On Sun, 9 Oct 2016 07:39:22 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

I know. I suppose they want to prevent damage to their system and, where the gas is
to be turned off for awhile, want to make sure people do their purge right. If I get
busted for operating the valve, I will post back.

How are you gonna get busted. Unless you are on the "Wanted" list and
have the cops watching your house....

Everyone who lives in a house, homeowner, or tenant, should know where
and how to shut off their gas at the meter, and should have a wrench
handy to do it. In the event of a gas leak, or there is a fire in the
home, or during an approaching hurricane or tornado, EVERYONE should be
able to, and have the know-how and means to shut off their gas, and do
so immediately. I highly doubt it's illegal, but the gas company is
always willing to make a buck, and shut it off for you at a high cost to
the customer.

I assume you know how to operate the valve.....
(If the rectangular piece is parallel to the pipe (points in same
direction as the pipe, the gas is ON. You want that valve handle to
point so it's opposite the direction of the pipe (forms a cross), to be
OFF.)

Once the gas is off, do all your work, make sure to use pipe dope and
tighten all fittings tightly. (I was told to NOT use teflon tape on gas
pipes, but then I've heard that is no longer true, so I'm not sure).
Either way, to be safe, just buy a $2 container of liquid pipe dope).

Once the gas is turned back on, purge the lines by holding down the
pilot light red button, until the pilot lights. Then mix about a
teaspoon of dish soap in a half cup of water and brush it on each
fitting with a small paint brush or squirt it with a pump sprayer. Watch
for bubbles. If you get bubbles at any fitting, or valve, you have a
loose fitting or bad valve which needs to be fixed immediately.

Working with gas pipes is a lot easier than with steel water pipes,
since the has pipes are not rusted together, and/or full of mineral
deposits. This should be an easy job as long as you are careful and
thorough.

Note: You will still smell some gas odor as you take the pipes apart,
even after the gas is shut off. There is still gas inside the pipes, and
it also leaves a residual odor. In other words, dont smoke or light any
flames, while you take the pipes apart, and it wont hurt to have a
window open.

Also, be sure to buy a GAS Valve, not a water valve.