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Installing Gas in your Home

Gas central heating is the most common way to heat our homes. However, approximately 3.6 million homes in the UK are not connected to mains gas.

Having a new gas supply installed is, in most cases, a possibility. The process is a major change so there is much to consider before deciding whether it is viable.

How Can I get Gas Installed?

To get gas installed you will need to find an installer to connect you to the mains. They are easy to find on the internet and you can apply to get a quotation. First, though, contact the National Grid. They will be able to tell you if it is possible to connect your property to mains gas and whether your case is standard or non-standard. To qualify as a standard case you will have to fulfil certain criteria.

If you do not qualify your case is classed as non-standard. This essentially means that it is more difficult to install gas at your home so will cost more.

Once you have an idea of what the work involves you can get a quote from the National Grid (note if your case is non-standard it will cost) and other installers to get the best price. Then the work will be carried out as planned with you beforehand though there may be a wait of up to 12 weeks.

Even if you select another installer, the National Grid will usually be involved in the work. That is why it is best to contact them first. They openly state on their website that you can choose a different installer. Other providers will just give the hard sell and hope you select them.

How Much Does Installing Gas Cost?

This depends on your property and how difficult it is to connect you to the mains. The National Grid does have a cost indicator to give a vague figure.

Costs range from around £200 for an easy, standard case and can be £650 or upwards if it is a non-standard or really difficult case.

Remember, this is literally just giving you a gas source for you to tap into. It does not include a gas meter, the cost of a gas boiler, radiators or any connection to any gas appliances. These will have to be paid for separately and you must have an engineer that is registered as gas safe to plumb in all appliances.

To get your home fully converted the true cost can be in the region of £2500 – £5000. This is broken down as:

  • Cost of getting a gas line £200-£800
  • A gas boiler £500-£2000
  • Radiators and plumbing costs of all appliances including gas meter £1000-£3000

This is a rough estimate but if your house is a particularly difficult case it could be much more. You can save costs by offering to dig the trench for the input of the gas line. You need to evaluate exactly what you need and price it up before arranging for a gas line to be installed.

It is also a major renovation that may cause severe disruption in your home. If you proceed, your supply will officially start when you have chosen a supplier and the internal appliances are connected to your gas supply.

Is Installing Gas a Viable Option?

To decide whether gas central heating is financially viable it is worth considering the average cost per year of all forms of heating (based on 3 bed semi-detached with average heating and good insulation):

  • Gas central heating: £770 (condensed boiler) £947 (Non-condensed)
  • Oil Heating: £1,100
  • LPG Central Heating: £1,300
  • Electric Central Heating: £1,700 (could be less using Economy 7)

Converting to gas could save a few hundred pounds a year but could cost around £5000 so there will only be a return if you remain in the property long term. It is not worth changing purely for economic motivations. It would be better to spend money on saving energy or a renewable energy source. Most people that convert do so for convenience. Gas is much more convenient as you can control heat better, use radiators to dry clothes and it is easier to cook on gas. If your motivation is a combination of convenience and financial, over the long term, then installing gas could be for you.

By Michael Hallam

3 Comments to Installing Gas in your Home

  1. Tricia Howland's Gravatar Tricia Howland
    June 28, 2014 at 7:19 pm | Permalink

    Your article is very interesting. We want to have gas piped to a property we let in Devon. The main pipes run just 10 yards from the front door of the property.
    Your figures sound very reasonable, but I am concerned by the number of other sites where the least cost I see is £1500 and the most £8000, averaging £4000.
    You quote between £200 and £800 – much more affordable. Could you explain to me why the figures look so different. I really hope you are right!
    Many thanks.
    Tricia Howland

  2. Jon's Gravatar Jon
    July 28, 2015 at 7:10 am | Permalink

    Check out your local gas network company. Try Southern Gas Networks or National Grid. If they aren’t your local network company they’ll direct you to the correct website. The regulator has capped the cost of new gas connections & most properties will pay no more than around £800. If you’re with 25m of a gas main the cost of digging the trench is included.

  3. mark massey's Gravatar mark massey
    January 22, 2018 at 1:23 pm | Permalink

    good morning

    I hope you can answer my question because I’ve got “google eyes”

    on my property that is being renovated, we are moving the gas boiler to the left hand side of the property against out side wall,

    we are also so having a new supply to 2x new flats that are being built around the rear of the property, accessed from left hand side

    a new gas supply is being laid along the drive on left of property NOT MY LAND

    as the new supply is not being metered until the out side wall of the new built flat’s that is on my land, new supply pipe = not my problem as not my pipe

    but the service pipe after my meter IS my responsibility ? so my problem is the meter for my house is on the front left hand corner, the boiler 8 meters long left hand wall
    i have 3 choices of routing pipe inside property, outside above ground? or under ground???? the best option but it 3rd party land??
    I think i found some where online that states that after the meter my service pipe can not return to underground on 3rd party land?
    please help my sanity and confirm i’m right or wrong
    cheers for now
    mark massey

    hope the as clear as mud and you can be of some help

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