This is an important Mominar about how to shut off municipal utilities from the mainline to your house during an emergency.
These utilities would be gas, electric, and water
Now, I don’t want you to panic, this is not a common occurrence. It is usually for emergencies only.
BUT it is important to know where these structures are, what they look like, and how to shut them off in case you ever have to do it.
WHY WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO TURN THESE THINGS OFF?
Good question:
If you are ever in a disaster event like a devasting storm or earthquake, or if there has been a major break in one of the utility lines, or if repair inside the home needs to be done.
If you are like me, you never even considered inquiring about where these magical boxes were or knew that they even existed.
Trust me, you need to at least know about this. It’s not hard. Here are the municipal utilities to shut off in case of an emergency.
Shutting Off Natural Gas
Let’s start with gas:
Natural gas is often used to heat your home, give you hot water, and commonly powers the oven, stove, and dryer. You probably have natural gas for something in your home.
Even if a disaster hasn’t happened, if you smell gas (it smells like rotten eggs), hear a hissing sound which could mean gas is escaping, see a broken gas line or if you suspect a gas leak, shut the main gas to your home off.
Natural gas leaks can lead to explosions and are responsible for a significant number of fires during and after disasters,
like EARTHQUAKES, which could damage a gas line.
Also, WILDFIRES when encountering gas could be made worse.
If you ever encounter a situation like this, and there is time before evacuating, shut this off.
HOW TO FIND YOUR GAS METER: where is this thing?
Gas meters can usually be found on the side of the house. It is going to look something like this.
This is really an emergency procedure and you are going to need a wrench.
- There are different gas shut-off procedures for different gas meter styles.
- I advise, when you move into a new place and the gas company has to come out to turn everything on, ask the service person where your gas meter is and how to shut it off if necessary. Then make a mental note of that info.
- FYI, once the gas is shut off at the meter, it is off for good until the gas company comes and turns it back on. So make sure you really need to do this.
Do not try to turn it back on yourself. You will need a pro.
Shutting Off Electricity
Electricity does not mix with gas or water. If you have a gas leak, shutting off electricity to your whole home can prevent fire.
If you have a major flood in your home, shutting it all down can prevent electrocution.
You will find the main shut-off switch in your breaker box.
This is a box with all the other switches for the individual rooms and appliances in your home.
It is usually a metal box with a metal panel door. It is usually inside your home. Maybe in the garage. Mine is on the outside of my house.
As you can see, there are all the switches to the different rooms and appliances, and here is the main switch.
You will do this only in a dire emergency. Remember this is the whole house and all appliances. Things will melt in your freezer, security systems will be disabled, etc.
Also, depending on where your breaker box is, determine the safety of getting to it. If it is in your basement and the basement is flooded, or the panel is wet, maybe just evacuate instead. Be smart.
Shutting Off Water
Burst pipes or hoses can quickly cause thousands of dollars in water damage. You want to know how to shut down the water to your home quickly.
Here is when you would turn it off
- f if a hose or waterline breaks and water is flooding into your home at an alarming rate.
- Things like sinks, toilets, and water heaters usually have their own individual shut off valves, but if they don’t you can shut off the water at the main valve and it will stop a leak from any plumbing fixture.
- In a natural disaster, contaminated water could enter the lines into your home and that would be another reason you would want to shut off the main water valve.
Where is this?
These could be in a basement or outside. Mine is in my garage.
The shut-off valve will either be a lever or a knob. With the lever, you will move it about 90 degrees to the off position.
With the knob, turn it CLOCKWISE until it stops.
Like, I said, I have never had to do this, but I like knowing that I know how to shut down municipal utilities to my home in case of an emergency.
You should too. And teach anyone who lives with you how to do it too.
If you can’t find the main shut-off valves in your home, ASK.
Repairmen, your parents, neighbors…someone will help you.
Learn. Know. Then teach others.
If you are interested in learning about emergency preparedness, I have done a podcast about that.
Listen to Episode 68 of the How to Life podcast: The Importance of Emergency Preparedness and Self-Reliance.
Chris Gilmour talks about skills and pre-planning to keep yourself and your family safe in case of an emergency.
He also has courses and content which I will link below in the description.
You just learned a major life skill. Give yourself a pat on the back and feel liberated and secure that you know some major adulting info.
RESOURCES
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Website: www.chrisoutdoors.ca
Email: chris@chrisoutdoors.com
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