Meter recessed

[rlskfoster]

What do you guys think about this. Builder touts its visual appeal versus exposed conduit. I think it looks pretty nice, but, I have to wonder if Milbank Meter Base Company thinks its okay. I wonder if it will hold heat?

Buster

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[hausdok]

It'll be fine. I've seen thousands of them done that way and never saw one that had any problems. As far as holding heat, the bricks act like a heat sink and draw heat off that box more efficiently than air will.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Les]

I am getting soft in my old age, but think it is fine. Mike is right.

[Bain]

I've never seen this before. Mike, won't that big brick sponge around the meter make its housing prematurely rust and deteriorate? I don't think I've ever seen a reference for weepholes above a power meter. : )

[hausdok]

Hi,

No, I don't think so. Like I said, I've seen literally thousands of them and they've been fine. Houses that I've seen them in go all the way back to the 30's. I've never seen one with a problem.

OT - OF!!!

M.

[Rob Amaral]

Thread drift, but 'bricks' and 'service'-related. I've never seen a utility service drop connection 'in the brickwork' of a chimney. (Done because of the alignment of the overhead drop and so forth). Just didn't jive with me. Any comments? Long drop, too. Looked very-secure.

[kurt]

I think it would be a little odd; I've never seen a "chimney drop". But, I don't know why it wouldn't work OK.

As far as the meter box in the brick, I don't think anything bad's gonna happen. I see them on occasion, & have never seen rust or corrosion being a problem. Ever.

That said, if the place was brand new, I'd like to see a drip cap or similar flashing around the box. If flashing is necessary to keep steel lintels from rusting, the same could be said for any metal assembly embedded in the brick.

[Brian G]

I doubt if the brick will be a big problem either, but I can't look at that without frowning. Electrical enclosures get bigger and bigger as the years go by; if they ever have to replace that it won't be fun. Was the service underground or overhead? If it were overhead and the mast got bent to hell from storm damage, swapping out the mast could be rough too. I'd make a note about the "unconventional" installation in the report.

And if you ask me, builders and buyers are already way too concerned about cosmetics over practical considerations as it is. Silly over sensible, yet again.

Brian G.

H.I. Curmudgeon in Training [:-dog]