What to Do After Your Gas Has Been Shut Off

Decoding Utility Warning Tags (A-Tag vs. B-Tag)

When Washington Gas or Columbia Gas technicians respond to a suspected odor or high meter index report, they perform an immediate gas sniffer scan. If a leak is identified on customer-side piping, they attach a color-coded warning notice:

• Class "A" Warning Tag (Immediate Shutoff & Lock): Issued when an active, uncontained leak is detected on customer piping or appliances, or when pressure test failure indicates continuous loss. The technician immediately closes the quarter-turn supply valve, installs a mechanical barrel padlock through the valve wings, and issues a Class A tag. Gas will not be unlocked until a licensed master plumber certifies the repair in writing.
• Class "B" Warning Notice (Conditional 30-Day Warning): Issued for minor code violations, unvented appliances, improper clearances, or missing sediment traps where no immediate explosive hazard exists. The homeowner is given 30 days to hire a contractor to correct the deficiency before service is discontinued.

Why You Cannot Cut Locks or Turn the Valve Yourself

Finding your heat and hot water disconnected during a freezing Loudoun County winter is stressful. However, tampering with a locked gas meter is a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia Code § 18.2-163, carrying heavy fines and criminal liability.

Beyond legal penalties, reopening a valve before a leak is sealed can pump thousands of cubic feet of odorless or accumulating methane directly into your basement or crawlspace. When heating equipment or water heater pilots spark, the resulting vapor cloud can trigger catastrophic structural detonation. The utility lock is there to protect your life and your neighbors.

The 4-Step Professional Restoration Protocol

To safely unlock your meter and restore heat, we guide you through the mandatory Virginia restoration workflow:

1. Step 1: Emergency Diagnostic Pressure Test: Our master gas fitter isolates the interior system from the locked meter, caps appliance stops, and pressurizes the lines to 15–30 PSI with dry air using a calibrated manometer gauge.
2. Step 2: Pinpoint Leak Isolation & Repair: Using ultrasonic sniffers and non-corrosive gas leak indicator, we pinpoint the exact leaking threaded joint, damaged appliance connector, or punctured CSST tubing and execute permanent, code-compliant repairs.
3. Step 3: Certification of Tightness: The system is re-pressurized to 15 PSI and monitored for a mandatory 15-minute dwell test. A certified test affidavit is prepared verifying zero pressure loss.
4. Step 4: Utility Coordination & Safe Re-Lighting: We submit the pressure test documentation to the Washington Gas / Columbia Gas dispatch center, schedule the unlocking appointment, meet the utility inspector on-site, and safely bleed air lines before relighting appliance pilot burners.

Residential Gas Meter & Emergency Shutoff Valve Operation

Understanding how the utility meter and emergency shutoff operate helps you communicate effectively with responders and our technicians:

Interactive Gas Safety Triage Tool

Select your property's current gas status to receive immediate action steps: