When is a gas line required to be tested for gas tightness?
The gas line at a property must be tested before any additions/alterations are to be made to the existing gas line.
The gas line must then be tested again once the works have taken place.
A gas line is also tested as part of our routine Gas Safety Check.
What happens if the gas line is found to not be holding pressure?
If the gas fitter finds that the gas line is not holding pressure, the gas fitter will note the pressure loss input. They will then complete the remaining works.
Once the works are completed, the gas fitter will again test the gas line to ensure they have not created any additional gas leaks.
The gas fitter will then spend up to 30 minutes free of charge trying to identify the cause of the gas leak. If the gas fitter cannot locate the gas leak, a quotation will be provided to re-attend on an hourly rate to further investigate or a fixed price will be quoted to replace the gas line.
Generally speaking, if a gas fitter finds a leak on a gas line that is run in galvanised steel pipework, we will advise the line to be replaced. If the gas line is run in copper, we advise to re-attend at an hourly rate.
The final decision will be up to the property owner.