How to Read My Gas Meter?

🔍 How to Read My Gas Meter (Step-by-Step Guide for UK Homes)

Whether you're submitting a reading to your energy supplier, tracking usage, or checking for potential gas leaks, knowing how to read your gas meter correctly is an essential household skill. In this guide, we’ll explain the different types of gas meters used in UK homes, show you how to read each one, and highlight what those numbers actually mean for your energy bill.

🧾 Why Read Your Gas Meter?

Reading your meter regularly ensures:

  • Accurate bills (instead of estimates)
  • No overpayments or surprise debts
  • Better understanding of your usage
  • Early detection of leaks or excessive use

If you have a smart meter, your readings are usually sent automatically. But even then, knowing how to read it manually can still come in handy.

📦 Types of Gas Meters in the UK

There are several types of domestic gas meters, but the most common are:

1. Digital (Metric) Meters

  • Measures gas in cubic metres (m³)
  • Display: 5 digits followed by a decimal point or 3 smaller digits (e.g. 01234.567)
  • Only submit the first 5 numbers before the decimal

2. Imperial Meters

  • Measures gas in hundred cubic feet (ft³)
  • Display: 4 main digits (e.g. 0456)
  • May have red numbers or numbers after the decimal — ignore these

3. Dial Meters

  • Several clock-style dials (usually 4–6), each pointing to a number
  • You must read dials from left to right, skipping any marked ‘100s’ or test dials
  • If the pointer is between two numbers, record the lower one

🔢 How to Read Each Meter Type

✅ Digital (Metric) Meter Example:

Display: 03145.983

  • Submit: 03145
  • Ignore numbers after the decimal

✅ Imperial Meter Example:

Display: 0789 (with some red digits)

  • Submit: 0789
  • Ignore any red digits or digits after a decimal

✅ Dial Meter Example:

If your dials look like this (from left to right):

  • Dial 1: pointing between 2 and 3 → write 2
  • Dial 2: just passed 8 → write 8
  • Dial 3: pointing exactly at 6 → write 6
  • Dial 4: just before 5 → write 4

Submit: 2864

🛑 Important Tip for Dial Meters:
If the needle is between two numbers, always record the lower number. If it’s exactly on a number, check the next dial to the right — if that dial is past zero, write the number you see. If not, subtract one.

⚠️ What Not to Include

When submitting your gas reading:

  • ❌ Don’t include digits in red
  • ❌ Don’t include numbers after the decimal point
  • ❌ Don’t round up or down — record exactly what you see

🔁 How Often Should I Submit Readings?

If you don’t have a smart meter:

  • Submit once a month for the most accurate billing
  • Take a photo of your meter for your own records

If you’re switching suppliers, take a reading on the day of the switch

🔄 Converting Your Reading Into kWh

Gas is billed in kilowatt-hours (kWh), not in cubic metres or feet. Energy companies convert your usage using this formula:

For metric meters (m³):

  • (Reading × 11.186) = kWh

For imperial meters (ft³):

  • (Reading × 2.83 × 11.186) = kWh

Note: The figure 11.186 is the average calorific value and may vary slightly by supplier.

🔐 Where Is My Gas Meter?

Your meter could be:

  • Outside in a meter box (usually white or brown)
  • Under the stairs
  • In the kitchen or hallway cupboard
  • In flats: may be in a communal meter room

If you’re unsure which meter is yours, check the meter serial number printed on your bill and match it to the physical meter.

📸 Pro Tip: Take a Photo

Always take a photo of your reading with your phone. This gives you:

  • A timestamped record
  • Proof if there's a billing dispute

🧰 What If My Meter Isn’t Working?

If your meter is blank, damaged, or inaccessible:

  • Contact your supplier’s metering team
  • Never attempt to repair, tamper with, or move a gas meter
  • If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999

✅ Summary: Quick Steps to Read Your Meter

  1. Identify your meter type (digital, imperial, or dial)
  2. Note the black numbers (ignore red/decimals)
  3. Submit readings monthly to your supplier
  4. Take a photo for your records
  5. Monitor your usage and compare bills

💬 Need Help Reading Your Meter?

At Gas-Go Heating, we help homeowners across Portsmouth and beyond with heating, boiler servicing, and general gas safety. If you're unsure how to read your meter or want a full energy health check — we’re just a call away.

📞 Contact us today to book your annual service or gas safety check.

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