When a pipe bursts at 2 AM or you smell gas in the kitchen, you have seconds to act — not time to search the basement with a flashlight. Walk your home this weekend and find these four things. It takes ten minutes and can save you thousands in damage.

1. Main water shutoff

Located where the water line enters your home — usually in the basement near the front foundation wall, often a red ball-valve handle on copper pipe. Turning this off stops all water flow to the house instantly. If you ever see standing water or a ceiling drip, this is your first move, before you even call us.

2. Gas shutoff valve

Outside at the gas meter — a quarter-turn lever. Parallel to the pipe means open; perpendicular means closed. Important: if you smell gas inside your home, don’t flip light switches, start cars, or use your phone near the house. Leave immediately, then call 911 and your gas utility from a safe distance.

3. Heating emergency switch

The red rocker switch, usually at the top of the basement stairs. It cuts power to your boiler or furnace instantly. Flip it off if you smell gas near the equipment, see smoke, or hear loud banging from the system. Every adult in the house should know where this is.

4. Carbon monoxide detectors

Massachusetts requires a CO detector within 10 feet of every sleeping area. CO is odorless and invisible — a cracked heat exchanger on a gas furnace can be life-threatening with no warning except that alarm. Test the button monthly. If a CO alarm ever sounds, leave the house and call 911. Don’t assume it’s a false alarm.

Bonus: your electrical panel

Know which breakers feed your HVAC system, well pump (if you have one), and outdoor condenser. A breaker that keeps tripping on HVAC equipment is a warning sign worth a service call — not something to keep resetting.

Not sure where any of these are in your home? On your next 3R visit, ask your technician — we’ll walk you through every shutoff, switch, and safety device and tag them so the whole family knows. Call (781) 974-5239.