Have you recently had your gas meter replaced and been told there is a pressure drop on your gas installation?
If so, you may be wondering what this means, whether you have a gas leak and what you need to do next.
At Arton Plumbing & Heating, we have recently had a number of customers contact us after having gas meter work carried out and being told that a pressure drop had been identified on their system. Understandably, this can be worrying, particularly if your boiler, cooker or other gas appliances have been working normally for years.
The good news is that a pressure drop identified during testing does not automatically mean that you have a dangerous gas leak or that your entire gas installation needs replacing.
However, it does mean that the installation may need further investigation by a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.
With an updated gas tightness testing standard, IGEM/UP/1B Edition 4, becoming effective from October 2026, it is also worth understanding what these tests involve and what a pressure drop can mean for your home.
What does a pressure drop on a gas installation mean?
Your gas meter is only one part of your home’s gas installation.
Gas travels from the supply through the meter and then into the property’s gas pipework, which supplies appliances such as your boiler, gas fire, cooker or hob.
When gas work or meter replacement takes place, the installation may be tested to check its gas tightness.
In simple terms, a gas tightness test checks whether gas is being retained within the installation as it should be.
If the pressure changes during testing, this can be described as a pressure drop.
A pressure drop does not, on its own, tell an engineer exactly where the problem is. Further investigation may be needed to establish whether the pressure loss is associated with the installation pipework, an appliance or another part of the system.
This is why it is important not to jump to the conclusion that you have a gas leak before the installation has been properly investigated.
Why might this happen after a gas meter replacement?
A meter replacement can bring attention to the condition of the existing gas installation.
Your gas pipework and appliances may have been in place for many years and may have appeared to be working perfectly normally. However, testing can identify a pressure loss that wasn’t previously known about.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the meter replacement has caused the problem.
The testing may simply have identified an issue with the existing installation.
For homeowners, this can be particularly confusing because everything may appear to be working normally. You may have had no smell of gas, no obvious problem with your boiler and no reason to suspect that anything was wrong.
That’s why it is important to understand what the test has actually shown rather than assuming the worst.
Does a pressure drop mean I have a gas leak?
Not necessarily.
A pressure drop means that further investigation may be required. It isn’t automatically confirmation of a dangerous gas escape.
The engineer may need to separate the appliances from the installation pipework and carry out further testing.
This helps determine whether the pressure loss is coming from the pipework itself or from one of the appliances connected to it.
The updated IGEM/UP/1B Edition 4 guidance specifically explains that where perceptible pressure movement is identified, the engineer needs to investigate whether the loss is attributable to the installation pipework or the appliances.
If the installation pipework itself is shown to have a pressure loss, the engineer will need to take the appropriate safety action.
If the pipework is gas-tight, the pressure loss may instead need to be assessed against the relevant permissible limits for the installation and fuel gas.
What is a gas tightness test?
A gas tightness test is a test carried out by a competent gas engineer to establish whether the relevant gas installation is sufficiently gas-tight.
The test is different from a boiler service.
A boiler service focuses primarily on the safe and correct operation of the boiler, while a gas tightness test is concerned with the gas installation and whether it is retaining gas as expected.
Depending on the circumstances, different checks and tests may be required.
The purpose is ultimately to make sure that gas pipework and connected components are safe and that any potential problem is identified and dealt with appropriately.
Why are homeowners hearing more about gas tightness testing?
There are several situations in which tightness testing may be required.
According to IGEM, IGEM/UP/1B applies to relevant installations in circumstances including:
- New gas installations
- Alterations to existing installations
- Replacement or reuse of existing installations
- New extensions to existing pipework
- Work that could affect the gas tightness of an installation
- Known or suspected gas escapes
- Complete loss of supply or installation pressure
- Routine testing of existing installations
- Testing before purging an installation
The standard also notes that it may not need to be applied for routine maintenance such as boiler servicing.
This is important because gas tightness testing is not the same thing as saying every homeowner must arrange an additional annual test.
The circumstances surrounding the work matter.
What’s changing with gas tightness testing in 2026?
The gas industry is also moving to an updated testing standard.
IGEM/UP/1B Edition 4 was published in March 2026 and replaces Edition 3.
IGEM says that gas operatives are expected to adopt the new procedures as soon as reasonably practicable, with Edition 4 becoming effective from 1 October 2026. Edition 3 will be withdrawn on 30 September 2026.
The standard covers tightness testing and direct purging of certain small natural gas, LPG/air and LPG installations.
For homeowners, you don’t need to understand all of the technical requirements. What matters is that when applicable testing is required, your engineer will use the appropriate procedure for the installation.
