How to Shut Off Natural Gas or Propane

If you suspect gas line damage or smell any hint of gas (they add a distinct rotten egg type smell the gas to make it easy to detect leaks) then do the following:

• Open a window to allow the gas to escape (this helps minimize asphyxiation and explosion hazards)
• Immediately evacuate the building (you don’t want to be in it if it blows up)
• Shut off the gas supply (this prevents further build up of gas)

Do not reenter the building while a smell of gas remains.  Call a professional to turn the gas back on – never attempt to turn it back on yourself.

Natural Gas

Most urban and suburban locations have natural gas. You will need an adjustable wrench to shut it off.  You also need to know where to turn it off. Your meter will probably be located outside next to your house and may look like somewhat like this picture:

To turn the gas off simply turn the valve with a wrench or pair of pliers. 

Normally, the valve is off when the handle or “bar” is perpendicular to the pipe and on when it is parallel to the pipe.  (It normally only turns a quarter turn.)  The picture above shows the valve in the on position.

However, you don't need worry about remembering which way is off and on.  It will initially be on, of course, so just turn it all the way – in whichever direction it will go – and that will be off.

If you look closely in the picture above you will actually see two valves, one before the meter (below the yellow ring) and the highlighted one after the meter.  It doesn’t really matter which one you turn off unless the meter itself is damaged, in which case you would turn off the one before the meter. Not all gas meters have two valves like the one pictured.

Check with your local gas supply company if you have any doubt as to how to shut off your gas supply and they will be glad to provide you with proper instructions for your specific type of gas meter.

Propane

Most rural locations and some suburban areas have propane instead of natural gas. You need to locate the propane tank and the shutoff valve, which is under the cap on top of the tank. If you have an underground tank, you will only see the cap sticking out of the ground. A wrench is not normally required to shut off a propane supply. Simply turn the shutoff knob (normally clockwise) until it stops. The picture below shows the typical above ground tank and an underground tank cap.

Propane is especially dangerous, because, unlike natural gas, it is heavier than air. Natural gas rises and tends to dissipate into the air.  Propane sinks and fills low spaces.  A broken propane line in the basement can fill the basement and suffocate anybody down there. It also increases risk of fire as the flammable gas pools and creates an explosion hazard.

Turning the Gas Back On

I do not recommend you practice turning off your gas line (natural gas or propane). Shutting it off will extinguish your pilot lights, which, will need to be relit once the gas is turned back on.

If you need to turn the gas back on after you shut it off for whatever reason, contact your gas supply company or your local fire department.  They will send out a professional to light your pilot lights and check for any leaks.  Never attempt to turn the gas back on yourself.