How We Found the Hidden Leak

An LPG tank losing gas can be difficult to explain, particularly when there is no obvious leak.

For owners of properties in the Italian countryside, LPG is often an essential part of everyday life, particularly where properties are not connected to the mains gas network.

This was the situation at a property in Umbria, and it took some careful investigation to discover what was really happening.

The Problem Had Been Going On for Some Time

Before Tony became the property manager, the owners had already noticed that their gas supply was disappearing much faster than expected.

The property’s electrician and plumber had investigated the situation, but they could not locate a leak. At the same time, there was still no clear explanation for why the tank level continued to fall.

Investigating an LPG Tank Losing Gas

An LPG tank losing gas isn’t always straightforward to diagnose. There can be several possible explanations, which is why monitoring unusual changes and investigating them properly is important.

When Tony was approached to investigate, he wanted to get to the bottom of it.

He needed to start afresh, so the LPG tank was topped up and the LPG company carried out its own checks to make sure the tank itself wasn’t leaking. It was given the all clear.

The valve was then switched off.

Tony asked the owner if he could bring in his own trusted professionals to investigate the problem further.

Rather than simply accepting that the property was using a large amount of LPG, Tony wanted to establish where the gas was actually going.

Looking beyond the obvious

Tony’s team began monitoring the situation and checking the property. The LPG valve was opened again, and the gas continued to disappear.

Tony’s plumber checked the boiler and the pipework inside the villa, and there was no obvious problem. Nothing was immediately apparent around the LPG tank either.

This helped narrow down the possibilities. If there was no issue with the tank and nothing obvious inside the villa, the problem was likely to be somewhere between the two.

Tony then asked the gardener, cleaner and painter and decorator to keep an eye on the LPG gauge during their visits and to report anything unusual.

The gardener noticed a smell of gas while working and cutting into the ground in the garden.

Tony had also noticed that some of the garden steps had dropped slightly, suggesting there had been movement in the ground.

These were important clues that the problem could be somewhere beneath the garden.

The leak was eventually found

Tony’s plumber continued investigating the external pipework.

Within around two weeks of Tony beginning the investigations and using his own professionals, the source of the problem was identified.

The LPG tank itself was not leaking.

The problem wasn’t an appliance inside the villa either.

The leak was in the pipework running underground between the LPG tank and the villa.

Because the pipe was buried, the problem had been particularly difficult to identify. There was no obvious sign of a leak from inside the property.

The smell noticed by the gardener, together with the movement around the garden, provided valuable clues as the investigation continued.

Finding a solution without digging up the garden

Once the leak had been located, the next challenge was how to repair it without excavating a large section of the garden.

Rather than digging up the entire area, Tony’s plumber was able to reroute the LPG pipework.

The new route was checked and the problem was resolved.

After the unexplained LPG loss, the owners finally had an answer: the gas wasn’t simply being used up unusually quickly. It was escaping from the underground pipework between the tank and the villa.

Sometimes the answer isn’t where you expect it

This experience is a good reminder that property problems aren’t always as straightforward as they first appear.

An LPG tank that appears to be losing gas could have a number of explanations. It could be normal consumption, equipment that remains operational, or another issue with the property.

But when the amount being used doesn’t make sense, it’s important to investigate rather than simply accept that the property is using more gas than expected.

In this case, the answer wasn’t inside the villa.

It was underneath the garden.

And it took several small clues, careful monitoring and further investigation to find it.

Why regular property checks matter

When you live permanently in your property, you’re more likely to notice when something changes.

A second home is different.

If you’re only visiting your property in Italy a few times a year, small warning signs can easily go unnoticed.

A change in an LPG level, a smell that wasn’t there before, movement in the ground, a damp patch, an unusual noise from equipment or a small change around the property could all be worth investigating.

Regular property checks help identify these changes and, when specialist attention is needed, allow the appropriate local professional to be contacted.

For us, this LPG problem is a good example of why property management isn’t simply about checking that everything looks fine.

It’s about noticing when something doesn’t add up and asking:

Why?

Managing your property in Umbria while you’re away

Owning a second home in Italy can be wonderful, but keeping on top of maintenance from another country isn’t always easy.

At Antonio Umbria Villa Services, we carry out regular property checks for owners across Northern Umbria and can coordinate with trusted local professionals when specialist work is required.

Because sometimes a small change can be the first clue that something much less obvious is happening.

We don’t just check the property. We pay attention to what has changed.