Water meters need to be installed correctly if they are going to provide accurate readings and meet the requirements of the water supply company. The meter itself is only part of the job. The surrounding pipework, fittings and installation all need to be suitable too.
I’m Rob Staley of Rob Staley Plumbing, and I was recently contacted by a property management company in Derby that needed help with four water meters at one of its managed properties.
Three of the existing meters needed to be replaced with water supply company meters. A fourth water meter had previously been installed by somebody else and needed to be inspected.
What initially appeared to be a straightforward water meter replacement in Derby revealed an additional plumbing problem. When I inspected the fourth meter, I found that its pipework had been incorrectly plumbed.
The installation therefore needed to be altered before the water company carried out its own inspection.
Water Meter Replacement for a Property Management Company in Derby
Property management companies need plumbing problems to be dealt with efficiently, particularly when work affects water supplies, tenants or utility company requirements.
For this Derby property, the original request involved replacing three water meters and inspecting a fourth installation.
I began by looking at the existing meters and surrounding pipework rather than simply replacing the three meters and leaving.
This is an important part of professional plumbing work. When several components form part of the same water supply installation, it makes sense to look at the complete arrangement.
The inspection revealed that there was a problem.
Discovering Incorrectly Installed Water Meter Pipework
The fourth water meter had been installed previously by somebody else.
On inspection, I found that the water meter pipework had been incorrectly plumbed. Leaving it as it was could have caused problems when the installation was subsequently inspected by the water supply company.
Rather than ignoring the problem because it was not part of the original three meter replacements, I explained what I had found and carried out the necessary meter pipework alteration.
The pipework was altered so that the installation complied with the requirements for the meter arrangement. This is precisely why inspecting existing plumbing can be just as important as installing new equipment.
Altering the Water Meter Pipework
A water meter installation involves more than connecting a meter between two pieces of pipe.
The meter and surrounding pipework need to form a properly configured installation. The pipework also needs to be accessible enough for future meter reading, inspection, maintenance and replacement where required.
In this case, I altered the incorrectly installed pipework and left the meter arrangement ready for the water company’s later inspection.
The work involved:
- Replacing three existing water meters
- Inspecting a fourth water meter
- Identifying incorrectly installed meter pipework
- Altering the existing pipework
- Preparing the complete installation for inspection by the water supply company
- Ensuring all four meter installations could subsequently be checked
It is a good example of why experience matters with this type of plumbing work. Sometimes the important part of the job is identifying something that was not included in the original request.
All Four Water Meters Inspected by the Water Company
Once my plumbing work had been completed, all four water meters were subsequently inspected by the water company.
That final inspection was particularly important because it provided an independent check of the meter installations following the replacement and alteration work.
For the property management company, it also meant that the complete job had been dealt with rather than simply replacing three meters and leaving the fourth installation untouched.
The three required water meters had been replaced, the problem with the fourth meter had been identified and corrected, and all four could then be presented for inspection.
Why Correct Water Meter Installation Matters
A water meter is used to measure the amount of water passing into a property or individual supply.
That makes correct installation important.
Problems with the surrounding pipework can potentially make future meter inspection, maintenance or replacement more difficult. Where an installation is going to be checked by the water supply company, getting the plumbing right beforehand also reduces the likelihood of remedial work being required later.
For landlords, property managers and commercial property owners, this can be particularly important where a building contains several separate water meters.
A problem affecting one installation may be worth investigating across the others too.
That was demonstrated particularly well on this Derby project. Although three water meters were due for replacement, inspecting the fourth identified an additional plumbing issue that also needed attention.
Water Meter Replacement for Landlords and Property Managers
Managing a property often means coordinating different contractors, utility providers and maintenance requirements.
If a water supply company requires meters to be replaced or existing meter installations to be altered, a local plumber can help prepare the plumbing before the water company’s inspection.
At Rob Staley Plumbing, I can inspect the existing arrangement, identify problems with the pipework and carry out appropriate plumbing alterations where required.
For property management companies, having one plumber examine the overall installation can also make the process easier to manage.
Instead of simply dealing with the most obvious problem, I prefer to understand what is required and look at the relevant plumbing as a whole.
Can an Existing Water Meter Installation Be Altered?
Yes. Existing water meter pipework can often be altered where the current configuration is unsuitable or has been installed incorrectly.
