Water meter installation

robatwork

I recently had the water company around to "assess my property" for a meter. They said I didn't have enough pipe clearance around the stopcock in the kitchen and I had to get it adjusted to their requirements before they would fit a meter.

I had thought perhaps naively they would fit it outside in any case, but asking me to pay for plumbing work for a meter to be fitted - well it won't be happening.

Just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation or works for a water co. - is this the normal state of affairs to make the consumer pay for works to enable a meter installation? (that will ultimately save the company water.)

robatwork

Quick bump - has anyone even had a meter installed subsequent to moving in? Was it installed outside or inside?

EmmyLou30

They will always try outside first - it's cheaper. So you either live in a flat or possibly an ex council house I'm assuming? Council houses generally have one stop tap that covers the entire terrace or a joint supply going to two semis, and then internal stoptaps. So as the stoptap isn't exclusively going to your property they can't fit a meter on it. Presumably you don't have a stop tap outside your property that feeds your property alone.
If they are unable to fit the meter inside they can put you on assesed charges (a reduced amount based on how many bedrooms your house has). Depending on how low your rateable value is this may or may not be of benefit to you.

robatwork

Thanks EmmyLou,

Neither a flat nor an ex council house. There is an access cover outside but I don't know what services lie below. I will get them back in to investigate. From previous properties I recall the water meter having a small circular access cover. This one is large and rectangular.

[Deleted User]

My meter is under the stopcock cover, out in the drive.

Ectophile

I've only bought places with a water meter already installed. Both times, the meter has been outside in the street, under a cover.

mart.vader

It's cheaper for the Water Co to fit inside, but this can cause problems with access for reading it.

I'm surprised that the Water Co have asked you to modify the pipes to fit the meter, If it's just that there is insufficient clearance, it would be 10 - 15 minutes work for them to do it. If the stop valve works, that is.

You could DIY or get a plumber to do it. A couple of pipe bends, I guess ?

EmmyLou30

A long rectangular plastic cover? That'll either be telecoms stuff or be a manifold box containing multiple meters/stoptaps which is quite simple to fit a meter to. These are easy to lift - just shove a screwdriver under the two bits at each end and prize it upwards and a handle will pop up. The round plastic Atplas boxes outside most houses from the 1980's onwards have the stop tap inside and a meter simply screws in after removing a blanking plate so is the simplest option for the water company. If you have an older square metal Ebco stop tap cover then meters can also be fitted in these (used well into the 1990's as far as I'm aware as my 1992 build has one - and a meter). How old is the property? Must be pre 1990 as all properties after this have a meter compulsory fitted. Hope you get it sorted as a meter can save you lots of money if you've less people in the house than bedrooms. We pay £22 a month for water and sewage charges for 2 people.

robatwork

Hi - it's a metal one -the house was built in 1971 - will see what they say as I have an appointment next week.

Mart the DIY isn't that simple as there is an outlet for the washing machine just below the stopcock and they need "8 to 10 inches of copper pipe with no fixing in the way" below. I would agree it's probably about 15 minutes work for them but for some reason they aren't prepared to do it - either an elf/safety issue or cost I expect.

thanks

MoneyMate

Didn't know you could have a water meter fitted inside your property but perhaps in some circumstances like Flats it's the only place it can be fitted.
When I moved recently I had a survey completed before installation , it was said on your land for me front garden was no problem, but if the outside stop !!!! was on public land it could cause problems with council permissions etc.

mart.vader

robatwork wrote: »

Hi - it's a metal one -the house was built in 1971 - will see what they say as I have an appointment next week.

Mart the DIY isn't that simple as there is an outlet for the washing machine just below the stopcock and they need "8 to 10 inches of copper pipe with no fixing in the way" below. I would agree it's probably about 15 minutes work for them but for some reason they aren't prepared to do it - either an elf/safety issue or cost I expect.

thanks

Its true that the Water Co WILL NOT let you have an installation where there is a "draw off" point before the meter, (otherwise any water through that point would simply be unmetered)

If you want a meter, I suggest getting in a friendly plumber to discuss the options.