably all go smoothly, but realise what is involved and have contingency plans for possible delays. (eg. Have or know where to quickly get electric heaters for if gas heating should be off for a while).

      I said, Hey - Watts going on.
        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

        OVO Energy Ltd, Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ, (Company no. 06890795) registered in England and Wales.

        OVO (S) Gas Limited is registered in England and Wales (Company No. 02716495) at Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ.

        OVO (S) Gas Limited is part of OVO Group Ltd