ToughButterCup Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Its been a bit windy recently. And the door to my water me ter (see what I did there?) has bust. I think it was ajar, and the wind just slammed it against the wall breaking the hinges. Or rather breaking the hinge holders. Look at this; the hooks which used to hold the stainless steel hinge have broken off. This is how I'm bodging it ... The meter 'box' - the unit that held the hinge hooks - is embedded in the wall. The box is designed to expand or contract to suit the depth of the wall. The door is a separate unit that simply slots into the hooks which were on the box. Replacing the meter box is too much of a job to contemplate. I've looked and looked on YT to try and find others who have this problem .... but .... Anyone able to help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 This is not constructive help, but I find it sad to see that water meter boxes seem to have been designed down to the same low standard as electricity and gas meter boxes. I would struggle to design a more pathetic, flimsy door hinge and catch mechanism if I tried. It seems like they have designed it down to being a piece of rubbish as much as possible. I would suggest you look at alternative, proper hinges that can be screwed or bolted to the existing box and door instead of just replacing the piece of rubbish you have with an equally rubbish replacement. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markc Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 (edited) +1. maybe use a thin metal strap folded into a hinge and screwed to inside, it’s a bodge but no worse than the boxes themselves Edited February 17, 2022 by markc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramco Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 We had this on a rental property - the only solution we came up with was to sack off the door and fix a larger surface mounted door over the box. Seemed to work and looks like a proper box. I'd send a link but we had someone do it for us. But the new door surround is bevelled so the door stands off the surface a bit. I guess it's screwed through the new frame into the surrounding brickwork. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell griffiths Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Standard 4inch door hinge fitted internal to the box with pop rivets instead of screws. Maybe ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 (edited) Well, I never................ I dropped the stylus that goes with my phone (on which I took the photos above). Retracing my steps to find the stylus (the phone warns you that the stylus isn't in its holder), I go back to the meter box where I'd used the phone last. There on the floor was the stylus. And the hinges .... They'd been yanked out of their sockets by the force of the wind I feel some Araldite mixing coming on . Maybe even some wire securing the hinge to the unit by threading it through hole in both - they appear to me to line up. Sometimes you just get lucky eh? Thanks for your suggestions. Ian Edited February 17, 2022 by ToughButterCup 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 (edited) How irritating that some little fart designed it so badly. You can always tell which house in the street is rented out to the bad ones. The meter box door is broken. Edited February 17, 2022 by SteamyTea 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 If those 2 holes line up, then a self tapping screw will secure the hinge. What I found irritating when i was looking for an (electricity) meter box, is they all seemed to be made to the same rubbish design with flimsy hinges and door catches. It is as if someone has drawn up a "standard" that prohibits the use of substantial hinges and door catches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 Have a guess what's happened to my electricity meter box door Dave? 1 guess, can't phone a friend. Correct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 (edited) Super @ProDave strikes again (see his post immediately above) Oh, the simplicity, the elegance ..... I never thought a self tapping screw could bring so much joy........ Edited February 17, 2022 by ToughButterCup 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roundtuit Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 They'll deffo snap the next time ? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simplysimon Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 2 hours ago, Roundtuit said: They'll deffo snap the next time ? that was my first thought, perhapsthey were designed to come out if the first scenario happened and weren't 5 hours ago, ProDave said: made to the same rubbish design with flimsy hinges and door catches. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now