How to write a quick-reference sheet for house emergencies
Make a one-page house emergency reference sheet that shows where the water, gas and electric shutoffs are, with photos, and gives the first moves for a gas smell, leak, outage or frozen pipe. Add phone numbers for your utilities, plumber, electrician, HVAC company and insurer. Print it for anyone staying in the house.
Why every home needs a house emergency reference sheet
In a real emergency, the person standing in the water may not be you. It might be your spouse, a teenager or a house-sitter who has never been in your basement. Your memory isn't much use to them, but one clear page is.
Shutoffs are also harder to use than people expect. Ready.gov says to find your main water valve, tag it and confirm that it closes all the way, because a rusted valve needs replacing. Finding that out during a calm afternoon is far better than finding out during a burst pipe.
Keep it short. With one page, you have to pick the first move for each problem, and that's all someone needs in the moment.
What to put on your house emergency reference sheet
Put shutoff locations at the top, each with a photo and an arrow: main water valve, gas meter or main gas valve, electrical panel and water heater shutoff. A Hacker News commenter who documents a house this way also records hose bib and sprinkler shutoffs, and some film short how-to videos.
| Problem | First moves | Call |
|---|---|---|
| Gas smell or hissing | Get everyone outside quickly. Open a window if you can. If it's possible, shut off the gas at the outside main valve | Gas company, from a neighbor's home. Only a qualified pro turns gas back on |
| Burst pipe or big leak | Close the main water valve. Stay away from water near outlets or cords | Plumber, then your insurer. Dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours |
| Frozen pipe | Shut off the water or test the valve first. Warm the pipe gradually with a hair dryer. Never use a torch | Plumber if you aren't sure or the pipe has split |
| Power outage | Keep the fridge and freezer closed, and unplug electronics. A fridge stays cold about 4 hours, and a full freezer about 48 | Utility outage line |
| Tripped GFCI outlet | Unplug what's on it and press reset. If it won't reset or keeps tripping, stop | Licensed electrician |
| Sump pump alarm | Check that the pump has power. Stay out of a flooding basement if water could reach outlets or cords | Plumber or electrician |
| Smoke or CO alarm | Everyone out. Don't stop to find the cause | 911 from outside |
Add a few warnings that are easy to get wrong. Ready.gov says not to practice turning off the gas, and to call your gas company to learn the right procedure for your meter. It also says to shut off individual circuits before the main breaker, and to use your house valve, not the curb valve, which needs a special tool. Run a generator only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages. Never heat the house with a gas stove or oven.
Finish with phone numbers: gas, electric and water utilities, plumber, electrician, HVAC company, insurer and policy number, a nearby neighbor and an out-of-town contact.
Think about where the sheet goes. A printed page by the panel or water heater is enough, along with a copy in your home binder. Leave off alarm codes, door codes and account passwords, because anyone in your basement can read this page. Share the sheet with your family by photo too. Review it once a year, and pass it to the next owner when you sell.
How to find home emergency shutoffs and write the sheet
- Find every shutoff
Walk the house with whoever else lives there. Find the main water valve, gas meter, electrical panel and water heater shutoff.
- Test the water valve
Close it and confirm the water stops. If it's rusted or won't close fully, have a plumber replace it.
- Tag and photograph
Hang a tag on each shutoff, and take a photo that shows the location and which way to turn it. Don't practice turning off the gas.
- Call the gas company
Ask how to shut off your type of meter, whether you need a wrench and where to keep it.
- Write the first moves
Use two or three short lines for each problem. Write them so a guest could follow them.
- Add phone numbers
List utilities, your plumber, electrician, HVAC company, insurer, a neighbor and an out-of-town contact.
- Print and post it
Tape one copy near the panel or water heater, and keep one in your home binder. Text a photo to your household.
- Review it yearly
Update phone numbers, and do a quick walk-through with anyone new to the house.
A house sitter emergency sheet for kids, pets and guests
Walk older kids through the shutoffs in person. Teach them what's safe to touch and what isn't: a teenager can close the water valve, but with a gas smell the job is to get out and call for help. Younger children need one rule: if an adult isn't home and something seems wrong, go to a named neighbor and call 911.
If you use sitters, add your address at the top, since a stressed caller may blank on it. Add allergies, medicines and your doctor's number.
For pets, add where carriers and leashes are kept, your vet, the nearest 24-hour emergency vet and ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435. Note where each pet likes to hide, which helps anyone trying to find them quickly. Ready.gov suggests keeping your pet's food and medicine in a kit that's easy to grab.
What to do in a house emergency: common questions
What should I do if I smell gas in my house?
Get everyone outside quickly. If you can do it safely, shut off the gas at the outside main valve, then call the gas company from a neighbor's home. Don't turn the gas back on yourself, because Ready.gov says only a qualified professional should do that.
Where is my main water shutoff?
Ready.gov says it's where the water line enters your house. Denver Water says it's usually in a basement or crawl space. Location varies by house and region, so find yours before you need it, and tag it.
How long does food stay safe in a power outage?
Ready.gov says a closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours and a full freezer holds temperature for about 48 hours. Throw out food that has reached 40 degrees F or higher for 2 hours or more.
Sources: denverwater.org, EPA, Hacker News, Ready.gov, ASPCA
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.