Do You Need an Earthquake Shut-Off Valve?

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You might live in a neighborhood that is at constant risk of an earthquake attack. This sudden event can be disastrous for your home. Earthquakes can uproot plumbing and electrical systems, putting you at risk for a dangerous gas leak or even an explosion. At the very least, you may be susceptible to irreversible damage to your home if you cannot turn these systems off right away. 

In the event of something like this, you might be wondering: do you need an earthquake shut-off valve? According to our repiping specialists, you do. It may even be part of a local law. Keep reading more to learn about the best earthquake shut-off procedures. 

How Do Earthquake Shut-Off Valves Work?

Emergency shut-off valves are designed to act extremely quickly at the first sign of seismic activity. As soon as the valves detect an earthquake of significant magnitude, they shut off access to power and energy valves. This stops the flow of natural gas and other materials into your home. Our experts can install these systems in your home to help you avoid damage from earthquakes and even detect pressure changes in an instant. 

Why Do You Need One?

Preventing disastrous gas leaks is reason enough to take this precaution seriously. An earthquake shut-off valve could possibly save your life in the event of a natural disaster. These systems can also help you avoid the headache of filing insurance claims and losing thousands of dollars due to damaged property. 

The most important reasons include: 

Eliminate the Risk of a Fire

Gas leaks can become explosive immediately. Most natural gases are highly flammable, so exposure to flame or certain chemicals can cause an adverse reaction. Emergency shut-off valves will completely cut the flow of gas into your home so there is no risk of chemical reaction. 

Follow California Law

In California, it is a requirement that you have an earthquake shut-off valve in your home. In fact, most homes cannot legally sell without one. If you live in a newer home that was built after the year 2000, you might already have an earthquake shut-off valve in place. 

If you live in an older home that was built before 2000, you likely do not have an earthquake shut-off valve installed. By taking care of this problem sooner, rather than later, you can forever check it off of your to-do list and have better peace of mind knowing you are safe. 

Prevent Home Damage

Again, even if the gas leaks caused by an earthquake do not lead to an explosion, they can still severely damage parts of your home. Broken gas lines cause pressure build-ups and long-term leaks. Earthquakes can also shake the foundations of your home, displacing gas lines and other important piping. Installing an emergency shut-off valve will prevent the gas problems from getting this far. 

What’s the Best (and Cheapest!) Way to Install an Earthquake Shut-Off Valve? 

At Henrik Plumbing, we possess the permits and licenses necessary to install these systems. It is important that your house is up to safety standards and meets the code of your municipal area. In Los Angeles, your home must have one of these valve systems before it can be listed on the market. You can easily save your life, your family’s life, and your neighbor’s life whenever the next big earthquake strikes. 

Prepare for the next earthquake attack so you do not have to worry about a recovery plan. Visit our website and speak with our repiping specialists at Henrik Plumbing to schedule an assessment of your home’s earthquake readiness. 


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