🚨 Emergency-Ready Rentals: Label, Locate, and Stay Safe

Whether you’re a landlord, tenant, or property manager, knowing where your utility controls are—and how to use them—can mean the difference between a quick fix and a five-figure disaster.

At Rent Ready WV, we prep every rental to be “emergency-ready” by default. Here’s how you can too.

🏷️ What to Label in Every Unit

🔧 Water Shut-Off Valves

• Main Shut-Off: Usually near the meter, basement wall, or crawlspace entry.

• Fixture Shut-Offs: Under each toilet, sink, and behind water heaters or washing machines.

• How to Label: Use durable plastic tags (color-coded if possible) with “MAIN WATER” or “KITCHEN SINK.”

🔌 Circuit Breaker Panel

• Breakers should be labeled clearly by room or appliance: “Oven,” “Living Room,” “AC,” etc.

• Add an emergency power off note if there’s a master disconnect.

• Check at move-in to ensure labels match the actual layout.

🔥 Gas Shut-Off Valve

• Commonly located at the meter outside or near the appliance inside.

• Label clearly: “GAS SHUT-OFF – TURN PERPENDICULAR TO PIPE TO CLOSE”

• Never attempt to relight a pilot or restore gas after a major leak without professional help.
  

🧭 When Should You Be Ready?

Emergencies happen when you least expect them—during heavy rains, deep freezes, tenant turnovers, or even just a bad plumbing job from years past.

You should be ready:

🔹 At every move-in: Do a utility walk-through with your tenant.

🔹 During maintenance visits: Confirm valves and breakers are labeled and functional.

🔹 Before freezing weather: Show tenants where to shut off outdoor spigots and interior water lines.

🔎 Identifying Critical Utility Controls

Utility	Where to Look	What to Check
Water Main	Near water meter, crawl space, or curb box	Can you turn it off by hand? Is it tagged?
Breaker Panel	Garage, basement, closet	Is each breaker labeled and accurate?
Gas Line Shut-Off	At gas meter (outside) or appliance side	Do tenants know how to safely turn it off?

✅ Best Practices for Property Owners

• Keep a printed utility map inside a kitchen cabinet or utility closet.

• Install QR code labels linking to short videos or emergency instructions.

• Use color-coded tags (red for gas, blue for water, black for electrical).

• Make it part of your move-in and move-out checklist.

🔧 Bonus: Rent Ready WV Pro-Tip

We train all technicians to:

• Label new or existing utility shutoffs

• Create printed “Emergency Access Guides” for owners and tenants

• Run simulations (e.g., shutting off water) during turnovers

📞 Want your rental “emergency-ready” and inspection-proof?

Visit www.RentReadyWV.com or contact us to schedule a full utility safety walk-through.