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How to shut off gas after an earthquake

Updated . By Landen Chu, Co-founder of OakTend. How we research

Closing the shut-off valve at your natural gas meter with a wrench. SoCalGas says to do it only if you smell gas, hear gas escaping or see other signs of a leak, and only if it is safe to reach the meter.

How often
Only when there are signs of a leak. Before that, find your meter, keep the wrench with your emergency supplies or next to the valve, and show everyone at home where it is. Ready.gov says not to actually turn off the gas when you practice.
What you need
A 12-inch or larger adjustable wrench

Why it matters

Ready.gov says natural gas leaks and explosions cause a significant number of fires after disasters. Shutting the gas off when nothing is leaking has a cost too: only SoCalGas or another qualified professional can turn it back on, and SoCalGas warns that after an earthquake the wait can be long. Bracing an older house before the next quake is the other half of the job; our earthquake retrofit guide covers it.

Steps

  1. Check for signs of a leak: the smell of gas, a hissing or whistling sound, or a damaged connection at a gas appliance. If there are none, leave the gas on.
  2. If you notice any of them indoors, get everyone out. Ready.gov says to open a window on the way if you can.
  3. Go to the meter only if it is safe to reach. Find the shut-off valve on the pipe that runs from the ground up to the meter, usually 6 to 8 inches above the ground. When the gas is on, the valve runs along the pipe.
  4. Put the wrench on the valve and turn it a quarter turn in either direction, until it sits crosswise to the pipe. That closes it.
  5. Leave the gas off and, from a safe place away from the leak, call SoCalGas at the number in the emergency box above. Do not turn the gas back on yourself; SoCalGas or another qualified professional checks the system first and relights the pilots.

The water valve is different: turn it off and on once so you know it works. See how to find and test your main water shutoff.

When to call a pro

Call SoCalGas to turn the gas back on and relight the pilots. If an automatic earthquake shut-off valve closed, SoCalGas says you can follow the maker's reset instructions, but it recommends having a qualified professional or SoCalGas reset it and safety check your appliances before you use them. To add one of these valves, hire a qualified professional: SoCalGas no longer installs them, the valve must go on your house line rather than SoCalGas's pipe at the meter, and your city's building department can tell you which valve it requires.

Safety

Do not rely on your nose alone. SoCalGas says a cold, allergies or getting used to an odor can hide the smell, so a hissing sound or a damaged line counts as a sign too. Ready.gov adds that electrical sparks can ignite leaking gas. Do not store the wrench on the meter or the gas pipe.

Go deeper

This is general information, not professional advice. Your equipment's manual comes first when it says something different.

Sources

  • SoCalGas: How to shut off your natural gas
    Do not turn off the meter unless you smell natural gas, hear gas escaping or see other signs of a leak, and only if it is safe; the shut-off valve runs parallel with the pipe, usually 6 to 8 inches above the ground; turn it 1/4 turn in either direction with a 12-inch or larger adjustable wrench until it is crosswise to the pipe; keep the wrench with emergency supplies or next to the valve, not on the meter or piping; leave it off and do not turn it back on yourself; SoCalGas or another qualified professional should inspect before service is restored and pilots relit.
  • SoCalGas: Emergency preparedness
    In an earthquake or other emergency, turn off the meter if you smell gas, hear gas leaking or see other signs of a leak, and only if it is safe; depending on how many customers are without service, it may take an extended period of time for SoCalGas to turn service back on.
  • SoCalGas: Natural gas leaks
    If you smell gas, suspect a leak or damage has occurred, evacuate and call 1-800-427-2200 from a safe location; call 911 if the leak may endanger life or cause harm or damage, or if you cannot reach SoCalGas; signs include a damaged appliance connection and hissing or whistling sounds; a cold, allergies or odor fatigue can keep you from smelling gas.
  • SoCalGas: Earthquake and excess flow valves
    An earthquake shut-off valve shuts off gas automatically in a strong enough quake; it must be installed on the house line, not SoCalGas facilities; SoCalGas will not install one; the local building department sets valve requirements; after it closes you can follow the maker's reset instructions, but SoCalGas recommends a qualified professional or SoCalGas reset it and safety check the appliances.
  • Ready.gov: Safety skills, know how to shut off utilities
    Natural gas leaks and explosions cause a significant number of fires after disasters; do not actually turn off the gas when practicing; if you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out quickly; only a qualified professional can turn the gas back on; electrical sparks can ignite leaking natural gas.

More safety checks

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