Are old gas pipes into houses cut off from the mains?

[RaceDiagnostics]

I've got this old gas pipe in my understairs cupboard, and I'd like to get rid of it. Under the floorboards it heads out underground though an outside wall. Does anyone know if these are always 100% disconnected from the mains?

 

[Seadog]

Unscrew the crimped pipe and crack the valve open. You'll soon know if it's live

 

[the snooper]

Suppose it depends on is that the actual incoming pipe or a leg off, I've seen them feed the new plastic pipe through the old steel pipe when replacing mains into properties

 

[Porkypine]

On site once I hastily stopped a mate who was in the process of cutting thru an "old" gas pipe with a big sparky angle grinder... Just as well really as it was still connected and live he was a big bloke and would've looked spectacular flying through the air in flames...

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

It goes out the side wall of the house and the new gas pipe comes in from the front. Looks like it will be staying in place for the time being.

 

[the snooper]

Is that a nut above the valve ? If so remove the stop end and open the valve you'll soon know and it's easily reversed

 

[the snooper]

Also if the new pipe is plastic you can pretty much guarantee its no longer connected

 

[Mikes]

Just ask whoever supplies your gas (British Gas, SSE etc) to confirm. They will check with Cadent (what used to be National Grid) and confirm if the supply is dead or still live. Might be helpful if you have the MPRN number from the other meter as this will assist in their search.

 

[RonA]

In my old bungalow, when I moved in everything was electric, storage heaters, electric fires & immersion heater.
In my kitchen was a gas stub similar to the one in your picture & I briefly unscrewed it to confirm it was live, which it was. I was told by the neighbours that the whole road had gas laid on by arrangement between the builder & the then local gas board.
I wanted to fit central heating but being short of cash at the time & as an initial step bought two wall heaters through the local gas board but firstI needed a gas meter. Arrangements were made to check the supply & then fit the meter. The gas board sent contractors to check the supply but it never got that far, the contractors said the service was a copper pipe which didn't meet current standards. They then proceeded, despite my protests to sever the supply in the front garden.
Try as I could, I couldn't get the supply reinstated without forking out for a new supply pipe & fitment of an external meter box.
I asked the gas supplier what would happen to the rest of the road about their supplies, I was told that should their supplies develop a fault that it would be replaced free of charge, proving conclusively to me that the gas authorities are clearly driven by profit & not customer safety.
RonA

 

[Kayos]

Usually yes but not always

Even if it is not live its best practice to leave alone as they often run alongside new pipes and if they leak then you have an open end for the gas to flow up.

Anything before the valve, live or dead, does not belong to you, it is owned by Cadent or Northern Gas so if you chop it and something goes wrong you will get a substantial bill

 

[Bobupndown]

In my old bungalow, when I moved in everything was electric, storage heaters, electric fires & immersion heater.
In my kitchen was a gas stub similar to the one in your picture & I briefly unscrewed it to confirm it was live, which it was. I was told by the neighbours that the whole road had gas laid on by arrangement between the builder & the then local gas board.
I wanted to fit central heating but being short of cash at the time & as an initial step bought two wall heaters through the local gas board but firstI needed a gas meter. Arrangements were made to check the supply & then fit the meter. The gas board sent contractors to check the supply but it never got that far, the contractors said the service was a copper pipe which didn't meet current standards. They then proceeded, despite my protests to sever the supply in the front garden.
Try as I could, I couldn't get the supply reinstated without forking out for a new supply pipe & fitment of an external meter box.
I asked the gas supplier what would happen to the rest of the road about their supplies, I was told that should their supplies develop a fault that it would be replaced free of charge, proving conclusively to me that the gas authorities are clearly driven by profit & not customer safety.
RonA

I think a self connected free gas supply there might have been in order

 

[RonA]

I think a self connected free gas supply there might have been in order

I like the way you’re thinking, I’m sure somebody in the same situation will have take advantage of the circumstances.
RonA

 

[waddycall]

Whatever you do do not follow any advice to play around with that valve. It’s obviously old and moving it could result in a leak if the pipe is live with no means to turn it off except calling the gas emergency number and waiting.

 

[mike os]

100% definitely not always disconnected

 

[bricol]

Neighbour didn't have a gas supply - only used electric.

Had the Gas Board remove all their pipework from his property as they kept getting the smell of gas - there was a capped off supply very much like that under the house.

 

[Agrismith]

There absolutely no rhyme nor reason as to how every is connected up and no way of telling without fiddling with things that are best not fiddled with.

 

[Gavlar]

Many years ago, when I bought my first house and didn't have a pot to pee in, I found an old steel pipe under the upstairs floor. The house had once been two flats, each with it's own meter but now had no upstairs gas appliances or meter. I proceded to try and remove the pipe, only to be met by the hiss of escaping gas. I called the gas board, as it was then, who immediatley sent an engineer. I told him the truth, he made good the leak and told me to lie or I'd get a big bill. I was so skint for so long and that house was so cold I was sorely tempted to take advantage of said pipe..........

 

[JimmyS]

Seen them both live and dead. Speak to SGN who should be able to confirm one way or another.

 

[Bornfree]

I know someone who found a pipe like this behind their kitchen units when replacing the kitchen. And have had free heating for over 15 year's.

 

[roofman]

If you find its live then lock your front door, delete this thread and live a long happy warm life