How to Open Water Meter Box
If you’re a homeowner, there’s a good chance you’ll have to open your water meter box at some point. This is a guide on how to open water meter box and how to do that safely and easily. First, make sure the water is turned off at the shutoff valve. Next, locate the meter box and remove the lid.
Be careful not to drop anything into the box, as there may be sharp objects or poisonous spiders inside! Finally, turn on the faucet closest to the meter box and check for leaks. If everything looks good, put the lid back on and reattach the lock (if applicable). Read on to know more!
8 Easy Ways on How to Open Water Meter Box
1. Turning Off the Water to Your Home:
To turn off the water to your home, go to where you see your shutoff valve and turn the knob (clockwise) to stop water flow. If you do not find a knob but only a wheel with half circles, you will likely need to screw this wheel down (in other words, you will need to turn the wheel counterclockwise, with the arrows pointing to 9 o’clock) to shut off the water.
2. Removing Your Meter Box Cover:
Take a flathead screwdriver or other sturdy tool and pop your meter box cover off. If this does not work, try prying it up. Once you have it up, you cannot lose it because it has a screw on the underneath side of the cover. This screw will keep your cover from sliding back over the top of the box.
3. Removing Your Meter:
Take a flathead screwdriver and unscrew (counterclockwise) the little metal plate holding your meter in place. Now you should be able to pull the meter out of the well by pulling on the large tab at the top. This tab will have wires attached, so be careful not to pull it too hard.
4. Lifting Up Your Meter Box:
You will need to lift the flap that covers your meter box to get to your meter. You can do this by unscrewing (counterclockwise) the small plate on the bottom of your meter box. You will be able to lift this flap up and out of the way to access your meter.
5. Detaching Wires:
Take a screwdriver and detach the wires attached to your meter, then unscrew them from each other. This process will vary depending on what type of system you have in place, but generally speaking, you should unscrew all the red wires from the green ones and unscrew the black wires from the yellow ones.
6. Turning Off the Water:
Go to where you see your shutoff valve and turn the knob (clockwise) to stop water flow. If you do not find a knob but only a wheel with half circles, you will likely need to screw this wheel down (in other words, you will need to turn the wheel counterclockwise, with the arrows pointing to 9 o’clock) to shut off the water.
7. Testing for Leaks:
After you unscrew (counterclockwise) your meter box, put your ear on it and listen for rushing air. If you do not hear rushing air, there are likely no leaks in your system. This would be a good time to test the water by checking the meter. If there is no water leaking in your system, you can turn your knob (clockwise) at the shutoff valve back to its original position.
8. Release Pipe Pressure:
If the previous item does not stop water flow, release the pressure on the pipes. Next, turn the shutoff valves located at either end of your house (or both if needed) about halfway to allow water to drip out. Once you’ve done this, go back up and check for any signs of leakage or reduced water flow.
You Can Check It Out To Open Tesla Glove Box
Some Helpful Tips and Suggestions
1. Have a flathead screwdriver ready to seal the cover back up.
2. Have an old towel or rag to wipe down any leaking water and put it over the meter box lid to keep it from getting contaminated if the leak is bad/a, lot of water spilled.
3. Use gloves or have a rag nearby for when you go to touch the inside of the meter box.
4. If you have a flashlight, have it ready in case it’s dark when you open your meter box lid.
5. If you’re concerned about any electrical currents in the water lines, don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone who can test them for you. You can also ask the utility company to come out and check the electrical currents in the water lines.
6. If you’re installing a new meter box, have both your old and new meters with you to do the job right the first time.
Will a Magnet Stop a Water Meter
A magnet won’t stop a water meter. A coil does the meter’s magnetic reading, which senses when the wheel passes over it. Since the coil only generates electricity in response to a passing magnet, a smaller magnet won’t affect the reading.
A permanent magnet will work against a water meter, but not if it’s mounted. A simple test can be done to prove this theory. Attach a permanent magnet to the back of the meter box cover using duct tape or even chewing gum. Then, run water through your faucet and watch both the water meter reading decrease and how much water comes out of your faucet.
You Can Check It Out to: Pick a Water Meter Lock
Conclusion
Opening a water meter box can seem like a daunting task, but it can be done in just a few minutes with the right tools and instructions. In this post, we’ll walk you through the process of opening your water meter box and show you what tools you’ll need.
We hope this information on how to open water meter box helps make your next water bill payment easier! We have all the information you need about opening a water meter box and getting your hands on some free water from it! If you have any questions or want to know more, then feel free to comment below!
