Some advice please folks

[GQuigley67]

I'm a bit rusty with my gas work as I've been away from it for a year, but here is the situation...

Went to a job yesterday to install a new 20kw open vented boiler, when I went to test the gas it was coming off the meter in 15mm and feeding a gas cooker(couldnt see data badge assuming 10-12kw) 16kw boiler and a 6.85kw DFE fire.

Gas rated with all appliances on, got 30kw so seems about right, hob and fire seemed ok with all appliances on so they were working safely so I put down the installation as NCS because you would have more than a mb drop at boiler etc.

Customer didnt want kitchen ripped apart to upgrade gas to boiler which I don't blame her she's a pensioner who thinks she's getting a new boiler with little disruption, again down to the surveyor who should of picked up on this but that's a different story.

IF I could of upgraded the gas to 22mm, would it be acceptable to T off the 15mm straight after meter and increase to 22mm?? I know that 3m of 15mm will give you 2.9m3 with a 1mb drop, and assuming gas compresses it should of worked fine? or would I have had to change meter tail to 22mm and then branch off to 15mm ??

I had to cancel the job as it was too much work involved to upgrade and I'm on a price for combi swaps not for ripping kitchens apart and upgrading gas supplies.

 

[Simon F]

sounds like it needs an upgrade.
have you done a calculation for the pressure losses?
I would want to take the 22mm to the meter, is there a difficulty with that?
it will be your name on the installation if you do it, would you be happy with it??

 

[AWheating]

id put in a new gas supply from meter. Change meter union and tee 15mm into your new larger sized pipework at/near the meter union.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

I agree with Simon off the meter. Get new meter seals. The merchant will have the right fitting to take it up to 22. Check that it does not need 28 at first. Surveyor probably knows nothing about pressure drops? Customers look at you funny when you mention upgrading the gas line. I think most believe you are trying to pull their trousers down!!

 

[GQuigley67]

I know it needs a gas upgrade, my question is did I go about it the correct way? the job got cancelled as customer wasnt prepared for the work involved in upgrading it, this is not my own customer im a subby so i dont get paid to investigate it too much just made sure installation was working safely and put it down to NCS

my question was would it make much of a difference if you tee'd into the 15mm directly after meter and increased to 22mm instead of changing meter tails, saving me a trip to merchants if i went ahead with the job which i'm not

 

[Mike Jackson]

You'd probably get away with it but I wouldn't do it for the sake of a meter union but I always carry a couple with me in case I need them.

 

[mfgs]

I would take 22 to the meter, like Mike, I always carry at least one meter union on the van.

 

[stevetheplumber]

do they make 15mm unions ?/