switching to water meter

Paul_Varjak

NH:

I understand that water companies prefer to fit the meter internally - they say it is cheaper!

I am puzzled by this - how can they read the meter if they cannot get to it? Perhaps if it is fitted internally then you are reponsible for any repairs or maybe if they can't get indoors to read your meter they won't have to pay for someone to read the meter and they will overestimate your usage!

Luckily, they cannot fit my meter internally and I guess the same is correct for you!

mrtickle

I live in a new-build house with a water meter. The meter is under the kitchen sink at the front of the house. On the outside wall is a small black circle of plastic which sticks out a couple of cm. They actually read the meter from outside the house, by holding a scantool near to this disc.

I wondered what it was for months before curiousity got the better of me and I took it apart off the wall! Then a few days later I "caught" the guy reading the meter anyway so I saw how it worked. Better for the companies as you don't need to be at home for them to get a reading.

Paul_Varjak

That is interesting, MRTICLKE, but I guess it will not apply to older houses when a meter is fitted.



PAUL VARJAK

gatita

When I moved here to my 2 bedroomed bungalow there was a meter installed. i live alone, and yes I confess I love my bath and shower :-/................and use my washing machine about twice a week. I have just been informed by SWW that I must now pay £33 per month which I think is outrageous, and frankly will have great difficulty finding the money to pay the bill, I shall just have to cut down on something else. My internet which is the only extravagance I have maybe? but its the only form of entertainment I have
A POX on the water companies especially S.West Water the biggest scoundrels of all

mrtickle

That is interesting, MRTICLKE, but I guess it will not apply to older houses when a meter is fitted.

PAUL VARJAK

It might well do - it's just couple of wires running from the inside meter to the external wall. Probably depends on the layout of the house and the water company.

Paul_Varjak

Thanks for the info, MRTICKLE.

Steve_Boorman

If you have a holiday home...it is definitely worth switching to a water meter.In Anglian water region you can also pay a flat rate per unit called "SOLOW".It works out so much cheaper!!!!!If you are a low user ...Try it!!!It has saved me pounds!!!!

Paul_Varjak

I'm waiting to have a meter fitted. Someone else came today to see about the fitting but went away again. Surely it takes only one visit to determine the correct position. He decided it should go in the same place as the previous guy!

I used my hose pipe last night but forgot to switch it off (I got one of those trigger guns free from Yorkshire Water recently). Anyway, went outside this morning and hose pipe had developed a hole and water squirting everywhere! Good job I'm not on a meter yet.

I got the trigger gun to save water but it made me forget to switch off at tap!

Will take note of previous post about leaks upon fitting meter. Will check my new meter to make sure that I have no leaks anywhere else!

Tony-Anfield

If you put a brick in your water cistern you will save money as you have a water meter... 8)

LincsLad_3

If you put a brick in your water cistern you will save money as you have a water meter... 8)

There are more hi-tech options than a brick :

Save-a-Flush bag