By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
I've heard that some homes have automatic safety valves that turn off the gas during an earthquake. Surprisingly, no home in my neighborhood has one. Do these valves work as they should, or do they cause problems?
- Domenic
Dear Domenic,
An earthquake shutoff valve can
be installed in the main gas supply line to a home or other building. It is designed to close when significant ground movement occurs, thereby terminating the flow of gas. As is common with most human inventions, these valves can have positive and negative aspects. On the up side, they can eliminate the possibility of a fire or explosion if a gas line incurs damage during a quake. Some homeowners, however, have had less than satisfactory experiences with these valves.
The primary drawback involves reactivation of the gas service. The safety valves can be turned on only by gas-company technicians, and these experts are often overworked and unavailable in the aftermath of a major earthquake, having to address major emergency situations before they can attend to residential service work. In some instances, homeowners had to wait weeks to have their gas service restored. This meant no heat, no cooking, no hot water, and therefore, no occupancy.
In a major quake, an automatic gas shutoff can save lives and property, but it can also pose significant inconvenience. In short, all silver linings have clouds. You'll just have to weigh the pros and cons.
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