How to Handle Safety and Emergency Situations in Your Home

There comes a time in every household when an emergency arises and it becomes necessary to learn more about your utilities. In this post I’ll teach you all about your utilities. Specifically, I’ll walk you through how to shut off your gas, water and electricity as well as keep you informed about anything else you might need to know to make sure that you are ready during an emergency.

Shutting off your gas

In the event of a natural disaster such as a hurricane, earthquake, fire, tornado, etc. there is a risk that the natural gas lines could be broken or leaking. In that case it’s important that you learn where to shut off your gas from the outside meter, especially if you smell gas. The shutoff is usually a small knob on the pipe leading to the meter. You may need a wrench to shut it because it’s usually not easy to do by hand. After that, call your gas company to investigate.

Shutting off your water

It’s essential to know where your water shutoff valve is in the house as it is more common to have water issues than gas leaks. It could be a broken faucet, an overflowing toilet, or burst pipes from cold weather. It’s imperative that you know where the shut off valves are on toilets as well as on each faucet. Your main shutoff valve is usually in the basement, utility room or crawl space. Make sure that you clearly label the valve so anyone can access it quickly in an emergency.

Shutting off your electricity

The electricity in your house can be shut off as a total main shut off or you can isolate each breaker for certain parts of the house in an emergency. You can also do this if you want to install fixtures or outlets. Your electrical panel is usually installed in a basement close to where the wires coming into the house are. If you’re not sure which breaker shuts off the section of the house that you want to isolate then you need to shut off the main which is usually the largest lever on the panel. It’s important that you take some time to correctly label all of your breakers in order to know what to shut off.

Maintaining everything else

Additionally, don’t forget to maintain your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, your sump pumps as well as your fire extinguishers!

Finally, know that Garden State Renovations specializes in emergency services and emergency home repair. Whether you need water removal, board-up, mold remediation or help fixing broken pipes and tackling storm damage, we are here to help with every step of the process. Ask us about our winterization services which help prevent damage to your home. Call or text Marshall at 848-667-1400 to schedule your free estimate or fill out our online contact form to get started today.