Engineers from Northern Gas Networks are starting to restore gas supply to properties in Hebden Bridge this afternoon (Friday, 15h January 2021).
The loss of supply to around 700 properties has been caused by water finding its way into the local gas network, and then freezing. Last night (Thursday 14th January) engineers found a large plug of frozen water in one of the pipes, and teams are now resolving the issue.
Engineers are now visiting every impacted property to check and restore customers’ supply this afternoon and into this evening, following government guidelines for safe distance working and wearing PPE.
However, for customers who feel confident restoring their own gas supply , please use the guide below to safely turn your gas back on.
Our engineers will be happy to come to your property if you need help − contact us on 0800 040 7766 followed by option 3. Otherwise, please follow the step-by-step instructions below.
For your safety, and that of those around you, please follow these instructions in the order they appear.
1. Make sure all the gas appliances in the property are turned off (boiler, cooker, fire, and so on) before you try to turn the gas supply back on.
2. Open some doors and windows in your property for ventilation
3. Turn on your gas supply − give the emergency control valve (a spanner-style handle close to the gas meter) a quarter turn in either direction, setting it in line with the gas pipe. Some pipes have yellow tape to help guide you. There may be a slight hissing noise as the meter re-pressurises.
4. If you smell gas, turn the emergency control valve off again and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 immediately. Do not try to turn any appliances back on.If you cannot smell gas, continue with the following steps.
5. Turn on your gas appliances one at a time according to the manufacturer’s instructions (many boilers and fires will have instructions on the inside of a drop-down flap near the controls). Start with your gas hob if you have one. It may take a little longer than usual for the gas to reach appliances and light.
6. If you successfully turn on your gas supply and gas appliances, you don’t need to do anything else.
7. If you cannot turn your emergency control valve on, or you are having difficulty turning your appliances back on, you must turn everything off again (including the emergency control valve) and call us for help on 0800 040 7766 followed by option 3.
Because of the national lockdown and to ensure the safety of customers, temporary heating facilities including heaters and hotplates have been delivered door-to-door today, prioritising vulnerable customers.
Anyone who needs support or temporary heating facilities should call the NGN Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766 option 3 or email customercare@northerngas.co.uk
John Richardson, Head of Operations Delivery for Northern Gas Networks said: “We’d like to thank customers in Hebden Bridge for their patience while we work to restore gas supplies.
“We are in the process of visiting every affected property to ensure gas supplies are restored.”
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