Don’t be left in the dark: Locate utility off/on valves
Do you know where the gas shut-off valve is for your apartment? Would you be in the dark if you needed to locate your breaker box?
Many renters have no idea where various shut-off equipment is located or have the tools to do the job. Yet knowing how and where to shut off water, gas and electricity is a safety essential.
To start, make a checklist and request that the landlord provide shut-off information. Then find out where to call in case of an electrical outage, gas leak or fire. Most utility companies’ phone numbers are on their bills.
First on the safety to-do list? Fire safety, which starts with prevention. Functioning smoke alarms in at least every bedroom and hallway are a must and are usually required by code. Checking smoke alarms is easy and should be done monthly. Some smoke alarms are battery-operated; others are hard wired into an electrical source. Newer alarms have both to draw on. Whichever is used, it’s easy to check and request that an alarm be repaired or replaced if it fails the simple push-button test.
No smoke alarms? If local codes require them, ask the landlord to install them. Point out that alarms protect the landlord’s property as well as yours. Keep fire extinguishers handy and show family members where they are kept. Inexpensive and easy to use, extinguishers are available at hardware stores. More fire safety information can be found at www.firesafety.gov.
Other fire hazards? According to the American Natural Gas Assn., a total of 60 million residential, commercial and industrial customers receive natural gas in the United States.
Gas appliances, such as stoves, hot-water heaters and laundry dryers should have individual shut-off valves located behind them via the incoming gas line. Hot-water tanks should be strapped for earthquake safety. Check that appliances’ incoming gas lines are the flexible type and not fixed pipes that can break or rupture more easily.
Main gas shut-off valves are usually located outdoors or under the dwelling close to the gas meters. Individual shut-off handles range in size from a thumb’s width to a larger handle you can get a grip on. For particularly small handles, keep handy a crescent wrench that’s adjusted to the proper size. Shut-off diagrams are usually available on the gas company website. SoCalGas .com, for example, has them under emergency information. Some main gas lines have automatic shut-off features and should be left alone. Ask your landlord for details.
How can you tell whether there’s a gas leak? Sniff it out. Gas companies add a distinctive odor to gas, so that even small leaks can be noticed easily. Turn off gas lines only if you suspect there’s a leak. If you turn the gas off, you’ll need a professional to turn it back on.
What should you do if the electrical power goes out? It depends on the cause. Calling your local utility should shed light on the problem. Always have at least one nonelectrical phone handy.
Could it be just a fuse-box problem? Know where the box is to save yourself from wandering in the dark.
What if you need to turn off the water? Main water lines have shut-off valves and piping similar to gas lines, so keep a wrench adjusted and nearby. Know which line belongs to which utility. For specific water leaks or flooding, individual shut-off valves can be found behind toilets and under most sinks. Ask your landlord for details.
And last, but not least, avoid panic by organizing a plan that all occupants follow when an emergency strikes. Find two escape routes from every room if possible, and decide exactly where to meet outdoors if you’re forced to leave.
Agree on an outside phone number for mutual contact. No one expects a disaster, so be prepared.
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