FAQ

Alarms/Detectors

Smoke on the ceiling of each bedroom; combined smoke/carbon monoxide on the wall of the atrium.

To test press down on the "Test" button until the alarm goes off, hold down for a moment longer, then release. The alarm should sound, then cease shortly after.

GFCI Circuits

Water: Main Valve (House)

The main shutoff water valve for the house is located behind a small access panel in the living room wall next to the doorway to the atrium. Its front door rotates down along hinges on the bottom. Gently rotate the blue handle clockwise/downward 90 degrees (to vertical) to close; rotate it counterclockwise/upward 90 degrees (to horizontal) to open.  See the photos below. This will shut off water to the whole house except for the front exterior faucet. To shut off that you need to close a valve in the crawl space under the front corner of the house adjacent to the driveway. You can access the crawl space via a door at the back side of the house beneath the bedroom window. You can also turn off water to the whole house via the city main valve in the front yard (see below). 

Water: Main Valve (Yard)

In an emergency the water can also be shutoff at the main valve in the front yard. See the photos below. The valve is in the ground under a black cover between the street and the tree in the front of the house. You will need a shut off tool (see photo) and a wrench. Pull the black plastic cover up and off the compartment and turn the valve (white arrow) 180 degrees clockwise to shut off the water. Turn the valve 180 degrees counter counterclockwise to open the valve.

Electrical Panel

To shut off electricity you must shut off one or more circuit breakers. They are located in a panel on the back exterior wall of the house next to the porch. See photos below. Lift the cover and switch the desired breaker(s) on or off. A chart of which breakers control which outlets/lights is posted in the panel.

Gas Meter and Valve

The gas meter and valve are outside, next to the right side of the house as you face it, adjacent to the air conditioner. See photos below. To turn off the gas use a wrench to turn the metal tab (indicated by the arrow in the photos) so that it is horizontal, perpendicular to the pipe. To open turn it back to vertical, parallel to the pipe.