Knowing how to read your gas meter is essential for staying on top of your energy usage and making sure you're not paying too much or too little on your bills.
By regularly checking your meter readings, you can keep track of how much gas you're using and submit accurate readings to your energy supplier. This helps you avoid those frustrating estimated bills that can sometimes be way off the mark.
Why it’s important to submit regular meter readings
Whether you have a traditional meter or a smart meter, submitting regular meter readings (or ensuring your smart meter is working correctly) is crucial. Accurate meter readings mean you only pay for the gas you’ve actually used rather than being charged based on estimates.
This can prevent overpaying, which ties up your money unnecessarily, or underpaying, which could lead to a larger bill later when your supplier catches up with your actual usage.
If you rely on estimated readings, you might find that your bills are higher or lower than expected, leading to financial surprises down the line. Regular readings help you avoid this and ensure your energy bills are accurate.
Where is your gas meter?
Before you can read your gas meter, you'll need to find it. Gas meters are usually installed outside your home, often in a meter box on the side or front of the house.
If your meter is inside, it might be in a cupboard under the stairs, in the kitchen, or even in the basement.
What kind of gas meter do you have?
The way you read your gas meter depends on the type of meter you have. There are a few different kinds, but the most common are traditional meters (which can be either digital or have dials) and smart meters.
Identifying which type of meter you have will make it easier to get an accurate reading.
Traditional meter
If your meter was installed before 2011, it will be a traditional meter. These meters have been around for a long time and are still common in many homes. Traditional meters can either be digital or dial.
Smart gas meter
Smart meters are the newest type of gas meter, installed as part of the UK’s initiative to upgrade homes with more accurate and efficient energy monitoring. These meters automatically send gas usage data to your energy supplier, eliminating the need for you to submit readings manually.
Smart meters come with a digital display and often have additional features, such as an in-home display (IHD) that shows your real-time gas usage and costs.
How to read traditional gas meters
Now that you know what kind of meter you have, let’s dive a bit deeper into how to read each one.
Digital metric meter readings
If you have a digital metric meter, you’re dealing with a meter that measures your gas usage in cubic meters. These meters are straightforward to read.
Just find the numbers on the display and write them down from left to right. If there’s a decimal point, ignore everything after it.
For example, if your meter shows 00567.89, your reading is 567.
Digital imperial meter readings
A digital imperial meter works the same way as a metric one, but it measures gas usage in cubic feet instead of meters.
The method for reading it is identical: write down the numbers from left to right and ignore anything after the decimal point.
Dial gas meter readings
Dial gas meters might look old-fashioned, but they’re still used in many homes. They can be a bit more challenging to read, but once you understand the process, it’s not too difficult. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Identify the dials: Your dial meter will usually have four or five small dials on the front. Each dial represents a digit in your gas reading.
- Read the dials in order: Start with the dial on the far left and move to the right. Each dial corresponds to one digit in your meter reading.
- Note the direction: The dials alternately move clockwise and counterclockwise, so be careful to read them correctly. If the pointer is between two numbers, always record the lower number unless it’s between 9 and 0, where you’d write down 9.
- Ignore red dials or numbers: If there are any red dials or numbers, you don’t need to include them in your reading. They’re not part of the regular reading and are usually used for testing purposes.
- Double-check your reading: Once you’ve recorded all the numbers, double-check them to make sure you’ve got it right. This ensures that your meter reading is as accurate as possible.
How to read smart meters
Smart meters are designed to make your life easier by automatically sending your gas and electricity usage data to your energy supplier.
However, there may be times when you need to check the readings yourself, such as when you want to monitor your consumption or if there's an issue with the automated process.
If your smart meter has A and B buttons under the screen
- Press the A button.
- Press the A button again until you see 'METER INDEX' and numbers followed by 'M3.'
- Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any initial zeroes and any digits after the decimal point.
If your meter has 3 square red buttons
- Press the left button, which might be labeled 'A.'
- Note down the number displayed from left to right, ignoring any leading zeros and any digits after the decimal point.
If your meter has a circle button and two arrow buttons
- Press the middle circle button.
- Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any leading zeroes and any numbers after the decimal point.
If your meter has a keypad
- Press 9, and the screen will display 'VOLUME.'
- Wait until the numbers appear, followed by 'M3.'
- Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any leading zeroes and any digits after the decimal point.
If your meter has orange and blue arrow buttons
- Press the orange button until a number followed by 'M3' appears.
- Write down the number from left to right, ignoring any initial zeroes and any digits after the decimal point.
If your meter has two white buttons to the right of the screen
- Press the right button, which might be labeled 'OK' or have an arrow.
- Write down the numbers from left to right, ignoring leading zeros and digits after the decimal point.
If your meter has a button to the left and right of the screen
- If the display shows "12345.678," your meter reading is 12345.
- To read it:
- Press the button on the right to wake up the meter.
- Press the same button until you see a number followed by 'M3.'
- Ignore any numbers like '01' or '02' on the left of the screen; they are not part of the reading.
- Write down the numbers from left to right, ignoring leading zeros and digits after the decimal point.
How to submit meter readings
If you have a traditional meter, you’ll need to manually provide meter readings to your energy supplier.
This can usually be done online through your supplier’s website, over the phone, or sometimes even through a mobile app.
How to read your electricity meter
If you also need to read your traditional or smart electricity meter. The specifics will depend on the type of meter you have, whether it’s a traditional one with dials, a digital display, or a smart meter. For detailed instructions, you can visit our full blog post on how to read electricity meters.
When to call a JustFix professional
If you’re having trouble reading your meter or if you suspect it’s not working correctly, it might be time to call a professional.
JustFix can connect you with a trusted electrician who can assist with meter readings, installations, and troubleshooting.
Our teams of Fixers work nationwide to provide you with professionals for fair, fixed prices. When you book online with us, we'll match you with a qualified local electrician who can check your electric meter at a time that suits you.
