People who don't have a door on their gas box anymore, why?

Posted by HeavyHeavy0726@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 26 comments

I am a postie and I noticed more and more the doors either completely missing off gas boxes or removed and lying on the ground next to it.

[-]

GroupApprehensive978@reddit

Next door neighbour got pissed and thought it was a good idea to get in his Nissan xtrail and Tried to drive off. Hadn't put it in gear and slammed into the gas box with a towbar fitted.

[-]

pompombum@reddit

I live on a council estate and see this a lot.. maybe it’s been left open then blew off in the wind?

It’s not the councils job to replace them apparently it’s whatever company your with. Or I imagine more people would be ringing up to have them replaced.

[-]

No_Preference9093@reddit

For people who have the gas meter accessible from outside the house.

[-]

GrabbedByTheGhost@reddit

Never knew that was a thing, my houses have always had them inside.

I wouldn't like the idea of people touching them??

[-]

ingutek@reddit

Mines fell off and was missing for a while but at some random point in time someone came into my garden and put a brand new door on it!?

[-]

No_Preference9093@reddit

Probably if they came to take a reading. Or if you rent your landlord.

[-]

ingutek@reddit

Maybe, dunno. It’s a prepayment meter and it’s a private house so…!

[-]

imtheorangeycenter@reddit

Cold, brittle, tired, fumbled, snapped.

Or is that me on a Monday morning meeting?

[-]

Who knows. I know there has been a spate of meter thefts from them though around where i live recently. Glad mines in the house. Thieves are obviously switching the meters out to save a few quid on the gas 🤣

[-]

Realistic_Ad9820@reddit

The front fell off.

[-]

RYSEofCthulhu@reddit

That's not very typical, I'd like to make that point

[-]

WildKey9307@reddit

Thanks now I have to go and watch it again !

[-]

Peppy_Tomato@reddit

They're such low quality, they get blown off or damaged by minor storms, and cost £70 to replace door only, or £400+ if the door hinge is damaged and needs a new box fitted.

https://www.wolseley.co.uk/product/mcl-is0054-spare-lid/

[-]

intotheneonlights@reddit

Weirdly I was just talking to the British Gas lady about this today, because mine's broken... I had no idea that it was my responsibility to fix it, I thought BG would.

She did say replacements are available at like... B&Q so I guess I'll see if this is true and if I get round to it

[-]

seriousrikk@reddit

A lot of these outdoor boxes are made of fibre glass or plastic which over time goes brittle.

The hinges are riveted in place and are pretty poor quality. When the hinges fail it’s not an easy door replacement as the location the hinge is riveted to is often cracked.

The boxes are often fitted while there is no meter present, just the rails or pipes. Many boxes are complete entities that, once a meter is fitted, cannot be changed.

Only companies approved to remove the meter are able to change these boxes. I was quoted over £500 a few years ago.

And that’s why many don’t just get repaired.

I fixed my door back on with gate hinges riveted to the outside of the box.

[-]

alfienicho@reddit

Mines fallen off, I rent, I'm not paying a penny towards a gas box door that houses a gas box I don't own, in a house I don't own, when I pay through the bollocks to rent the house and to use the gas.

Someone else can sort it., I've got enough on.

[-]

catmadwoman@reddit

Originally they belonged to the official gas company (North Thames Gas Board for exam) or the Electricity Board who maintained them. Then the government sold them off to private companies who didn't maintain them. No one wants to take responsibility.

[-]

Djinjja-Ninja@reddit

Because it fell off and I don't give enough of a shit to replace it.

[-]

spectrumero@reddit

It's not just that, my gas box is cemented into the wall (so the door is flush) and when the hinge breaks, it is extremely difficult and costly to replace as the whole box has to be hacked out the wall and a new one cemented in (this implies also the gas has to be cut off for a time and the gas capped off so the box can be removed).

[-]

MoleWhackSupreme@reddit

Feels like the smallest symbol of national decline possible haha

House/neighbourhoods already looking a bit worse for wear so nobody is bothered about spending a few quid to make it to right

[-]