How To Turn Off Gas Supply

Locating Your Gas Meter

Knowing the location of your gas meter is imperative for quickly shutting off your gas supply in emergencies. Gas meters are typically installed within a meter box situated outside your home.

Keep the area around your gas meter clear and familiarise yourself with the shut-off procedure to ensure quick accessibility for maintenance or emergencies.

Upon moving into a new dwelling, promptly locate your meter and the associated valve within the meter box. All household members should know its location and how to turn off the gas in an emergency. If you ever smell gas or suspect a leak, Knowing when to turn off the gas at the meter box can prevent accidents.

Typical gas meter locations to inspect entail:

• On the side of your house or unit
• In the front yard
• In the backyard, such as near the BBQ or water heater system
• Under or near external stairs

Your gas meter will typically feature shut-off valves, like a tap or lever handle, within a locked meter box. Keep the key accessible to quickly reach the valve in emergencies. If you can’t find your gas meter and gas flow ceases, contact your energy provider or your gas company for support.

Identifying the Gas Shutoff Valve

Gas shutoff valves, generally positioned at the gas meter outside your home, manually halt your property’s gas supply. Familiarity with your appliance’s shutoff feature is crucial for immediate deactivation in a gas leak situation.

Cutting off your property’s gas supply involves two primary types of valves:

• A valve tap that turns a quarter-turn into the horizontal off position
• A lever valve that flips down to a horizontal off position

Make sure all residents know how your valve looks, how to shut off home appliances, and how to extinguish pilot lights during a gas emergency. Check your shutoff valve at least yearly to ensure it’s functioning properly and can get the gas supply off when needed. Contact a registered gas fitter if uncertainty arises about when to deactivate the gas supply.

Quick access to turn off the gas supply can be a lifesaver in a gas emergency.

When to Turn Off the Gas Supply

There are a few key times when it is crucial to turn off your gas supply:

• If you smell gas or suspect a leak, shut off the gas without delay, evacuate the premises, and call emergency services promptly.
• You are carrying out maintenance on all your gas appliances, or engaging in plumbing tasks. For safety, switch off all gas-powered devices before starting maintenance.
• Before leaving your home for an extended period, turn off your gas to all unused appliances.
• A fire breaks out. The fire brigade may advise you to turn off the gas supply to your premises for safety.
• If severe storms or flooding are forecast, shut off your gas and taking steps to turn off water supplies to prevent accidents if pipes are damaged.

In an emergency, it’s vital to act swiftly and never hesitate to cut gas supply your property completely.

Conduct regular inspections to check that your gas appliances and pipes are in good condition. Addressing minor gas issues early on improves home safety.

If you need to turn off your gas due to safety concerns or for maintenance, contact a licensed gas fitter. Do not take risks when it comes to gas leaks or malfunctioning equipment.

Steps to Safely Turn Off the Gas

Follow these safety steps to turn your gas off:

1. Turn off all appliances and pilot lights inside your premises.
2. Locate your gas meter outside where the valve located will typically be inside a locked box, essential for managing all your gas resources.
3. Use your meter box key to unlock access to where the shutoff valve located within.
4. Carefully turn the shutoff valve to the horizontal ‘off’ position:
   • For a turn tap valve, rotate it a quarter-turn clockwise.
   • For a lever valve, flip the lever down.
5. To turn on and relight your appliances, reverse the process - turn the valve counter-clockwise to restore flow.
6. Cautiously relight your appliances as per the guidelines to help restore normal function.

If ever unsure about accessing your gas shutoff, contact your gas supplier or licenced technician. Do not take risks with gas leaks or malfunctioning equipment.

Turning Off LPG Cylinders

Make sure turn off procedures for LPG gas cylinders follow a different process than shutting off a natural gas meter, for proper management of your gas cylinder supply. LPG systems harness refillable containers in lieu of a traditional supply pipe network.

