It’s easy to overlook, but that metal enclosure on your exterior wall is what keeps the rain away from your power supply. Understanding what causes it to pull away from your siding helps you stay ahead of potential repairs.
What Happens When a Meter Box Becomes Loose?
When a meter box becomes loose or starts to pull away from the siding, it creates a gap. During storms and high humidity, water and moisture can seep through. This is a huge drawback to the electrical system because the moisture will build up and eventually corrode the wires and terminals. Electricity can even jump between the connections, also known as arcing. If heat from arcing or short circuits builds up to a certain point, it greatly increases the risk of electrical fires. It can ignite the siding, insulation, or internal wall framing.
Short circuits from water intrusion may become frequent and eventually interfere with your daily power usage. You also have to worry about pest infestations inside the meter box, particularly from mice, bees, and ants. Even if you don’t notice any sparks, the physical weight from the leaning enclosure puts immense strain on the service wires. Getting the meter box repaired is crucial to keeping your home safe and the electrical system running reliably and efficiently.
Most Common Causes of Leaning Meter Cans
A meter box is not going to pull away from the side of your house overnight unless it’s due to a severe storm. This problem usually happens over time until one day you walk outside and see it leaning. You’ll probably have a thought that runs through your head telling you, “Hey, that does not look like it did before.” This is your first clue to call an electrician.
Settling Ground and Shifting Soil
It’s very normal for the soil around your house to shift and settle over the years. The movement of the ground can yank on the meter box and slowly pull it away from your home. It may lean to one side or start separating from the mounting surface.
The House Itself Starts to Settle
It’s also normal for homes to move and settle the older they get. This would be perfectly fine if the meter box shifted with the house, but most of the time, it does not. Instead, it will stay in the same position and tear away from its mounting bracket.
The Meter Can Is Old
The meter box attaches to the side of your house using screws and brackets that become weak over time because of temperature changes and rust. Strong storms can also cause them to loosen. The most obvious clues to this problem are a meter box that tilts to one side or visibly pulls away from the wall.
Moisture Damage
Sometimes, a loose meter box has nothing to do with the brackets or mounting hardware. When water seeps in behind your siding, it can soften the wood that the meter attaches to. And once the backing becomes weak enough, the meter box won’t have enough support to stay securely attached.
Impact Damage From Strong Winds or Fallen Branches
Meter boxes are pretty tough, but they usually get knocked loose by three things: heavy winds, falling branches, or someone just accidentally bumping into them while working in the yard.
How Do Electricians Fix Leaning Meter Cans?
The actual cause of a loose meter box really doesn’t matter. The outcome is the same: a dangerous situation that stretches the electrical connections and interferes with safe power delivery.
An electrician will start the repair process by shutting off power to your home. You should plan for the temporary outage by charging devices and keeping your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Expect the power to be off anywhere from one to several hours.
Next, the electrician opens the meter box to inspect the wiring and other internal components. If any of the wires appear damaged or stretched, they’ll get replaced. The following step is an inspection of the surface behind the meter. There’s a chance the wood backing or siding has softened and needs rebuilt.
As the electrician evaluates the condition of the meter box, they’ll look for cracks and corrosion. Cracked meter boxes almost always need full replacement for safety and code-compliance reasons.
After the electrician completes the repairs, the meter is firmly reattached to the home, and the power gets turned back on. One final check confirms everything is working as it should.
FAQs
Is it okay to fix a leaning meter can myself?
No, you should never attempt any type of DIY repair when it involves your electrical system. You don’t want to risk injuring yourself or making the problem worse. All of the wires inside the can are live at all times. Only a trained electrician can safely fix the issue and keep the home code-compliant.
Should I call an electrician or the power company to fix a leaning meter can?
On most homes, the meter box is considered the homeowner’s property. This means you won’t be able to call the power company for a free fix. Instead, you’ll need to call an electrician.
How quickly should I book the appointment?
You should book an appointment as quickly as possible. Gravity itself will continue to worsen the problem. If a severe storm rolls through, it may completely knock the meter box off your home’s exterior, worsening the exposure of the electrical connections.
Hire an Electrician in Birmingham Today
Mister Sparky is here to answer any questions you have about your meter can. If you have an electrical emergency, we’re here for you 24/7. We’re known around Birmingham for doing great work, and we’ll make sure your meter box is bolted down tight and sealed up to keep the rain out.
Call Mister Sparky today to schedule electrical service in Birmingham.
