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Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 11:15 am
by Greybeard
Recent disasters in both Texas and Oklahoma might bring about the following questions for more than just "preppers":
1. IF you needed to turn off the INCOMING GAS LINE to your house RIGHT NOW, how long would it take you to do it?
2. Do you have an "appropriate" tool available?
3. Have you tested it to know that it works - and that you have the physical ability to do it?
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 11:21 am
by ajwakeboarder
less than 5 min.
Yes
Yes.
My dad and I remodeled most of this house. We have had to turn every utility off at one point or another.
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 11:29 am
by Ericstac
I run on a LP tank so not sure why I would need to shut it down but yeah within a minute it can be off depending on if I can find my flip flops to walk out to the tank or not
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 11:37 am
by Jaguar
All electric.
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 12:16 pm
by Greybeard
I discovered that the super-sized crescent wrench in my tool box did not have a long enough handle for this "operator" to turn the old valve. Next-door neighbor had bought a cheesy "universal" tool at one of the big box stores. After he told me that he bent the handle on it - without ever budging the valve - I did not feel so bad about not being able to turn mine without a mega-sized pipe wrench or "cheater pipe" on the super-sized crescent.
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 3:38 pm
by Greybeard
80 views thus far and only 3 others answered questions. Guessing the rest may be (a) busy at work, (b) out looking for a cheater pipe or (c) down on their hands and knees - cussin' me - trying to get pilot lights relit.
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disasterx
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 6:04 pm
by SRH78
I always have plenty of tools handy including large pipe wrenches and sturdy cheater pipe. I also have other ways to apply extra force if several feet of cheater pipe isn't enough.
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 6:13 pm
by C-dub
ajwakeboarder wrote:less than 5 min.
Yes
Yes.
My dad and I remodeled most of this house. We have had to turn every utility off at one point or another.
Except for the remodeling part that's pretty much it for me too.
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 6:52 pm
by Zoo
Greybeard wrote:Recent disasters in both Texas and Oklahoma might bring about the following questions for more than just "preppers":
1. IF you needed to turn off the INCOMING GAS LINE to your house RIGHT NOW, how long would it take you to do it?
At least a half hour to drive home, so RIGHT NOW isn't happening.
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 6:52 pm
by Jumping Frog
I have no idea where the gas line is in my house and have no idea how to shut it off.
How do I find out?
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 6:53 pm
by JustMe
How do I prevent an electric leak?????
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 8:06 pm
by Zoo
JustMe wrote:How do I prevent an electric leak?????
Do you remember that scene in Die Hard?
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 8:08 pm
by The Annoyed Man
Greybeard wrote:Recent disasters in both Texas and Oklahoma might bring about the following questions for more than just "preppers":
1. IF you needed to turn off the INCOMING GAS LINE to your house RIGHT NOW, how long would it take you to do it?
2. Do you have an "appropriate" tool available?
3. Have you tested it to know that it works - and that you have the physical ability to do it?
1. About 1 minute
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
When you have lived in earthquake country as long as I have, this stuff is second nature.
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 8:15 pm
by RX8er
About a minute
Yes
Yes
It's also good to turn the SOV off then on every couple of years.
Re: Utilities shutoff in immediate aftermath of disaster
Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 8:22 pm
by RX8er
Jumping Frog wrote:I have no idea where the gas line is in my house and have no idea how to shut it off.
How do I find out?
Bob, it is on the line that comes out of the ground in to the gas meter.