On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:37:45 -0000, Big_Jake
wrote:

On Jun 10, 3:26 pm, "Charles" wrote:
"Dave Martindale" wrote in message

...



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.

A data logging electronic gas meter would need a back-up battery and ac
power plus some computer chips. I'd guess that you are correct that there
is no way to determine when high use occurred, other than during a
particular billing cycle.

Natural gas is lighter than air but still can collect in a basement if the
leak is severe. So, if something ruptured and filled the basement that
could explain the lifting of the house. The house most likely had a gas hot
water heater and when it ignited it could have touched off the explosion.

I live the in the same city as the explosion. No fancy gas meters in
this area, and 99 / 100 houses here have a gas meter that provides low
pressure (8-10" on a water column) so no regulators are required at
the appliances.

Did you hear or feel the explosion? They said in the news that many
people did.

Hard to imagine how enough gas could accumulate to cause this. The
pressure is so low that you can't imagine anything "bursting". I
would think that the most likely appliance to provide a huge gas flow
would be a range with a couple of unlit burners on, but there is no
information which indicates that the homeowner had one.

They said she had an electric range, only water heater, furnace and
dryer, all in the basement. I noticed from the map they showed on one
article that there are railroad tracks nearby. I wonder if the
vibration from the trains could have caused a pipe to weaken and
eventually break. Otherwise, I'd place my bet on the dryer. Dryers
vibrate which can weaken the pipes, whereas a furnace or water heater
are pretty much stable.


I actually looked at a "fixer-upper" property that was damaged by a
gas explosion. The dryer had been removed, and the owner turned the
supply valve "ON" thinking he was turning it "OFF" after the dryer was
disconnected. He then left the house which went BOOM about 1/2 hour
later. Less damage than this latest Wauwatosa house, but still pretty
bad. The explosion blew all the face brick off the house, and damaged
the framing where the wall studs met the roof framing.


I have to say that the guy that did this must be really stupid. When
a gas pipe is opened, one can hear it, and smell it immediately.

Here is another area where gas should be better regulated. Most of us
know which way to turn a gas valve to the ON or OFF position, but many
people dont. The valves should clearly say ON and OFF on them.

Our local journalists leave much to be desired, so it would be no
surprise to see them get the story wrong or draw the wrong
conclusions.


I'll agree. Many of them dont really understand what they are writing
about. At least not the technical aspets of it. Of course I guess
they cant be experts in everything.

JK
Wauwatosa, WI