When it comes to meter box repairs, costs can quickly add up. An entire meter box can be fiddly and expensive to replace – especially if you have to remove the meter to do it. On top of this, only a licensed engineer can work on an energy meter itself, so the labour costs alone can be tough.
Luckily, this level of work is rarely necessary. Instead, there are a wide range of meter box repair solutions you can use to avoid such extensive work. Whether it’s fitting a replacement lock/latch, changing your meter box hinges or fitting a protective over box, there’s a whole variety of easy, quick fixes to extend the life of your meter box without breaking the bank.
In this guide, we’ll dig deep into some of the quickest, easiest and cheapest fixes you can try on your meter box. We’ll highlight some of our most popular repair kits and parts and answer common questions to help you find a simple way to fix your meter box.
How do I know the meter box replacements will fit my meter box?
Generally speaking, most standard meter boxes are a similar size and construction. This means the meter box replacement parts we sell will fit the majority of boxes.
The exception for this is doors. You should always get a door with vents for a gas meter box but this isn’t necessary for an electric one.
Another item to check before ordering is latches. Most meter boxes have a triangular latch, but sometimes they are a different shape. If you’re ordering a new key, check the shape of the old one (or your latch) first to make sure you get the right one.
If you’re replacing the latch mechanism itself, you should check if your old one is springloaded or not before placing an order too.
What are the cheapest meter box repairs to do?
When it comes to repairing your meter box, you don’t need to worry about shelling out for expensive items. Or even labour charges. Most meter box parts can be bought for under £10, while the straightforward construction of a meter box means you can usually carry out the repairs yourself.
Here are some of the most cost-effective ways to repair your meter box, if you notice it is broken or starting to fail.
1. Replacement Meter Box Latch
Though they don’t get always get a lot of use, meter box latches are prone to wear and tear. Particularly plastic ones which can start to disintegrate if not cared for correctly. Luckily they are also among the cheapest parts to replace, and shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes if you have the right tools.
Meter box latches tend to be a standard size, so you don’t need to worry about measuring up for your replacement. However, it is a good idea to replace like-for-like when it comes to plastic or metal meter box latches. So if you’re looking to replace a plastic latch, buy another plastic one and if you are replacing a metal one – buy a metal one.
The same goes for the mechanism.
2. Meter Box Key
By design, meter box keys are actually quite robust and hard to break. However, over long periods metal keys can rust while plastic keys can grow more fragile and snap or warp.
And the main issue with meter box keys is their size – being so small they can be quite easy to lose!
Luckily, replacement keys are cheap and easy to source. Most latches work on a simple triangle lock mechanism making key designs almost universal too. The general choice will be between a plastic key and metal one, which will be down to you.
3. Replacement Meter Box Hinges
It’s usually obvious when the hinges on your meter box need replacing. The door will either be wobbly or difficult to open – it might not even be attached to the box at all on that side. Luckily, this doesn’t mean you need to replace the entire door of your over box – often it’s just the hinges.
The idea of replacing hinges might be intimidating, but for a lightweight meter box door, it’s actually a very simple fix. All you need is a cheap set of replacement meter box hinges. As long as your door uses spring hinges, our set is universal so it will work on any meter box door.
Check our guide for step-by-step instructions on how to replace your meter box hinges.
4. Replacement studs/fixings
If your meter box no longer seems to be secure on the backplate, but otherwise looks undamaged, the studs holding the meter box to the backplate may have broken. If this happens, don’t worry about having to invest in a whole new box – meter box studs and fixings are very cheap and easy to fit.
Before ordering check the back of your box, and make sure that the back plate is still secure. You should also check all around the outside of the box to make sure that no holes or cracks have developed – if so, a new over box is probably in order.
For more guidance on how to use our plastic studs, watch our video guide to replacing your over box.
Can you replace a meter box cover?
Yes. If your box is looking old and fragile or needs a lot of repairs, then it may just be simpler to replace the whole cover. This will cost more than our quick fixes listed above, but is still reasonably cheap – you can get a high-quality plastic over box for under £100.
Here at Repair My Meter Box we stock easy-to-fit over boxes that simply slot over the top of your old meter box. This makes them quick and easy enough to install yourself, so you can keep costs down further rather than paying a professional to do them.
Our full range of meter box repair and replacement parts allows you to repair your meter box in a straightforward and cost-effective way. Take a look through our handy guide on How to repair your meter box How To Repair Your Meter Box if you are looking for some tips and tricks. Get in touch with us today if you have any questions.