Advice during severe weather
If an appointment needs to be re-scheduled due to a severe weather event information will be shared via directs calls or texts from our Customer Care team.
Further updates will be posted here and also via our social media channels X (@GasNetIrl) and Facebook.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please email our Customer team at networksinfo@gasnetworks.ie or call us on 1800 464 464.
Some of the most common queries include:
- Pay As You Go Emergency Credit: once the credit on the meter drops to a low level you may be offered 'Emergency Credit'. This can be borrowed until you can buy some more credit. When you want to use your Emergency Credit, insert your Gas Card into the meter. When the Emergency Credit is offered, you can accept it by pressing the red Button A. Further details can be found on page 5 of the Pay As You Go Gas Meter Guide.
- If you are experiencing issues with your Pay As You Go meter you can find additional information here.
- If your heating or gas appliances are not working please contact a Registered Gas Installer. For more information visit rgi.ie.
- Information on what to do in the event of frozen water pipes, no water supply or flooding can be found further down on this page.
Advice during cold weather
If an appointment needs to be re-scheduled due to a cold weather event information will be shared via directs calls or texts from our Customer Care team.
Read more in our gas safety advice section.
Updates may be posted here and also via our social media channels X (@GasNetIrl) and Facebook.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please email our Customer team at networksinfo@gasnetworks.ie or call us on 1800 464 464.
Some of the most common queries include:
- If you are experiencing issues with your Pay As You Go meter you can find additional information here.
- If your heating or gas appliances are not working please find a Registered Gas Installer on rgi.ie.
- Information on what to do in the event of frozen water pipes, no water supply or flooding can be found further down on this page.
Frozen pipes
If you experience frozen pipes and are concerned about using your natural gas central heating system or appliances, please see the advice below or contact a Registered Gas Installer
Natural gas central heating systems should continue to operate if water pipes have frozen. In fact, in very cold weather your central heating boiler can be left operating at a low setting to prevent water pipes from freezing.
Natural gas users who can control their central heating and domestic hot water circuits separately can continue using their central heating system however they should avoid using the hot water circuit until water supplies have been restored.
For natural gas users who do not have the option to control their hot water separately from their heating, be aware that the boiler may trip out (on temperature overheat) if the hot water circuit and heating circuit are shared and the level of water in the hot water system (cylinder / domestic storage tank) runs down. This is a normal boiler safety control. Using your hot water taps will result in the draining down of the domestic hot water system (cylinder / domestic storage tank).
For users with combi boilers (normally operated without the need for a hot water storage unit) the central heating system should continue to operate as normal, however the hot water system, which is normally fed directly from the mains water supply, will not operate until the water supply is restored.
For help with your central heating system, contact a local Registered Gas Installer (RGI).
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, contact our customer care team on 1800 464 464 or email Customer Care using networksinfo@gasnetworks.ie.
No water supply
Gas central heating systems should continue to operate in instances where water from the mains supply has been cut off.
Gas users who can control their central heating and domestic hot water circuits separately can continue using their central heating system however they should avoid using the hot water circuit until water supplies have been restored.
For gas users who do not have the option to control their hot water separately from their heating, be aware that the boiler may trip out (on temperature overheat) if the hot water circuit and heating circuit are shared and the level of water in the hot water system (cylinder / domestic storage tank) runs down. This is a normal boiler safety control. Using your hot water taps will result in the draining down of the domestic hot water system (cylinder / domestic storage tank).
For users with combi boilers (normally operated without the need for a hot water storage unit) the central heating system should continue to operate as normal, however the hot water system, which is normally fed directly from the mains water supply, will not operate until the water supply is restored.
For help with your central heating system, contact a local Registered Gas Installer (RGI).
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, contact our customer care team on 1800 464 464 or email Customer Care using networksinfo@gasnetworks.ie.
Flooding
If you experience flooding in your home, or if the meter outside is submerged, please follow the advice below.
