Learn when and how to turn off the gas

You can safely turn off the gas during an emergency by following a few simple guidelines.

Locate and shut off gas service

To stop the flow of gas into a building during an emergency, turn your gas off at the service shut-off valve. View instructions. Visit Turn Your Gas Off. PG&E installs gas service shut-off valves at all gas meter locations.


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Preparing to turn off the gas

Follow these guidelines when preparing to turn off the gas:

 

  • Keep a 12- to 15-inch adjustable pipe wrench or crescent wrench available to close the valve in an emergency. Earthquake wrenches with fixed openings may not fit your valve, so an adjustable type is ideal. To minimize the possibility of an unauthorized person tampering with the valve, do not keep wrenches near the gas meter. Shut-off the flow of gas only if you:
    • Smell gas
    • Hear gas escaping
    • See a broken gas line
    • Suspect a gas leak
  • To turn off the gas, rotate the valve one-quarter turn in either direction. The valve is closed when the tang (the part on which the wrench is placed) is crosswise to the pipe.
  • Most gas appliances have a gas shut-off valve located near the appliance that lets you turn off only the gas to that appliance. Find out which of your appliances use gas and where the appliances’ gas shut-off valves are located. In some cases, you need only turn off the gas at the appliance’s shut-off valve.

 

Regulate your automatic shut-off device

Some city and county regulations require the installation of automatic gas shut-off devices. This installation may include excess flow gas shut-off valves and/or earthquake-actuated gas shut-off valves. The regulations can vary, but generally apply to:

 

  • New building construction
  • Significant alterations
  • Additions to existing buildings

Check with your local city or county agency to see if regulations apply in your area.

 

Install the valve properly

If a customer installs an excess flow gas shut-off valve or earthquake-actuated gas shut-off valve, the valve must be certified by the State of California. A licensed plumbing contractor must install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We do not install or service seismic-actuated or excess flow gas shut-off valves. We do not recommend specific contractors for installation.


Excess flow gas shut-off valves and earthquake-actuated gas shut-off valves must be installed on the building’s gas houseline piping. This pipeline is the gas pipe that connects your appliances to the gas meter downstream of the utility point of delivery. It is located after the PG&E gas shut-off valve, pressure regulator, meter and the service tee. No attachments or connections of any kind are allowed on the utility facilities before the point where the service tee connects to the gas houseline piping. After installation, the valve must not obstruct any gas operations or PG&E services in or around:

 

  • Piping
  • Gas service shut-off valves
  • Gas meters
  • Gas pressure regulating equipment

 

Use an approved valve

The State of California requires approval for all excess flow gas shut-off valves and earthquake-actuated gas shut-off valves used within the state. A list of approved valves is available. Visit DSA Gas Shut-off Valves Certification Program.

 

Ask a pro to turn the gas back on

A closed gas service shut-off valve or automatic gas shut-off device can delay the restoration of your service by PG&E. Please do not turn the gas on, yourself. Ask a PG&E representative or another qualified professional to perform a safety check, restore gas service and relight your appliance pilots, even if an earthquake did not cause the closure.