Blog Posts

St. Louis Handyman on Civil Preparedness

How many of you out there have ever been effected by a power outage? Last year in St. Louis we had two major power outages within 6 months of each other, both lasted for several days. We have a power generator that is simple to power-up. It runs on gasoline. We also have a campers stove, so we could still cook. Above ground catastrophes are one thing, but what if we were to have a major earthquake? Would YOU know what to do? Here are a few civil preparedness tips that every home owner should know.
1) When a water line breaks and the water is gushing, look for the main shut-off valve. It will be the valve that is first out of the foundation, normally a 3/4″ to 1″ copper pipe. Clock-wise is “off”. If the handle is stuck, loosen the packing 1 turn with a crescent wrench and try again. If the water still does not shut off, open the lowest basement sink or hose bib and let it run down a drain. This will take the excessive water to a safe area.
2) When electrical wires short, ground out or burn, it is easy to panic.
Rule #1, grab a pair of leather gloves or rubber cleaning gloves and go to the mail panel. With your gloves on and your feet flat-footed, not leaning or touching anything, with one hand find the large breaker at the top of the electrical panel (normally marked MAIN) and switch it to the “off” position. On a fused panel, grab the fuse holder carrier and pull. At this point if you smell smoke or see fire or sparks, call 911. You might have an electrical fire in the wall.
3) Most importantly, lets talk about natural gas. We all know the smell. First of all, appliances, water heaters, furnaces, etc., are required by law to have a shut-off valve within reaching distance or the unit. Most shut-off valves are 1/4″ turn, ball type. Now if this valve breaks or the leak is before the appliance, go for the gas meter main. If there is an earthquake just go straight for the main. Take a good sized adjustable wrench and line up the rings to the off position. They may be hard to move so be ready to use force. You CAN do it! Air-out the interior of the house as fast as you can. And no matter how nervous you are DON”T light a cigarette.
These are a few potentially life saving tips, at no charge, just for reading my website. If you would like a power back-up generator for your house, just give us a call! Stay tuned for more helpful household tips from the best handyman in St. Louis. If you have any questions feel free to shoot me an e-mail.