getting separate metering for utilities

[Patrick Britton]

Hi,

I've got some clients looking at buying multi-family properties but a few of them don't have separate meters for power, in particular.  here in the NW, it can be quite the expense and i am wondering how feasible it is to install separate meters for power, water, etc.  

anyone have any ideas? cheers

[Roy N.]

@Patrick Britton

The answer is: it depends.

Electrical: If each unit has its own {sub}panel coming off the main and the unit is wired to that sub-panel, then moving the panels onto separate entrances is quite simple.  On the other hand, if multiple units share a breaker panel, then you will need to rewire one, or more, units to separate the electricity.

Water: If the building was a purpose-built multi-unit, there is a higher chance of each unit having it's own water line - either direct from a manifold in the basement/mechanical room, or from a trunk-line running along each floor. If the building is a converted SFH (i.e. old Victorian) then it is very probable that the cold water runs from unit-to-unit - each unit might have its own hot water line from the mechanical room (if the water heaters are there) to the unit.

Gas:  Usually quite simple to separate the gas.  The big question is whether there is a common furnace/boiler or whether each unit has its own.   Re-running ducts to separate units can be pricey.  Hydronic heat can be easier to separate, depending on how the present system is separated into zones.