A gas smell in a Four Oaks home calls for leaving right away and phoning 911 or Piedmont Natural Gas at 800-752-7504 from outside. For a leaking fitting, a section of old pipe or a line to a new appliance on your side of the meter, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Four Oaks.
Gas lines in Four Oaks homes
Four Oaks is a small railroad town in southern Johnston County on US 301 and I-95. Its housing is a mix: the median home was built in 1985, and about 35% predate 1980. So the town has some houses whose gas piping is decades old and others built to more recent standards.
Johnston County is listed in Piedmont Natural Gas's territory in a 2014 Utilities Commission report. Piedmont maintains the main, the service line and the meter; the owner is responsible for everything after the meter. Not every street has a main, and Piedmont can confirm whether yours does.
Four Oaks runs its own building inspections instead of relying on Johnston County, with a chief building inspector on staff and inspection requests handled by email through the permits office. That keeps permitting local, and the plumber you're connected with can arrange it.
Typical requests in Four Oaks include repairing a leak the utility found on the house side, replacing a corroded run under an older home and adding a branch for a gas range or water heater.
Repair or replace the piping?
| Situation | Repair usually makes sense | Replacement may make sense |
|---|---|---|
| Leak location | One joint or valve | Several leaks across the system |
| Pipe condition | Sound pipe, minor surface rust | Deep corrosion or pitting |
| Capacity | Current line handles the appliances | New appliance needs a larger line |
| History | Original, well-supported installation | Many patches, odd fittings, capped stubs |
A pressure test and a look at the pipe's condition usually settle which way to go.
Warning signs
- A sulfur smell (leave the house first)
- Hissing near the meter, a valve or the back of an appliance
- Rusted pipe or fittings in the crawl space
- Flames that burn yellow or produce soot
- A gas bill that rises without explanation
If you smell gas, don't try to find the leak yourself. Leave, call from outside, and let the utility make the area safe before a plumber starts the repair.
Best times to plan the work
The first cold spell of fall brings a wave of gas calls as heating equipment restarts. Repairs that aren't urgent, or a switch to a gas appliance, are easier to schedule in spring or summer. Leave a little time for the town's permit and inspection.
Gas Line Services questions in Four Oaks
I smell gas in the house. What should I do first?
Why is new gas piping pressure tested before it's used?
Does new gas piping need a permit and an inspection?
Should the old flexible connector behind an appliance be replaced?
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