Gas Line Services in Coats, NC

Who is the gas utility in Coats?

A 2014 Utilities Commission report lists Harnett County, including Coats, in Piedmont Natural Gas's service area. Piedmont maintains the main, the service line and the meter. Everything after the meter belongs to the homeowner, including the piping through the house and any buried line to a shop or outbuilding. Gas mains don't reach every street, so Piedmont is the one to ask about new service.

Is gas piping in an older Coats home a concern?

It's worth a check. Coats is a small town in eastern Harnett County, and most of its homes are older: the median was built in 1978 and about 55% predate 1980, per Census survey data. Gas piping that age has usually been extended for new furnaces, water heaters and ranges. Common findings include old brass connectors, corroded pipe in crawl spaces and capped lines left from appliances that were removed. A pressure test shows whether the system holds. If you've noticed yellow burner flames, soot or a pilot that won't stay lit, mention it, since those can point to a supply or appliance problem worth sorting out at the same visit.

How do permits work in Coats?

In two steps. Harnett County's Inspections department provides building and plumbing inspections for Coats, but the county won't issue a building permit until the Town of Coats has granted a zoning permit where one is required. The county's Central Permitting office handles applications, so the job usually involves both a town step and a county step. New gas piping is pressure tested and inspected before gas is turned on, and the plumber usually handles the permit.

A Coats note

Coats sits between Angier, Erwin, Benson and Lillington, so plumbers who take calls here often cover the whole area. When you call, mention the house's age, which appliances use gas and whether Piedmont has shut off service. If you're planning a new appliance, such as a gas range or water heater, have the model number ready so the line can be sized. If you smell gas at any time, leave and call from outside first.