Home natural gas disconnect

[oberah]

Hi, I just purchased my new home last year. I converted all appliances from natural gas to electric. My natural gas has been turned off by the utility company. I would like to switch off the main gas line as well if possible as a failsafe. I have an Itron 250 gas meter outside however, there does not appear to be a valve connected to it. I have attached a picture. At the right angle where the pipe comes up to meet the pipe going into the house, could I just disconnect that and cap it off?
Thank you all for the help

 

[tom slick]

You own everything past the outlet side of the meter. Disconnect and cap the meter and the stub sticking out of the wall

 

[atikovi]

Gas company should come out and remove the meter and cap the line.

 

[Pablo]

Gas company should come out and remove the meter and cap the line.

I wouldn't.

For resale or mind change. Especially when the winter bills start coming in.

 

[97prizm]

Yeah I'd much rather have natural gas than all electric.

 

[atikovi]

I wouldn't.

For resale or mind change. Especially when the winter bills start coming in.

I mean, gas company will eventually come out and remove the meter. If you're not paying for gas, they want their meter earning it's keep at a place that does pay for gas.

 

[burbguy82]

If the gas is off at the incoming to the meter. There is no need to cap the other side. It can be done easily, but there will be no real advantage.

Also, it is common practice for the outgoing side of the gas meter (your pipe) to act as a supporting structure for the meter itself.

I suggest requesting the gas company remove the meter, and cap the main line. It will look better, and should not cost you anything. As for your pipe coming out of the house......the vertical pipe can be unscrewed and a plug installed in its place. Looks like 1'' IPS, but could be wrong, hard to tell from picture.

 

[Pablo]

I am on propane, but say if he sells the house and new people want gas, does gas company put new meter on no charge?

If no charge, sure yes remove it. I would cap house side to keep junk out.

 

[burbguy82]

I am on propane, but say if he sells the house and new people want gas, does gas company put new meter on no charge?

If no charge, sure yes remove it. I would cap house side to keep junk out.

I am not sure if you directed this to me or not, but....

It is different area to area. Typically it is considered a utility, and therefore must be provided access to for free. But, in some cases this does not apply. This maight be one, if the same owner wanted the gas back on..... There could be a charge to re-set the meter. There is another consideration to your question though:

Since the gas has been turned off, it is common and likely that the gas company would require a gas pressure test on the system to turn it back on. In some places, (like where I am) this needs to be done by a certified professional, with an inspection from a county inspector. this is where the cost will come from later...... It is a good idea, of course, but that would involve no lbs of flesh from the current owner, unless of course it was a resell deal breaker.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The Gas valve is typically something like this, and its usually below the regulator (the round disk looking thing before the meter). Per law the gas company typically owns everything up to the exit of their meter.

You should call the gas company. The meter is not yours to mess with. Or maybe call and ask where the valve is. If you can't see a valve maybe your gas company puts them somewhere else other than right by the meter so your already set?

I can't see the gas company wanting the meter. There likely not as expensive as they look - at least to a gas company buying thousands. My guess is they want to leave it there if for no other reason than it would cost a lot of labor to remove, let alone put back at some future date.

 

[SNWMBL]

I would contact the gas utility and let them know what you want, this is what I do for a living and there is a lot of misinformation in this thread.

 

[atikovi]

My guess is they want to leave it there if for no other reason than it would cost a lot of labor to remove, let alone put back at some future date.

Takes 15-20 minutes to remove and you can be sure they will charge a fat fee to put it back.

 

[Donald]

Natural gas generator in your future?

We have propane and the only thing left that is propane are two fireplaces. Both HVAC are heat pump as is the HW heater.

I have thought about a generator but the electric almost never goes out where I live.