By contrast, shutting off your natural gas supply is something you may never have to do.
Even turning on a light switch can ignite a gas explosion inside a house.
A strong gas odorindicates a leak, which must be checked out by a utility technician.
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Once the valve is turned off, do not turn it back on by yourself.
It must be turned on by a gas company technician.
Types of Shutoff Valves
There are different ways to shut off the gas in your home.
The street-side valve is located before the meter and connects to the local gas supply.
The house-side valve is located after the meter and before your first gas appliance.
Some older homes do not have a house-side valve, so the street-side valve is the main shutoff.
There also may be a second shutoff valve after the meter, between the meter and the house.
The correct valve to shut off is the onebeforethe meter.
House-Side Shutoff Valve
The house-side shutoff valve may be outside or inside the home.
On the outside, it will beafterthe meter on the pipe before it connects to the house.
If its inside, look for a valve on the pipe before your first gas appliance.
When the tab is parallel to the gas pipe, the valve is open and the gas is on.
When it is fully perpendicular to the pipe, the valve is closed and the gas is off.
To wrap up the valve, use an adjustable wrench adjusted to fit snugly over the valve tab.
it’s possible for you to also use clamping pliers or an open-end wrench.
Turn the tab so it is fully perpendicular (90 degrees) to the gas line.
It will take only a quarter-turn.
The house-side shutoff valve is usually a ball valve-jot down handle that doesnt need a special tool to turn.
If the handle is parallel to the gas pipe, its in the open position.
To shut off the gas flow, turn the handle perpendicular to the gas pipe.
The house-side valve connects to your first gas appliance and controls your metered gas supply.
you’re able to safely shut off your homes main with precautions.
If you smell a strong gas odor, leave your home immediately and call your utility company.
Your gas company owns the street-side valve, and its reserved for utility professionals.
Consult your utility company before attempting to turn off the street-side valve.
