Your PG&E manual shut-off valve is probably “frozen”
This is very important, whether you have an automatic gas shut-off valve or not!
If you do not have an automatic gas shut-off valve and you smell gas after a big quake, you need to be able to go out to your meter and turn the gas off at the manual valve.
The photo shows an arrow pointing at the manual shut-off valve, “NW natural riser valve.”
If you do have an automatic gas shut-off valve, after a big quake, you can re-set your valve, allowing gas to flow again.
Then you do what PG&E suggests: walk through your house (especially by the gas appliances), and, if you don’t smell gas, re-light any pilots on gas appliances. If you do smell gas, you need to go back out and turn off your gas.
Your automatic valve may or may not have a “manual” feature allowing you to turn it off. The ASSI and Northridge valves have a manual feature, but the Little Firefighter horizontal valves do not. So, if you have a Little Firefighter valve, turn the gas off at the PG&E manual valve.
NOTE: When I check this valve during my QuakeConsult, about 70% of the time it is FROZEN SHUT.
You should check your manual valve NOW to make sure it will easily move just a little when you turn it with an ordinary crescent wrench or a gas shut-off tool. You should NOT have to use a plumber’s pipe wrench. When testing, DO NOT turn your gas off – just barely make the valve move.
If your valve is frozen (rusted or painted shut), call PG&E at 800-743-5000, choose option #4, and then say “speak to someone” until they transfer you. This cannot be done on-line.
Yes, we install automatic gas shut-0ff valves, in most cases from $235 to $245. 707-965-3299 or go to: https://quakeprepare.com/quakevalves/
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