Valves usually need to be used occasionally in order to keep them loose and working, to make sure that they don't become frozen from rust, corrosion, or interior mineral accumulation from the public water supply.

When valves are not used on a regular basis, they tend to fail at that exact time when they are needed most. San Diego Gas & Electric, as well as licensed plumbers, recommend that gas and water valves be inspected and tested at least once every twelve months, and I cannot summarily dismiss their recommendations.

Here's a list of gas valves that you might find in your home:

• kitchen range/oven/cook top
• dryer
• water heater
• heating systems (furnace, wall heater, floor heater)
• main valve at gas meter
• gas fireplace

Here's a list of water valves that you might find in your home:

• sinks
• toilets
• main valve, usually at the street curb but now sometimes in the garage
• secondary valves, usually at the side of the building, in the garage, or under houses with raised foundations
• washer
• water heater (both water valves and TPR valve)

Water shutoff valve (blue arrow) and water pressure regulator, here located in the garage.

There might be more for your specific property, but if you haven't had them inspected and tested in the last year, now might be a good time to do it.

I schedule my regular home maintenance for the first Saturday of each month and the week in the fall and spring when I re-set my clocks for Daylight Savings Time.

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