New water meter: improved flow?

**ruxCYtable** · 02-05-2011, 01:33 PM

Last thing I should be thinking about during the game, but I am...

The city just swapped out our old mechanical water meter for a new one they can read wirelessly just by driving by. I swear I noticed an immediate improvement in water pressure which I am obviously pleased about.

Just curious if there are any plumbers on board who can explain this. I'm guessing the old meters had an impeller that slightly decreased the flow or something and the newer electronic ones don't? Just curious.

**Cyclonepride** · 02-06-2011, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by ruxCYtable

Last thing I should be thinking about during the game, but I am...

The city just swapped out our old mechanical water meter for a new one they can read wirelessly just by driving by. I swear I noticed an immediate improvement in water pressure which I am obviously pleased about.

Just curious if there are any plumbers on board who can explain this. I'm guessing the old meters had an impeller that slightly decreased the flow or something and the newer electronic ones don't? Just curious.

I'm not a plumber, but I play one on a message board. Just from my experience screwing around with my own plumbing, I suppose it is possible that you had some mineral build up in there?

**cstrunk** · 02-06-2011, 11:31 PM

From the water meters I've seen, I don't think they would provide enough resistance for you to notice any difference at all.

**fatkid1974** · 02-07-2011, 06:51 AM

I'm a plumber, but I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express. I'll agree with the mineral build up. Could also be a slightly larger I.D. on new one than old. Most water supply on houses is 3/4" and most meters actually measure 5/8 or even 1/2. If new one was a full 3/4 you may notice a slight difference.

**CtownCyclone** · 02-07-2011, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by fatkid1974

I'm a plumber, but I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express. I'll agree with the mineral build up. Could also be a slightly larger I.D. on new one than old. Most water supply on houses is 3/4" and most meters actually measure 5/8 or even 1/2. If new one was a full 3/4 you may notice a slight difference.

Maybe some mineral buildup as well as a serving of placebo effect?

**Steve** · 02-07-2011, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by fatkid1974

Could also be a slightly larger I.D. on new one than old. Most water supply on houses is 3/4" and most meters actually measure 5/8 or even 1/2. If new one was a full 3/4 you may notice a slight difference.

This plus the new digital meter probably provides a more direct path for the water to flow through resulting in less turbulance and less pressure drop caused by friction.