Opening a water meter hatch

the_goon

Hi all
We've just had a water meter installed, but I  can't see how to open the hatch to read it. I've called the water company (Wessex Water) and they said they can't provide a tool to open it, as their people read the meters, so we don't have to. However, I'd like to read them more than twice a year.
The cover isn't a standard, lift with a screwdriver one, it's like the one in the image. Anyone know how to open these?

Thanks

FrugaiMacDugal

Looks like the two black bits are slots, so you will need something like this.

You could try tapping the top left hand corner of the right one with a screwdriver and hammer, might unscrew if not too tight.

MyRealNameToo

They normally have an electronic reader so just have to drive near it and so dont actually open it themselves either

Look like the type that screw in, you can get a tool that will sit in the groves with a T bar to enable you to turn it but its possible to do without special tools.

Ayr_Rage

From the perspective of someone from the Land of No Meters it looks like that lid may have some black sealant around the edges and WW would be able to see it has been tampered with if you remove it.

bazdvd

Ayr_Rage said:

From the perspective of someone from the Land of No Meters it looks like that lid may have some black sealant around the edges and WW would be able to see it has been tampered with if you remove it.

"its LIKE the one in the image"

mmmmikey

The pukka tool for opening this kind of enclosure is called an F-key - it has two prongs that fit in the slots so you can unscrew the top.

the_goon

Thanks for the replies. I'll try and find an F Key, or, now I know it unscrews rather than lifts off, I'll try some other combination of tools. 

FrugaiMacDugal

If you could get an assistant to firmly hold two wide blade tools in the slots, you could put a lever between them and turn anticlockwise, might work.

35har1old

the_goon said:

Hi all
We've just had a water meter installed, but I  can't see how to open the hatch to read it. I've called the water company (Wessex Water) and they said they can't provide a tool to open it, as their people read the meters, so we don't have to. However, I'd like to read them more than twice a year.
The cover isn't a standard, lift with a screwdriver one, it's like the one in the image. Anyone know how to open these?

Thanks

Are you sure it has a meter installed ?
Seen these roughly 25 years ago the slots are for opening it beneath the lid a lump of polystyrene protecting the stop valve no meter
So the image isn’t showing your installation ?