If you are in the house and smell gas, you and your family should leave the house at once leaving windows and doors open behind you. DO NOT TURN ON OR OFF ANY ELECTRICAL SWITCH ON THE WAY OUT. Once everyone is out of the house, turn off the gas.
It is important to know exactly where your gas meter is located so that in the event of an emergency, you can shut it off. For a single family house, the meter will be located where it can be read by a meter reader on the outside of the house. It may be located in a cabinet that opens to the outside. As you face the meter you will see a pipe running from the ground to the meter. Approximately 6 to 8 inches above the ground there is a shut-off valve running parallel with the pipe (See diagram) Use a wrench or a gas shutoff tool (sold at all large home stores) to turn the valve 1/4 turn in either direction, until the valve is crosswise to the pipe. You will find the valve is hard to turn so use a long tool to get a lot of leverage.
DON’T TURN IT BACK ON YOURSELF. Contact PG&E to safely turn the gas back on and relight the pilots.
