Online timer for 5 seconds
With one hand near the seismic valve and your attention on its indicator, set 5 seconds aside for a steady check rather than a hurried glance. Keep your fingers clear of the valve mechanism while you watch for the expected indication. This brief pause suits a household check after the shaking commonly considered in New Zealand, when nearby sounds and other tasks can easily pull your attention away.
While you concentrate on the indicator, your phone may dim or lock before the countdown appears to finish. Leave it somewhere stable within hearing distance, so the ending sound can mark the interval without requiring you to touch the screen beside the valve. If the phone is muted, keeping the display awake beforehand avoids shifting your focus halfway through the check.
As the indicator settles, use the moment to notice its position and the area around the valve instead of following changing numbers. That gives your eyes one clear job and reduces the temptation to look back at the phone. If anything appears unfamiliar, remember what you observed and leave further handling until you can follow the instructions supplied for that particular valve.
Common questions
What if the seismic valve indicator settles before the interval ends?
Keep watching until the ending signal, since a quick movement may not show where the indicator finally rests. Avoid adjusting the valve simply because the visible change happened early.
What if shaking or poor light makes the indicator check take longer?
Stop the check if the surroundings are still moving or unsafe, and resume only when you can give the valve your full attention. In dim conditions, arrange a steady light before repeating the same interval.
Cookie policy