Disasters such as fires, flooding, earthquakes, or power outages can occur without warning. When confronted with a disaster, it is important to close off utilities on your house to prevent additional damage. Find out how to shut off natural gas, water, and electricity supplies in your house prior to a disaster occurs, and teach your family the best way to do this as well, like this:
Natural Gas
- Gas shut-off procedures vary from house to home. Contact your regional gas company for information about the safest way to shut off the gas supply to your house according to your home’s gas meter setup.
- As soon as you learn the gasoline shut-off procedure, practice it with the entire family, but be certain to not really switch off the gas after practicing.
- If you smell gas near a petrol pipe or gas-fueled appliance, or if the CO sensor goes off, then open a window instantly and get everybody out of the home as quickly as possible. Turn off the gas supply and call the gas company soon after.
- Once you turn off the gas, never attempt to turn it back on your own. Just a qualified professional must turn your gas supply back on.
Electricity
- After a disaster or if you notice electric damage in your house, turn off electricity instantly to prevent fires and electric shocks.
- First, find the primary circuit box that is usually mounted on a wall. In many houses, the circuit box is located in the cellar, so make certain that you bring a flashlight.
- Inside the panel, you will see numerous switches, including the major switch which shuts off all electricity in your property.
- For security purposes, always shut off individual buttons prior to shutting off the main switch.
Water
- After a disaster, your water supply may get contaminated due to cracked lines, therefore it’s important to shut off it until authorities say it’s safe to turn the water back on.
- Locate the shut-off valve to the main water line of your home, which may be discovered in these places:
- on a wall close to the front part of the home
- near the water heater
- from the garage
- buried in the floor outside, near the road, in a covered box
- Label the shut-off valve so you can easily find it in the future.
- Be certain that the valve completely closes when you turn it clockwise. If the valve does not fully close, it might be rusted or damaged. In this case, have it replaced by an experienced technician.
Following a disaster, it’s vital to act quickly to prevent additional damage to your home. Find out more about the consequences of not acting quickly after a disaster here. For professional fire, water, and mold restoration solutions, contact your regional PuroClean Fort Worth office.