Hurricane-season plumbing and gas generator prep

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, and on the Treasure Coast it is part of life. Most families have a routine for shutters, batteries and bottled water. Fewer think about the plumbing and gas side of things until something goes wrong. The best time to deal with it is before a storm is on the forecast cone, when parts and appointments are easy to come by.

Before the season: know your shut-offs

Find and test your main water shut-off. It is usually where the water line enters the house or near the water heater, and there is another at the meter by the street. Turn it off and back on. If it is stuck, leaks or will not close fully, have it replaced now. A main valve that works is the most important plumbing tool you have when a pipe breaks or a tree takes out a line.

Know where the gas shut-off is. For natural gas, it is the valve on the pipe beside the meter. For propane, it is on the tank. Make sure everyone in the house knows where it is, and keep the tool needed to turn it nearby. Only shut off gas if you smell it, see damage or are told to by officials, and do not turn it back on yourself. Leave that to your gas supplier or a licensed contractor.

Check outdoor plumbing. Salt air corrodes hose bibbs, irrigation backflow assemblies and exposed piping. Fix leaks and replace corroded valves before the season, not in the middle of it.

Standby generators and gas lines

A whole-home standby generator is one of the best investments a Treasure Coast homeowner can make, but only if it starts when you need it.

• Service it before the season. Follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule for oil, filters and battery, and make sure the weekly exercise cycle is running.
• Check the gas supply. A generator needs a properly sized gas line to run at full load. If you added appliances or a pool heater since the generator went in, the line may now be undersized.
• Inspect fittings and the regulator. Outdoor gas fittings, flexible connectors and regulators corrode in salt air. Corrosion on a gas line is a safety issue and should be looked at by a licensed gas contractor.
• Propane users: top off the tank early, since deliveries slow down when a storm approaches, and make sure the tank is properly secured.

Portable generator safety

Portable generators cause carbon monoxide poisonings after almost every major storm. Never run one indoors, in a garage, on a porch or under a carport, even with the door open. Keep it well away from the house, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, and have working carbon monoxide alarms inside. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet to backfeed the house. That can injure utility workers and damage your home's wiring.

When a storm is coming

• Fill clean containers and bathtubs with water for flushing and cleaning in case water service is interrupted.
• If you are evacuating, turn off the main water valve to limit damage from a broken pipe while you are gone.
• Bring in or secure grills and propane cylinders, and close the valve on any cylinder you are not using.

After the storm

• If you smell gas, leave the house immediately, do not operate switches or appliances, and call your gas utility or 911 from a safe distance.
• Follow boil-water notices from your utility until they are lifted.
• If your water heater was underwater, do not use it. Gas controls and electrical parts that have been submerged need to be inspected or replaced before the unit is safe to operate.
• Slow drains or sewage backups after heavy rain can mean an overloaded septic system or a damaged sewer line. Limit water use and have the line checked. A camera inspection will show whether roots or debris have caused damage.