How do I tell when my gas is on or off?

Question

When I read in various places about turning gas on or off, they always mention a tang, which is a tab you turn with a wrench. The tang is flat so you can easily tell which way it's turned. When it's perpendicular to the gas line it controls, it's off.

But, at my house, they're square instead of flat. Not only my main gas valve, but also the valves for each appliance.

So how do I tell when they're on vs off?

Answer 1

When you turn the square gas c**k it only turns 90 degrees has a built in stop on the side.

Answer 2

Often there is a line on the square,perpendicular should be off.

Answer 3

The main gas valve is on your gas meter. On one of the pipes there is a valve with a horizontal/vertical stub. If it's horizontal, it is closed, vertical is open. The way to check to see if your gas is on is to turn on a gas appliance and see if the meters on your gas meter is turning.

Answer 4

Look at the stopcock carefully.  There may be a raised line, arrow, or a groove cut into the top to indicate if the valve is open  or closed.  Parallel to the pipe is open.  Perpendicular is closed.   If none of these indicators is obvious because of paint build up or defacement, look on the back of the valve for stops that prevent the valve from being operated more than a quarter of a turn.  Take note of the position when you are certain that gas is on or off.  Please call your gas supplier to check  the system for signs of any other problem.  Square head stopcocks went out of manufacture  many years ago.