What installation aspect is critical for ensuring gas safety?

Securing all connections to prevent leaks is a critical aspect of gas safety during installation. Natural gas and propane are highly flammable, and any gas leakage can lead to dangerous situations, including explosions or poisoning. Ensuring that all joints, fittings, and connections are tightly secured and leak-free is essential to preventing accidental gas release into the environment.

To guarantee safety, installers must use the appropriate sealing materials and techniques, such as Teflon tape or pipe dope, and must tightly fasten fittings to the recommended torque specifications. Regular maintenance and inspections can further enhance safety by ensuring that connections remain secure over time.

While proper alignment of pipes, placement of gas meters, and keeping installation costs low are all relevant concerns in the installation process, none are as immediately critical for safety as ensuring that all connections are secure. Inadequate attention to ensuring leak-free connections could compromise the entire installation's safety, leading to severe consequences.