Why Are Water Meters in Corridor-Style Apartments More Likely to Freeze?
The biggest difference is where the water meter is installed. In corridor-style apartment buildings where meters are located in outdoor corridors, meter boxes may be directly exposed to cold outside air. As a result, their insulation needs more careful attention than that of meters installed indoors.
| Category | Number of incidents |
|---|---|
| Incidents in corridor-style apartments | 1,352 |
Author's calculation: 1,352 ÷ 2,754 × 100. This represents the proportion of all water meter freezing incidents that occurred in corridor-style apartment buildings.
In other words, nearly half of all reported freezing incidents occurred in corridor-style apartments. However, this figure does not mean that individual households in corridor-style apartments had a 49.1% probability of experiencing a frozen water meter. It represents their share of the total reported incidents.
More important than whether your home is classified as a corridor-style apartment is whether the meter box is actually exposed to outdoor air and whether its cover and surrounding wall provide adequate insulation.
1. Insulation Support for 300,000 Vulnerable Households
| Support item | Planned quantity |
|---|---|
| Water meter box insulation covers | 290,000 covers |
| Wall-mounted insulation materials | Approximately 10,000 units |
| Eligible households | Approximately 300,000 vulnerable households |
Insulation covers are designed to block cold air from entering water meter boxes from the outside. Wall-mounted insulation materials provide additional protection for meter boxes with inadequate insulation.
However, this does not mean that every one of the 300,000 households will receive both types of equipment. The type of support may vary depending on the building structure and previous water meter freezing incidents.
2. Replacing Water Meters in Corridor-Style Apartments with Digital Models
Program scale: Approximately 300,000 households
Program period: 2026–2027
Total program budget: KRW 44.1 billion
Replacements completed through October 2026: 111,192 households
Total planned replacements by 2027: 274,407 households
Water Meter Freezing Test Results by Type
| Meter type | Test result |
|---|---|
| Digital water meter | No freezing under the test conditions |
| Mechanical water meter | Froze after 120 minutes |
One important point is that the replacement program will not be completed simultaneously in every household. To find out whether your meter has already been replaced, contact your apartment management office or the local waterworks office and ask about the work status for your building and corridor section.
How Should You Insulate Your Apartment's Water Meter Box?
In corridor-style apartments, filling the inside of the meter box with insulation is not enough. You should also check for gaps where cold outside air can enter and inspect the condition of the cover.
Steps for Insulating a Water Meter Box
1. Check the insulation inside: Fill gaps inside the meter box with dry insulating materials, such as old clothes or towels. Also check the insulation around the meter's glass display and nearby pipes.
2. Seal the cover: Make sure the meter box cover closes properly. Covering it with plastic can help reduce the amount of cold air entering the box.
3. Inspect exposed pipes: Wrap any water pipes extending outside the meter box with insulation materials as well.
4. Replace wet insulation: Inspect insulation materials that have become wet or worn out and replace them if they can no longer provide adequate protection.
5. Check for gaps: Look for openings between the meter box cover and the surrounding wall.
In particular, residents of corridor-style apartments should check whether their section of the corridor lacks windproof windows and whether the meter box is attached to an exterior wall. Do not modify the meter box yourself or insulate it in a way that covers or obstructs the meter-reading equipment.
How Much Should You Leave the Faucet Running During a Cold Wave?
Even after taking insulation measures, additional precautions may be necessary when severe cold weather lasts for two or more consecutive days. One option is to leave a faucet slightly open so that water continues to flow.
| Alert level | Temperature criteria | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Attention | Above -5°C | Inspect the meter box insulation and cover. |
| Caution | -5°C to -10°C | Recheck insulation around the water meter and exposed pipes. |
| Warning | -10°C to -15°C for two or more consecutive days | Allow a thin stream of water to run when leaving home for an extended period. |
| Severe | Below -15°C for two or more consecutive days | Consider maintaining water flow even during short absences or overnight. |
As temperatures fall, insulation alone may not be sufficient. Consider both how long you will be away from home and how long the cold weather is expected to last.
You do not need to open the faucet widely to keep water flowing. Adjust it to maintain a thin, continuous stream, while also monitoring water consumption and drainage conditions.
What Should You Do If Your Water Meter Freezes or Breaks?
If the glass section of the meter cracks or its internal indicator becomes swollen, do not dismiss the problem as ordinary freezing. If you suspect meter damage or a water leak, do not disassemble the meter or attempt to force it back into operation. Reporting the problem should be your priority.
Your local waterworks office: The waterworks office responsible for your area.
If freezing occurs, you can request water meter replacement and restoration work. If you have questions about who pays for the replacement or how responsibility is divided between a landlord and a tenant, you can also check the applicable arrangements.
Three Things Corridor-Style Apartment Residents Should Check Now
Is your water meter box exposed to an outdoor corridor?
Is the insulation inside the box dry, and are the gaps between the cover and surrounding wall properly sealed?
Has a schedule been established for replacing your household's water meter with a digital model, or has the replacement already been completed?
If you cannot confirm even one of these three points, contact your apartment management office to ask about the meter box insulation and the replacement schedule.
