Flexible Gas Lines in homes

Before I get started, it is not my intent to say that there is anything wrong with flexible gas lines. They are a useful building product. Nor is it my intention to “Scare” anybody. This is something that has come up on multiple home inspections that I have been involved in, so I want to say something about it. This information comes from several licensed home inspectors. As long as they’re grounded properly, there is nothing wrong with flexible gas lines in the attic.It is within building code. Here is the problem: Suppose they’re not grounded, which has been the case in several homes that I have found. If there is a lightning strike on or around the home, the gas ignites. It could potentially cause a fire in the attic. From what I’ve been told by a few inspectors, homes have burned do to this. The good news is that the fix is easy and inexpensive. All you have to have done is the lines need to be grounded outside of the home, with a copper rod and attachments. Some people ground it to the meter. The metal gas lines ground themselves. Flexible lines don’t. They’re not metal. Several years ago, when they first came into use, building codes didn’t address grounding. After several home fires, they do now, but what if you own a home that was built before the requirement? It’s easy to check and easy to fix, The flexible lines are generally yellow. If you have them, check to see if they’re grounded. Any plumber can do that.