If your gas meter has been submerged by flood water but your appliances and / or boiler are not affected and are operating normally, it should be safe to continue using them. Gas cookers should be supervised while in use. Prepay meters will continue to work while submerged but the meter will not be able to receive new top ups after the flooding has subsided. For all types of meters, when the flooding has subsided please contact Gas Networks Ireland to arrange for the meter to be inspected.
If you have a back boiler unit (behind the gas fire) that was submerged in water, or if appliances (for example, your gas fire) are affected by flood water, it is vital to have them checked by a Registered Gas Installer (RGI) before switching them back on. If your boiler is fitted on the wall and is above the flood level and the electrical supply to the house has been restored your central heating should operate.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, contact our Customer Care Team at networksinfo@gasnetworks.ie.
Practical advice for dealing with a flood
Flooding incidents can be classed as internal or external. Internal flooding is where water has entered the building on your property and external flooding is where water has flooded the land immediately surrounding your house but has not entered the building. Here are some steps which you can take to minimise the damage caused by internal flooding.
- Where electrical installations are at risk due to flooding, electricity supply should be turned off immediately at the isolator switch fuse box if it is safe to do so. Fuse boxes are usually near the meter position which may be inside a property or in an outside meter cabinet. If this is not possible, unplug electrical appliances where it is safe to do so. If in doubt, contact a registered electrical contractor.
- Move valuable items and important documents to a safe, higher place.
- Place wet towels against the bottom of doors.
- Plug sinks, shower trays etc. and, where possible, weigh down the plugs to prevent water flowing back up the drains.
- Move furniture upstairs but only if safe to do so.
Health precautions in flood water
As flood water may include sewage, there are some basic hygiene precautions which should be taken when coming into contact with flood water. You should contact your GP immediately if someone becomes ill e.g. experiences vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Wear protective clothing such as rubber gloves and wellingtons.
- Wash your hands well after any contact with floodwater.
- Protect any cuts and grazes.
- Disinfect footwear and clothing.
- Keep children, the elderly, pets or anyone with a health condition out of the affected area.
- Dispose of contaminated food.
- Do not eat contaminated crops from your garden or allotment.
- Do not turn your heating up to dry the property and its contents. Higher room temperatures may prolong the life of any bacteria deposited by the flood.
- Ensure the property is well ventilated by leaving windows and doors open as much as possible.
- Unblock any vents to ensure a free flow of air.
Safety tips
Flooding can damage electrical or gas appliances. They can also make your home vulnerable afterwards.
- Avoid using affected gas and electrical appliances until a Registered Gas Installer (RGI) or Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) respectively has checked they're safe.
- With internal flooding, ensure the property is well ventilated by leaving windows and doors open as much as possible and by unblocking any vents to ensure a free flow of air - but still remember your home needs to be secure.
- If you're using any petrol or diesel powered equipment such as pumps or generators to help clean up after the flood, make sure they're situated outside in a well ventilated area to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Power cuts
During a power cut, gas supplies and your gas meter should continue to operate as normal. Gas appliances, however, may be affected.
Although they operate by burning gas, most gas appliances rely on mains electricity for items such as pumps, fans, electronic controls and so on; so in the event of a power outage they may not operate until the power is restored.
When the power is restored, gas appliances should operate as normal, but some boilers may need to be reset. This is normally something that can be done by the customer themselves at the boiler control panel and some boilers have the resetting instructions visible on the boiler.
If the boiler or other appliances are not working after power has been restored and cannot be reset, please contact a Registered Gas Installer - you'll find one on rgi.ie.
In the event of a power cut, please note the following to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning:
Never run generators or other petrol or diesel equipment indoors, under cover or close to access points in the property such as doors, windows or ventilation points.
Never use barbeques, patio heaters or other outdoor fuel burning equipment indoors or under cover. If your power is off, it might be tempting to find alternative means of cooking and heating, but these appliances can produce large amounts of carbon monoxide and should only ever be used outdoors in a well-ventilated area.
Never use an indoor cooking appliance to try and heat a room.
If you're lighting a fire in the grate, make sure your chimney has been swept and isn't blocked and ensure the room is properly ventilated.