Exactly what needs to be changed will depend on the individual property, the meter arrangement and the existing pipework.
This is why the installation should be inspected before deciding what work is necessary.
In this particular Derby project, inspecting the fourth meter revealed that the problem was with the way the pipework had previously been plumbed. I was then able to alter the arrangement before the later water company inspection.
Signs Your Water Meter Pipework May Need Attention
Most homeowners or tenants will never need to examine the plumbing around their water meter closely.
However, there are situations when professional advice may be helpful.
These include:
- A water company has requested a meter replacement
- An existing meter has been installed or moved previously
- Pipework around the meter has been altered
- There is a leak close to the water meter
- The meter is difficult to access
- A landlord or property manager is taking responsibility for a new property
- Several meters serve different parts of the same building
- The water company has requested alterations before an inspection
If you are unsure, it is better to have the installation checked than guess.
Why Use an Experienced Local Plumber?
Plumbing work in a managed property needs to be carried out carefully, particularly where another organisation will subsequently inspect the installation.
With more than 20 years of plumbing experience, I provide both planned plumbing work and emergency plumbing services through Rob Staley Plumbing.
My work covers everyday plumbing repairs as well as more unusual jobs such as this water meter replacement and meter pipework alteration in Derby.
The principle is the same whatever the job: inspect the problem properly, identify what actually needs doing and complete the plumbing work professionally.
That approach proved particularly valuable here because the incorrectly plumbed fourth meter might otherwise have been overlooked.
Water Meter Replacement in Derby: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a plumber replace a water meter?
It depends on who owns the particular meter and what the water supply company requires. If you have been instructed to arrange work involving a water meter, check the requirements with your water company first.
A plumber can then advise on the associated plumbing, pipework alterations and work required around the meter.
Can incorrectly installed water meter pipework be altered?
Yes, in many circumstances existing pipework can be altered to create a suitable meter arrangement. The plumber will first need to inspect the installation to establish what has been done and what needs changing.
On this Derby project, that inspection identified incorrectly plumbed pipework around one of the four meters, which I then altered.
Will the water company inspect a replacement meter?
This will depend on the water company and circumstances surrounding the installation. In this particular project, all four water meters were subsequently inspected by the water company after the plumbing work had been completed.
If your water company has specified an inspection, make sure you understand its requirements before arranging the plumbing work.
Do property management companies need a plumber for water meter work?
A property management company may need a plumber where meter replacement requires alterations to the property’s pipework or an existing installation needs to be corrected.
This can be particularly useful in buildings with several meters or separate water supplies.
What happens if the plumbing around a water meter is incorrect?
The appropriate solution depends on what is wrong with the installation. The existing pipework needs to be inspected before alterations are made.
In this case, I identified that the fourth meter had been incorrectly plumbed and altered the pipework so that the installation could be presented for the water company’s later inspection.
Can Rob Staley Plumbing carry out water meter pipework alterations?
If you need help with water meter pipework, replacement work or a plumbing installation that needs checking before a water company inspection, contact Rob Staley Plumbing to discuss the job.
I can look at the existing plumbing and advise on the work required.
Professional Plumbing for Property Managers in South Derbyshire
This project began with a request to replace three water meters and inspect a fourth. By checking the complete installation, I discovered that the fourth meter had been incorrectly plumbed.
I altered the meter pipework, completed the required replacement work and left all four installations ready for the water company’s subsequent inspection.
For landlords and property managers, it demonstrates the value of having plumbing work properly inspected rather than assuming an existing installation is correct simply because it has been there for some time.
Need a Plumber for Water Meter Work in Derby?
If you need a water meter replaced in Derby, have meter pipework that requires alteration or need an existing plumbing installation inspected, speak to Rob Staley Plumbing.
Whether you are a homeowner, landlord or property management company, I can assess the existing plumbing and advise on the appropriate work.
Contact Rob Staley Plumbing or call 07875 558 713 to discuss your requirements.
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Rob Staley is an experienced Plumber, from the Ashbourne Area. He has been in the industry for over 20 years and is fully City & guilds NVQ3 qualified. Rob Staley Plumbing is a Member of the Derbyshire Trusted Trader scheme, and a Member of Watersafe.
Rob offers emergency plumbing as well as domestic leak repairs, water main bursts, bathroom installations and repairs, kitchen plumbing and a range of other services.
