If you have ever pumped gas downwind of the tank, you definitely know the tell-tale smell of fuel.
What is more, those fumes linger.
While gas stations are a frequent place in our lives, the emission of toxic gas fumes poses a risk to health and the environment.
(Short Answer) What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living Next To A Gas Station?
Well, the property next to gas stations is usually crazy cheap, which is certainly the main benefit of living there. Furthermore, if there is a convenience shop, you will be lucky to have basics in proximity. The real downsides are noise, traffic, people traffic, potential criminal activity, air pollution, and tank deliveries.
Even with all the modern health and safety guidelines that gas stations MUST follow, there seems to be a consensus that they still pose significant hazards to the neighborhood.
In this post, you will learn more about the pros and cons of living next to a gas station so you can make an informed decision before making the major decision. Read on!
What Is A Safe Distance Between Residential Housing And A Gas Station?
Honestly, no one wants to put their lives and that of their loved ones at risk.
Certainly, this is the reason why the plan to allow gas stations to be built in closer proximity to residential areas and public buildings was dismissed.
If you crave the convenience of entering the next gate whenever you realize you don’t have any petrol at 6 o’clock and have your problem solved, then home next to a petrol station might be to your liking.
That said, the most important thing and, of course, safety precaution to observe when living next to a gas station is ensuring that you are at a reasonably safe distance from the gas station.
So, how far should you live from a gas station?
According to a study by California Air Resources Board, a recommendation that appears in Air Quality and Land Use Handbook: A Community Health Perspective, residential housing and “sensitive land uses” should be at least 300 feet from a gas station.
Different studies have shown that homes at least 100 meters from gas stations have significantly lower concentrations of benzene, arguably the gasoline constituent most harmful to human health.
Living at a safe distance means you won’t be inhaling the poisonous fumes, which helps ward off various health hazards.
Six Pros Of Living Near A Gas Station
We are living in a car-centric world, and gas stations have been an essential component that has helped facilitate the widespread use of personal cars.
If you are thinking of buying a home next to a gas station, here are some encouraging things.
1. Houses next to gas stations are always cheaper
Considering that gas stations are a serious threat to human life, many people elect to stay far away from them.
Because of this, homes that share the same neighborhood with gas stations are crazy cheap.
The significantly low prices are to attract potential home buyers.
Cheaper homes sited near gas stations might appeal to low-income earners or recent graduates who do not have a big budget for a home.
2. Proximity to gas
Although personal vehicles are nowadays designed to consume less gas over a longer distance, there are days when you will wake up only to remember you didn’t refill your tank the previous day.
The gas station next in your neighborhood becomes handy in such situations as you can get petrol within walking distance.
3. Proximity to vehicle repair services
Apart from servicing automobiles with gasoline and oil, most gas stations usually have garages, which offer essential services.
While you don’t require vehicle repair services too often, living next to a petrol station promises reliable service.
If there is a garage within the petrol station, you can be sure to get services like tire and tube changes or repairs, wheel alignment, brake system repair, changing of fluids, car painting, etc.
4. Easy access to essential household items
Petrol and pint of milk, should they even appear in the same sentence?
Honestly, if you live next to a gas station, then you’re not far to go for that pint of milk.
Nowadays, most gas stations have a convenience store (shop) that sells most of the items you need for daily use, and, of course, about 80% of Americans prefer shopping at a convenience shop relative to supermarkets.
This definitely means that you won’t necessarily need to drive to buy most basics.
5. Access to better roads
While this is not always true, many gas stations are situated in areas with a network of well-maintained roads, which can be a big plus if you commute every day to work.
6. Access to means of transport
While gas stations are not bus stops or passenger collection points, they usually receive many vehicles.
With many vehicles entering and leaving the gas station in your neighborhood, you are likely to always find a means of transport whenever you want to commute.
Six Cons Of Living Next To A Gas Station
Modern petrol stations follow stricter construction codes plus health and safety guidelines to minimize potential health and environmental risks.
All the same, there are several reasons why you would avoid any property right next to a petrol station.
1. Traffic
The first reason anyone would be reluctant to buy a house next to a gas station is the traffic that service stations usually get.
Considering that many gas stations are automated, thanks to technological advancements, to operate 24/7/365, the immediate area will be having a lot of traffic, which makes residing next to a petrol station less than pleasant.
2. Noise
A petrol station doesn’t make noise, but the traffic does.
If you live next to an automated gas station, expect noise at all hours of the day, which can be a nuisance at night if you’re a light sleeper.
If the gas has a convenience store, the noise coming from the immediate neighborhood can be too disrupting.
You can also imagine the noise generated by the repair facilities, super loud?
The good news is that you can reduce noise pollution by soundproofing your home.
3. Too bright lights
Lighting is crucial to the success and safety of the convenience shop – a poorly lit shop might invite potential burglars.
While the light might help ensure security in the neighborhood, you and other residents within the station’s neighborhood might suffer glare in their bedrooms and potentially lose view of the nighttime sky.
4. People traffic
Nowadays, many people opt to shop in convenience shops rather than shopping in supermarkets.
This definitely means that the neighboring petrol station will have more shoppers, which can become a much bigger nuisance.
The shops might be a big issue if you have kids because it opens up the potential for your kids to buy candy and junk foods easily.
While it is good to allow kids to enjoy, junk and processed foods are generally bad if consumed too often.
5. Air pollution
Gas fumes are an issue when living next to a petrol station.
Of course, benzene concentrations, which is a carcinogen reportedly found in gas fumes, are higher in the immediate gas station neighborhoods.
Prolonged exposure to this harmful constituent is known to cause leukemia, and you are not exceptional if you live next to a gas station.
6. Ground pollution from spills
The issue of soil contamination has for long been a major issue in areas near petrol stations.
In fact, prudent buyers will ask for soil contamination tests before buying property.
Even if you choose to live in a neighborhood with a petrol station, the petroleum leaks from the station and traffic can significantly affect the property resale price.
Disruption from tanker trucks whenever they pull in to refill the ground tanks.
You are likely to struggle to get a mortgage because a significant proportion of lenders don’t like such neighborhoods.
Some insurance companies may consider the proximity to highly flammable liquids as an added risk, which would translate to higher premiums.
Conclusion
Honestly, the immediate vicinity of a gas station is usually polluted, and inhaling fumes with benzene can be harmful to your health.
With the pros and cons of living in such an area, you will find it much easier to make a decision.
While it is a good place if you want to buy a home and are on a budget, the activities of the area put your health at risk.
References
Gas Stations & Convenience Stores
Living opposite a petrol station
Buying a house next to a petrol station?
House right beside a gas station… Bad?