A gas smell in a Benson home means leaving and calling 911 or Piedmont Natural Gas at 800-752-7504 from outside. For a leaking fitting, a new appliance line or replacing older pipe after the meter, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Benson.
The call and the visit
Your call connects you with an independent plumber who covers Benson and southwest Johnston County. Expect questions about the symptom or project, which appliances run on gas, and whether Piedmont has turned off the meter. If you can smell gas, the plumber will send you outside to call the utility first.
On site, the plumber finds and fixes the leak or runs the new branch, installs a shutoff where one is needed, and pressure tests the system. Gas stays off until the work passes inspection. Afterward, the plumber relights pilots and checks that each appliance burns cleanly. If an older appliance won't run right even with good piping, the plumber may suggest having it serviced or replaced.
Things that change the cost
- Size of the repair. One leaking joint versus a corroded section.
- Access. Crawl space height and how much of the pipe is reachable.
- Load. A new furnace or tankless water heater may need a bigger line.
- Distance. Long runs across the house or yard.
- Permit and inspection. Required for new piping.
Benson's homes and gas service
Benson is a railroad town known for its Mule Days festival, sitting at the I-95 and I-40 interchange. Its housing is mixed: the median home was built in 1988, and about 42% predate 1980, per Census survey data. Older houses around the Benson Historic District and the US 301 and NC 50 corridors may have gas piping that has been extended and patched over the years.
A 2014 Utilities Commission report lists all of Johnston County in Piedmont Natural Gas's territory. Piedmont maintains the main and meter; the owner is responsible after the meter. Street-level service varies, so Piedmont is the one to ask about a new hookup.
Benson handles its own building permits and inspection scheduling through the Cloudpermit online system. The plumber can confirm which permits a gas job needs.
Checklist before the plumber comes
- Clear access to the meter and to the appliance
- Open the crawl space hatch and move stored items
- Have the appliance's model number or gas rating ready
- Know whether the meter has been shut off or tagged
- Note any smells or sounds and where they seemed strongest
Gas Line Services questions in Benson
What gas piping problems turn up in older houses?
I smell gas in the house. What should I do first?
Will 811 mark my own buried gas or propane line?
Can an appliance be switched from propane to natural gas?
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