Hypothetically Speaking, If Your Gas Were Cut Off

38 degrees? That's not cold.

EDIT: Wait, you mean 38 F, don't you?

[Edited on Feb 16, 2005 by demetrius_z]

OK then...

From the description , you gave, your meter is not in the ground, and it is hooked upto the main along with your neighbors....

1. Is there a lock on it ? Most likely, a U-type barrel lock or a plate type barrel lock..with a round recessed keyway , these are extremely hard to pick if you don't know what you are doing, so if it's a U-type, you are gonna be able to cut it off as the easiest route. A plate type is much harder to fiddle with, although it CAN be done. Most of these type locks are made by the Inner-tite company and they are bastards to get off without a significant bit of work on your part...

2. Are you able to work on it with out one of your boyscout neighbors seeing you ?

1. No lock.

2. I live in the immigrant ghetto*. My neighbors would probably help me, and steal the tools to do so, if I asked.




*before you jump on me. I live here. I *know* my neighbors.


[Edited on Feb 16, 2005 by Keith]

preferable option #1) use a few electric heaters instead. Nobody will get mad at you, and you're not breaking any laws.

Option 2: turn on your gas, relight all pilot lights following directions on each appliance exactly as printed. Be sure to get 'em all, as one left unlit can build up enough gas to kill you and your neighbors, given enough time.

I'd stick with option 1, myself...

I'd say get space heaters and see if anyone has a plug-in 2 element hot plate to cook on. Lots of blankies and a plug in tea kettle to make tea, coffee, packaged soup etc, should cover any other issues.
And check with your local laws to see if the gas comapny can actually do that - they will try and bluff and bullshit but if the law is there, they cant do anything.

Then it should be as simple as turning the brass valve back to the open position....which would have the stright part of the valve parallel with the line. hell, just make it look like your neighbors do...

And make sure you light your pilot lights ! Check the boiler or heating unit , the stove and oven, and check your water heater ,as this is commonly overlooked.

I hate the gas company as bad as you do , and am all in favor of uh, hypothetical situations where one um, gets free utilities. PGW here in Philly has raised rates 33% this winter....despite it being warmer than normal and US stocks of natural gas being at near capacity,( I know I check that kind of stuff).

Otherwise, it's always a good investment to have a kerosene heater ...you can prolly pick up a 23,000 BTU convection unit for about 100 bucks...always good to have a backup source, just incase of an emergency, like storms,freezing gas meters, or terrorist penguins on LSD that blow up the power plant.

hey it could happen.

Just stick with space heaters for the next 4 days. It's really not that bad. The gas company will catch you, and you'll be way worse off than just being a little chilly over the weekend. Also, why risk blowing up/suffocating you and your neighbors?

damn hippies... i swear to god.