There’s an Emergency – Do you Know Where Your Valves Are?
Emergencies happen, they aren’t usually very predictable (or always preventable). All you can do is be prepared. One way you can be prepared is to know how to locate your shut-off valves. Because the last thing you want to be doing if you’ve sprung a serious leak is to be frantically reading this blog and searching for your shut off valves.
The first thing to know is that you have two important main shut-off valves that you will want to be able to locate – one for all the water coming into your home, and one for all of the natural gas. You will probably never need to turn your natural gas off. If you ever smell gas or believe you have a natural gas leak, you should leave the house immediately, stay upwind, and call 911.
The second thing you should know is that you have a main “street-side” gas valve (typically located by your meter on the outside of your house or on the inside of your house, on an outside wall) that you shouldn’t touch. That valve is only for your local utilities. Your house-side valve will be located where the natural gas line first enters the house. If you follow that line, you’ll find a valve.
If you need to replace a natural gas appliance or have safety concerns about a particular appliance, you are much better for shutting off the valves that only serve that appliance. You should always call a professional if you have concerns about an appliance.
In terms of your water shut-off, you can locate that main valve by following the main water line as it enters your home. Typically, it is located right after your water meter. If you see a shut off valve that happens on the line before the water meter, do not use that. That valve is only for your municipality to access. If you can’t find the main water shut-off valve, check the basement, just on the other side of the wall from your outdoor hose bib. You may also want to check near the hot water tank if you don’t have a basement.
Like with the gas valve, you should rarely need to access this valve. Most issues – a running toilet, a repair or replacement of a fixture– can be managed by turning off the water supply locally. Your toilet, for instance, has a water shut-off valve where the pipes go into the wall next to your toilet. But in an emergency or major leak, you may need to find your main valve.
Trying to locate something the size of an orange in an emergency is unnecessary stress. Save yourself from that particular panic by knowing where your shut off valves are now.