The gas industry is also moving to an updated testing standard.
IGEM/UP/1B Edition 4 was published in March 2026 and replaces Edition 3.
IGEM says that gas operatives are expected to adopt the new procedures as soon as reasonably practicable, with Edition 4 becoming effective from 1 October 2026. Edition 3 will be withdrawn on 30 September 2026.
The standard covers tightness testing and direct purging of certain small natural gas, LPG/air and LPG installations.
For homeowners, you don’t need to understand all of the technical requirements. What matters is that when applicable testing is required, your engineer will use the appropriate procedure for the installation.
One of the changes in Edition 4 concerns how permissible pressure loss is assessed.
The permissible limit is based on factors including the installation volume (IV) and the fuel gas.
Where a pressure loss needs to be assessed against the relevant permissible limit, the engineer may therefore need to establish the installation volume rather than simply relying on the size of the gas meter.
This is an important technical distinction.
It means that two installations with different pipework configurations may not necessarily be assessed in exactly the same way simply because they have the same meter size.
Your engineer will determine which procedure and limits apply to the installation being tested.
What happens if my gas installation fails a tightness test?
If further testing confirms that the installation pipework is not gas-tight, the issue needs to be investigated and appropriate remedial action taken.
This doesn’t automatically mean that your whole gas system needs to be replaced.
The engineer will need to identify the cause and determine the appropriate solution.
Depending on what is found, this could involve repairing a section of pipework, addressing a faulty connection or dealing with an appliance or component that is contributing to the pressure loss.
The important thing is to establish where the problem actually is before deciding what work is required.
At Arton, our approach is to investigate the issue properly and explain our findings to the customer rather than recommending unnecessary work. We also offer a leak detection service, which helps find concealed leaks which may be hard to locate.
What should I do if the gas network has told me there is a pressure drop?
If you’ve had your gas meter replaced and you’ve been told that there is a pressure drop on your installation, ask what has been identified and whether the gas supply has been left on or isolated.
If further investigation is required, arrange for a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer to assess the installation.
An engineer may need to carry out additional tests to determine whether the pressure loss is associated with the pipework or one of your appliances.
Don’t attempt to repair, alter or reconnect gas pipework yourself.
If you actually smell gas or suspect there is an immediate gas escape, treat this as a gas emergency and follow the appropriate emergency gas safety advice rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Can I still use my boiler if there is a pressure drop?
This depends on what has been identified and what action has been taken.
A pressure drop identified during testing does not give enough information by itself to determine whether an appliance is safe to continue using.
If your gas supply has been isolated or you’ve been specifically instructed not to use your appliances, follow that advice.
A Gas Safe registered engineer can assess the installation and advise you on what needs to happen next.
Safety should always come before trying to keep an appliance running.
Does a pressure drop mean I need new gas pipework?
No – not automatically.
This is one of the most common concerns homeowners have when they are told there is a problem with their gas installation.
The purpose of further testing is to establish the cause of the pressure loss.
If a defect is found, the required repair will depend on its location, severity and the condition of the existing installation.
In some cases, a relatively straightforward repair may resolve the issue.
In other cases, older or damaged pipework may require more extensive work.
A qualified engineer should assess the installation before any decision is made about replacement.
Is the new standard a new law for every homeowner?
It’s important to make a distinction between an industry standard and a blanket legal requirement for every household.
IGEM/UP/1B Edition 4 provides procedures for applicable gas installations and testing circumstances. It does not mean that every homeowner must book an additional gas tightness test simply because the standard becomes effective on 1 October 2026.
The standard itself specifies the types of installations and circumstances to which it applies.
For homeowners, the practical advice is simple: if you’re having gas work carried out or you’ve been told that a pressure drop has been identified, ask a qualified engineer to explain what has been found and whether further testing or remedial work is required.
What does this mean for homeowners in Kent?
At Arton Plumbing & Heating, we’re a family-run plumbing and heating business based in Maidstone, serving customers across Kent. Our Gas Safe registered engineers carry out a range of gas and heating services, including gas servicing and repairs.
If you’ve recently had a meter replaced and have been told there is a pressure drop on your gas installation, we understand that the terminology can be confusing.
You don’t necessarily need to assume that you have a major gas leak or that your whole installation needs replacing.
The important thing is to have the situation assessed properly.
Our engineers can investigate the installation, carry out the appropriate checks and explain what they find, helping you understand what needs to happen next. Schedule an appointment today.
For further information on the updated guidance, please visit the IGEM website here.
