On Jun 10, 4:07 pm, (Dave Martindale) wrote:
writes:
I'm referring to this part.
"(Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing
through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas
would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic.
And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but
left the floor intact.)"
The explosion was June 3. If the meter readings were high during
those approx. 3 weeks, where would it have gone?

I don't think that's what happened. Probably the last meter reading
was done on May 11. The reading on June 2 indicated that *sometime
during that period* there was a high flow of gas, because the June 2
reading is higher than you'd expect from previous normal consumption.
But the gas flow might have been perfectly normal until 15 minutes
before the explosion, at which time something failed and started
leaking fast.

Now, reading the statement as written, you'd think that gas flow was
high for the whole 3 weeks, but unless the gas meter is some sort of
fancy electronic type that keeps a record of gas flow vs. time, there's
no possible way to tell the difference between a slightly high flow for
3 weeks and a normal flow for 3 weeks followed by a large leak.

I'd chalk this up to sloppy writing by the author.

Dave

The 3 week period is probably the period since the last recorded
reading of the meter. The gas leak probably started leaking vast
amounts right before the explosion. If natural gas it filled the
basement from the basement "ceiling" down to the floor where it was
most likely ignited by the water heater pilot.

Also, if the meter were not immediately destroyed it would have
recorded even more gas pouring thru it as gas continued to escape from
the damaged house piping system.

boom.....

About 15 years a go a house here was being slowly torn down, somehow
workers with heavy equipment busted the gas line...inside the
house.....couple hours after workmen left the house exploded. I was 3
houses down sitting on the bedroom floor gong thru some personal
papers. While the explosion didnt "lift me off the floor" it did shake
the house ...lol. Our home suffered no damage....only a church next to
the house that exploded suffered any damage.