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Emergency Utility Shut-Off

Ken — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 21:57:56 +0000

Hose Clamp & Sleeve Patch

I was taking a stroll by a river this morning when I received an urgent call from my son. “Dad! a water pipe broke in my apartment and the floor is flooded and I don’t know how to turn it off… I could use your help!”. I explained that there may be a main water turn-off valve in the utility closet or look outside for the city meter/shut-off valve and that I was on my way. I stopped by my house on the way and picked up my automotive tool box.

When I arrived I took a quick look around the outside for the city water meter box but didn’t see it so I knocked on the door and my son let me in. The inlet line to the water heater had split before the turn-off valve so fortunately it was cold water that was spraying under pressure. Because it was spraying near the power cable and was leaking through the downstairs ceiling filling the light fixtures, my son had turned off the power at the electrical panel. I used my phone initially as a light source to evaluate the situation. I could not find a main shut-off valve in the apartment either so we decided to call 911 for assistance. After leaving circumstances, location, and contact info I returned to the task of controlling the leak.

I had a hose clamp in my tool box, but I also needed a seal to cover the split. I usually carry a plastic Fresnel lens in my wallet (for solar firecraft) and it comes in a vinyl sleeve. I wrapped the sleeve around the pipe below the split then placed the hose clamp over it. I used my son’s multi-tool screwdriver blade to tighten it down almost all the way, then slid the two over the split and finished tightening it to seal the leak. That ended the immediate crisis.

Valve Turns Off When Bar Is 90°

In an apartment scenario the meters to utilities tend to be found in groups so I circled the building on the lookout. Previously I had pounded on other tenants doors for help but had no responses. His apartment was on the end next to a small hillside and it dawned on me that for the convenience of utility meter readers that it might be right next to the uphill side-street on top of the grassy knoll… presto! There it was. They were unmarked so turned off both end valves to be sure his was covered.

About a half hour later the city water employee showed up and we determined which valve belonged to my son’s apartment. After my son and I determined which areas inside the apartment were not affected by the leaking water we turned on the unaffected circuits so that we could see to clean up and run fans for drying.

The events of this morning caused me to think about preparation for dealing with utility emergencies as they relate to the home environment. There are generally three areas to prepare for: water, electricity, and in some cases natural gas or propane. By code each utility should have shut-offs or disconnects so it is important to know where they are located and how to operate them. We found that the breaker box wasn’t labeled exactly correct, so it will be tested later and labeled more thoroughly. It would be wise to acquire appropriate tools dedicated to these potential needs and stored in a bin that is easily reached and not next to a point of potential hazard. Possible tools might include a crescent wrench, vise grips, channel lock pliers, screw drivers (both flat-blade and Philips), hose clamps, duct tape, electrical tape, and any specialty tools for utility turn-off. I can’t help but wonder if this article might be speaking to someone who will need to be prepared for the near future, so check out your situation now!

Improvised Emergency Glue

Ken — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:00:56 +0000

Whether you’re on a camping trip or in a post hurricane situation and need to repair broken material, you can make a gummy-type adhesive using gasoline and stryofoam. “Styrofoam” is technically a trademark for an expanded polystyrene plastic insulation material that we associate with lightweight white disposable coffee cups. I had heard that many international island and coastal regions are using this adhesive mixture to recycle the styrofoam debris that washes up on their beaches. Seeing the application potential for emergencies, I had to try this out for myself.

I took an empty tuna can that was wide and shallow and poured 1/4″ of gasoline into it. Then I took a long stick of styrofoam that I pressed down into it and watched as it melted slowly in the can. There were small bubbles that came out the sides during the process. Eventually a gooey/gummy white lump was produced and this is the adhesive material to work with.

My first application was to haft an arrowhead to a stick of bamboo. I treated the adhesive like plumbers epoxy putty, but unlike the clay-like nature that I expected, it was spongy and wouldn’t adhere well to a slick surface. As I struggled with the slippery gummy texture it began to get slightly tacky and worked a little easier and would adhere to itself. My second effort worked a little better as I discovered that I could pull it out in strands so I wrapped it around another arrowhead that I mounted on a yucca stock.

The next day repairs were spongy and I feared a “fail” in the effort, but after 48 hours of dry-time it became hard and quite solid. With this understanding I mixed a second batch using acetone (a.k.a. fingernail polish remover) as my solvent and it worked much faster. Remembering the slippery nature of the material, I decided to glue some pieces of wood with slightly textured surfaces so I sandwiched the adhesive between them and pressed them together. I placed a weight on it while it dried overnight. The next morning it was solidly glued together! Consistent with other adhesives, it appears that thicker applications take longer to cure.

I can imagine that a camper who takes a styrofoam cooler along with white gas for a Coleman stove would be able to make glue for emergency repairs at their campsite. Should you have the need to make this adhesive, be sure to exercise safety precautions when handling containers of flammable solvents. Use in a well ventilated area and place all containers on a stable surface. Keep away from possible sources of ignition as vapors can easily ignite.

A Texting Tale

Ken — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:00:15 +0000

Around midnight while I was fast asleep, there were two rings on the phone, then silence. Immediately I woke up and wondered if it was a wrong number, or was someone trying to contact me and was interrupted. My wife scurried to the phone that has caller ID and saw that it was my son’s phone number. He’s a big boy now, a junior in college, and I have bent his ear many times about safety measures and the need to walk in wisdom. He and his buddy had spent time in the mountains gaining a higher perspective over the town below, and when they began to descend, his buddie’s car ran out of gas. The cell phone signals are scant and difficult in that terrain.

My wife called his cell phone but was unable to connect, and could only leave a message on the automated voice mail. Remembering a blog that I once wrote “Text Messaging has it’s benefits…” I realized that a text message had the best chance of making the contact that we needed. While I texted we would get repeated calls that lasted a few seconds then silence. Although they were hard to hear and frequently interrupted, we got a sense of their situation. I completed the message and sent the text and bingo! a positive connection was established. I was able to get clear directions on where to meet and I was able to deliver gas and lend assistance in getting the car started and on it’s way to the nearest gas station.

So, remember, that when a regular call fails, text has the special properties of small bandwidth and “message persistence” that can get through when voice transmission fails.