Follow these safety steps when ensuring your LPG gas can is turned off:

1. Confirm all appliances should turn to the off status.
2. Pinpoint the top cylinder of the LPG outside, which may be next to the BBQ site, pool heater, or where your hot water apparatus is stationed.
3. Secure the service valve at the top cylinder clockwise until it is tightly sealed.
4. Confirm the valve is fully closed. Try gently testing the valve again after closure.

Tightly closing LPG cylinder valves is crucial to prevent leaks. Take care when handling cylinders as valve or hose damage can cause dangerous accidents.

Ensure you know how turn off all appliances before reopening LPG cylinders. Check for leaks using leak detection fluid and relight pilots according to manufacturer guidance.

Relighting Appliances After Gas Shutoff

After shutting off the gas, methodically restore the gas supply to your appliances and relight them. Initially, verify that all gas leak concerns are rectified, affirming it’s safe before reinstating the supply. Reverse the shut off steps by turning the gas valve counter-clockwise to the on position.

Consult your owner’s manuals for relighting procedures proper to all other appliances.

Gas appliances with pilot lights, like hot water systems, dryers, ovens, and grills, will require reigniting after gas service reinstatement. For your hot water system or other heating devices, locate the pilot light, press and hold the reset button, and bring a lit match or lighter close to the pilot opening. Once the pilot is lit, continue to hold the reset button for 30-60 seconds before releasing to prevent the flame from going out.

If issues relighting pilots or burners, call a licenced professional for assistance. Finally, check all connections for leaks using leak detection spray or fluid once gas is restored.

Do not attempt to tamper with gas components yourself. Watch for bubbles which indicate escaping gas.

Restoring Gas Service Safely

When restoring your gas service after it has been shut off, safety should be your top priority. Use these safety guidelines when turning your gas back on:

1. Confirm that any gas leaks or other issues have been properly addressed by a licenced professional.
2. Ensure all gas valves are turned fully off before restoration. Double check by trying the valve again.
3. Carefully turn the gas main valve to the open position, progressing slowly to prevent any surge in pressure.
4. Examine meticulously all connections, valves, appliances, and pipes for leaks using leak detection solutions, erring on the side of caution if you don’t want any escape of gas. Be vigilant for bubbles that suggest gas is escaping.
5. Refer to manufacturers instructions and relight pilot lights on appliances one at a time.
6. If issues arise or you smell gas at any point, immediately turn off the gas again and call a licenced technician.

Restoring gas flow presents risks if not done properly. Take your time and prioritise safety checks. Call professionals for assistance if ever unsure about safely reinstating gas to your home.

Signs of a Gas Leak

Identifying signs of a gas leak is essential for safety. Common indicators that may signal a leak include:

• A "rotten egg" smell, caused by odorants added to natural gas
• Hissing, whistling or roaring sounds coming from gas appliances or a possible gas pipe issue
• Flames coming from pipes, appliances or outlets
• Persistent pilot lights that frequently blow out
• Browning or dying vegetation in one area outside

If you detect any of these signs, take immediate action, ensuring there no unnecessary delay in safety measures. Shut off the gas at the main valve, evacuate the area, and call emergency services from a safe location. Catching minor gas leaks early can prevent deadly explosions and accidents.

When to Call a Professional

There are certain gas leak and plumbing situations where expert help is critical.

If you smell gas or suspect any kind of leak, immediately turn off the gas supply and call emergency services immediately. Likewise, if you have uncontrollable gas appliance issues, hear strange noises from your gas line, or have trouble accessing your shutoff, call professionals immediately.

Mortdale Plumbing’s licensed technicians are available 24/7 for any gas or plumbing emergency. We have the skills and equipment to thoroughly inspect your systems, pinpoint issues, and make needed repairs. trust us to get your gas running safely again.

For routine services, visit our website or contact Mortdale Plumbing for annual inspections and maintenance of gas lines, appliances, pilots, or other components. Regular maintenance reduces the risk of leaks and enhances safety. We also handle all installations and renovations such as adding new gas elements to your home.

Contact our team now for service details, to book an appointment, or to obtain a quote:

Call us at 1300 349 338 or email jobs@mortdaleplumbingservices.com.au.