Anthony's Plumbing
October 24, 2019 - Thursday
IN CASE OF FIRE
With the Santa Ana winds upon us, there are fires flaring up everywhere, it seems. As a home owner, or a small business person, what do you need to do in the event of a mandatory evacuation [like the one they had this morning]?
A very real concern for the safety of your family and home or business is to make sure you turn off the gas to the kitchen, laundry room and water heater.
Gas Supply to Your Water Heater
All gas appliances have a separate shut-off valve, and it’s usually found within a few feet of the appliance. To find the gas shut-off valve on your water heater, simply look for a single handle, which is usually located near the bottom of the unit.
To turn off the gas, turn this valve clockwise. If you can’t get the gas valve to turn or can’t find the gas valve, then you may need to trust that the second option will do the trick, which is when you turn off the gas to the whole house.
Gas Meter Shut-off Valve
As with the water heater’s gas shut-off valve, the gas meter shut-off valve is also relatively easy to find. It should be right next to your gas meter, which is found on the exterior of the house. The gas valve is on when it’s parallel to the incoming gas line. To stop the flow of gas, the valve needs to be turned a quarter-turn so that it is perpendicular to the gas line. Once completed, the gas line is closed and the flow of gas is stopped. Usually, this valve can only be opened and closed with a wrench, so make sure you have one handy.
If you are having trouble turning off the gas supply to the water heater or if you have any other questions or concerns, call your local gas company or you can call us 24/7 at: 909-823-3807.
When you Get the All- Clear
Once you have the okay to return to your home or business, turning the gas back on and relighting the pilot lights is relatively easy. An important note: If you have any questions at all, please call us. Safety, when dealing with gas appliances, is very important. The first thing you'll want to do is turn on the gas on your outside gas meter. Once the gas is on outside,return to your water heater and open the shut-off valve by turning it counter-clockwise [to the left]. Next, turn the gas regulator valve's knob to “Pilot,” press down on it and hold it down. This starts the flow of gas to the pilot burner. On some water heater models, you press and hold down a separate red button to start the pilot burner gas flow. Once the pilot light is restored, go to any of your sinks and test the hot water to ensure it is working correctly.
Your Other Appliances
While we don't work on dryers, or gas appliances in kitchens, if you turn off the gas, for whatever reason, it is important to be careful and know what you are doing when you restore the gas. Most dryers today have an electronic ignition, so restoring gas will be a matter of turning on the shutoff valve. If your dryer is from before 1994, or if you are unsure, please contact your gas company for further help. Dryers from before 1994 usually had a pilot light, but relighting it will vary from model to model. The same applies to the appliances in your kitchen that use gas. If the appliance uses a pilot light, it will need to be re-lit, but please consult your gas company or other service professional before you proceed. If you have any questions, please call your gas company first, or you can call us at 909-823-3807.
