Back alley gas meters (Dallas, Plano: insurance, houses, neighborhood)

[deenie1]

Hi - After visiting Dallas last month to vacation and look around for possible future relocation, there was one thing that stuck in my DH's mind. We knew there were alleyways around back in many towns for garbage pickup, etc. but he was surprised that the gas meters were just sitting there out in the open. Now he's a civil engineer and works in construction mgmt so of course he's thinking of the safety issue. I'm not sure how I feel about those alleys but I like the fact that it "cleans" up the street. We were looking in Plano and surrounding areas and we could focus on houses without them but is that really a big problem? He was saying that most people are probably used to it when backing out of their garages but what if it's hit by a garbage truck? Accidents do happen I guess. He's just usually not an alarmist at all but really felt this was hazardous. I guess we could put a steel reinforcement around ours if we move there

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by deenie1

Hi - After visiting Dallas last month to vacation and look around for possible future relocation, there was one thing that stuck in my DH's mind. We knew there were alleyways around back in many towns for garbage pickup, etc. but he was surprised that the gas meters were just sitting there out in the open. Now he's a civil engineer and works in construction mgmt so of course he's thinking of the safety issue. I'm not sure how I feel about those alleys but I like the fact that it "cleans" up the street. We were looking in Plano and surrounding areas and we could focus on houses without them but is that really a big problem? He was saying that most people are probably used to it when backing out of their garages but what if it's hit by a garbage truck? Accidents do happen I guess. He's just usually not an alarmist at all but really felt this was hazardous. I guess we could put a steel reinforcement around ours if we move there

You could if you're paranoid, but I've never heard of a fire or explosion or death or injury being caused by someone hitting a gas meter with their car.

He's being alarmist.

My gas meter is also by the alley but it's inside the fence line. There's a little hole cut into the fence so the gas man can read the meter. Some of my neighbors' gas meters are outside their fence lines. No accidents.

[jdallas]

Honestly, it was also a concern of mine when purchasing a house in the area but it hasn't been an issue.
Those telephone/cable junction boxes in the street seem to get routinely pummeled by comparison.

[TX75007]

They get hit sometimes. Most just kind of bend over rather than spring a leak.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by jdallas

Honestly, it was also a concern of mine when purchasing a house in the area but it hasn't been an issue.
Those telephone/cable junction boxes in the street seem to get routinely pummeled by comparison.

Yup, those get hit all the time. Mailboxes too.

People who drive garbage trucks are pretty good about not hitting stuff in the alley. In my city (Richardson) they can get in big trouble for damaging peoples' property. I used to have a problem with them driving on the grass behind the fence in the alley (my property); their wheels were gouging out huge troughs. I snapped a photo, e-mailed it to the city with a terse but civil letter of complaint, and they fixed it the next day. They haven't driven over that area in at least a couple of years. These people aren't stupid; they know what the potential consequences are of hitting a gas meter.

[Pete53FR]

You have more to worry about the back alley neighbor backing into your meter but if it does happen its on the gas company to fix it. My neighbor backed into mine and I called gas company and they came out in less than an hour and replaced it.

Once you get used to parking in back and your alley youu will learn to love it like I do. I have lived in same house for 42 years.

[deenie1]

I'll pass that info to DH. I'm usually the one who worries about that kind of stuff. The gas co. fixes it if a neighbor backs into it?? Really? Wow, I'd think it would come out of the driver's auto insurance. Actually, you bring up a good point with garbage and recycling employees being careful due to consequences. The neighbor, however, would then be more of a concern!

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by deenie1

I'll pass that info to DH. I'm usually the one who worries about that kind of stuff. The gas co. fixes it if a neighbor backs into it?? Really? Wow, I'd think it would come out of the driver's auto insurance. Actually, you bring up a good point with garbage and recycling employees being careful due to consequences. The neighbor, however, would then be more of a concern!

The gas company owns the meter and the line going from the meter away from the house, so it's their responsibility to fix/replace it. They might go after the neighbor who damaged it, but they're not going to make you wait.

Honestly, we have gas meters in alleyways in my neighborhood and I've never heard of anyone hitting one and damaging it. You're fretting over nothing.

[TheotherMarie]

Gas meters in the alley way are not an issue for me as much as safety. Anybody could be back there when I'm coming home at 10pm and I wouldn't know until they got me. I hate those alleys. Ugly too!!

[AllenTxGuy]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

The gas company owns the meter and the line going from the meter away from the house, so it's their responsibility to fix/replace it. They might go after the neighbor who damaged it, but they're not going to make you wait.

Honestly, we have gas meters in alleyways in my neighborhood and I've never heard of anyone hitting one and damaging it. You're fretting over nothing.

I have a property that had the gas meter hit by a car. Don't be quite so optimistic about the gas company coming out. They are responsible for the line to the meter and the meter itself. Once it comes out of the meter it is no longer their responsibility. The line that broke was the line AFTER the meter. They came out and shut off the gas but I had to hire a plumber to fix the line before they would turn back on the gas. $400 later the house had gas again. I also had to pay for the gas that spewed into the air.