Best Service Offers Earthquake Tips for National Preparedness Month

YORBA LINDA, Calif., Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent story in the Los Angeles Times states that a section of the San Andreas fault close to L.A. could be overdue for a major earthquake. Best Service, a leading residential electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning company serving Orange County wants to help area homeowners prevent damage to their homes should an earthquake occur.

"Because it's been so long since Southern California suffered a major earthquake ? the magnitude 6.7 Northridge quake was 23 years ago - it's been easy to put disaster preparedness on the back burner," said Brian Vardiman, owner of Best Service. "Earthquakes are not an 'if' but a 'when' where we live. There are several simple things you can do to help protect your home and family."

September is National Preparedness Month, and Vardiman offers the following tips to help homeowners minimize the damage caused to their homes by an earthquake:

• Secure the water heater ? Unsecured water heaters often fall over, rupturing water and gas lines causing fires and flooding. Secure your water heater with two straps that wrap around the top and bottom of the water tank. Ensure the straps are made of heavy-metal gauge strapping. Many water heaters are currently secured with plumbers' tape; the thin metal in this strap is too brittle to be effective. If the homeowner is not sure if the water heater is secured with the proper straps and technique, call a professional to inspect it before the protection is needed.
• Add flexible piping ? The rigid pipes used to transfer natural gas, air and water into the home are susceptible to damage during an earthquake. Flexible piping is made from materials that will absorb the vibrations created during an earthquake before they can crack or break.
• Install vibration isolators ? The majority of the damage an HVAC unit sustains during an earthquake comes as a result of the shifting that occurs with seismic activity. Providing a buffer that can absorb the vibrations before they cause the unit to shift is a great way to prevent damage during an earthquake. An expert can retrofit a home's HVAC system with vibration isolators. These spring-type devices can be installed on the bottom of the unit to absorb movement before it affects the HVAC system's positioning.

If you have questions about the earthquake safety of your home's plumbing, HVAC or electrical systems, contact the Best Service experts. Visit www.callbest.net or call 714-400-BEST (714-400-2378).

About Best Service
Located in Yorba Linda, California, Best Service has been providing services to Orange County and the surrounding areas since the 2003. Offering unparalleled experience to homeowners and small businesses, the Best Service mission is to help people live in greater safety and comfort. All of its Orange County electricians, plumbers and heating and air experts are licensed, professionally trained and extensively experienced. Available 24/7 for repairs, Best Service has helped homeowners maintain a comfortable living experience year-round. For more information on Best Service, visit www.callbest.net or call 714-400-BEST (714-400-2378).

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SOURCE Best Service