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Familiarize Yourself with Utility Valves and How to Disable Them
Do all of the adults in your home know how to immediately locate and shut off the gas, electricity and water in case of an emergency? If not, you could be in serious trouble. Set aside some time to share these utility shut-off procedures with everyone in your household to help prevent property damage or personal injury, should an emergency arise.
Shutting Off the Gas
Shutting Off the Gas
Gas leaks can be life-threatening, so it’s important to act fast. If you smell gas, check your pilot lights or see if a burner valve has been left partially on. If you hear hissing or suspect a leak for any reason, open a window and quickly get your family to safety. Once you are at a safe distance, call for help and, if possible, disrupt the gas supply using the outside valve.
Procedures vary, so contact your gas company ahead of time for meter-specific guidance. Remember, once the valve has been closed, it should only be reopened by a qualified professional.
Cutting Off the Electricity
Before making household repairs or evacuating in advance of a storm, stop the flow of electricity by accessing your home’s circuit breaker or fuse box. To locate the panel, look for a gray metal box, typically concealed in a garage, laundry room or closet. Identify the main circuit breaker if you need to power down your whole home or use branch circuits to de-energize individual appliances.
Similarly, an orange or red marker will show if you have a tripped breaker. If there is no indicator, look for the switch in the “Off” position. This is normally the breaker with a switch pointing the direction opposite the others. Push the switch into the “On” position to reconnect your circuit and restore power.
Call a professional if you experience regular outages, smell burning or notice signs of deterioration — including scorching, rusting or corroding around your breaker.
Cutting Off the Electricity
Turning Off the Water
Turning Off the Water
In the event of a broken pipe or full-blown disaster scenario, find the main shut-off valve. In cold-weather climates, the water shut-off is usually placed in a basement or front closet. You can also check the outer perimeter of your home for a hose bib faucet or meter box. To repair minor leaks to a toilet or sink, cut the water at the source. This can be done by locating the water shut-off valve on the line coming out of the wall. Turn the knob on the valve that opens and closes the line.
While you can’t prepare for every possible emergency situation, learning these key shut-offs is an easy way to keep your home and family safer.
