I just had a plumber repair a leaking joint on my heating system, I am away on business and my wife actually found the leak and arranged for the plumber.

Took him about 15 minutes and apparently he suggested he check the boiler, as he was there.

Oh you have a gas leak. Can be the fire that was capped off years ago, and he can't find a problem with the gas hob. Out with the sniffer nothing. Ah it must be in the walls.

So he calls in his mate to run a gas pipe externally around the house from the gas main to the boiler.

This apparently is the only way it can be done, this just can't be right. I don't see may new builds with the pipes running outside.

Is this an easy cop out for plumbers to make a fast buck from and easy job.

Thanks for any replies.

Lots of gas systems are connected this way, commercial buildings for example. I believe it would be a lot cheaper for you than running the lines through the walls. I noted in England and Ireland, many utilities, vents and drains are run outside the walls. All of the gas lines in my neighborhood are buried up to the outside wall, connected through the meter and then directly into the hot water heater or heater. Reduces the possibility of deteriorating gas lines in the walls, as you found out.