If you smell gas in Lillington, get out of the house and call 911 or Piedmont Natural Gas at 800-752-7504 from outside. For a new gas appliance line, a repair after the meter or a pressure test, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lillington.

A town of two housing eras
Lillington, the Harnett County seat on the Cape Fear River, has grown fast. More than 45% of its homes were built in 2010 or later, yet about 31% predate 1980, per Census survey figures. Those two groups have very different gas systems. Newer homes in subdivisions like RiverBluff and Vandercroft usually have modern piping sized for their appliances. Older houses closer to US 401 and Main Street are more likely to have original black iron that has been extended over the years.
Harnett County is listed for Piedmont Natural Gas in a 2014 Utilities Commission report. Piedmont owns the main and the meter; the owner owns the piping after the meter. Whether gas reaches a given street is for Piedmont to confirm.
Lillington's Planning & Inspections department handles building inspections inside town limits and the ETJ and offers next-day inspections by phone. Outside that area, Harnett County handles permits. If you live in one of the newer subdivisions just outside town, it's worth confirming which office covers your address before work starts.
Newer home versus older home
| Built since 2000 | Built before 1980 | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical piping | CSST from a manifold, or newer black iron | Black iron, often extended in stages |
| Common job | Adding a range, grill or generator branch | Fixing leaks, replacing old connectors and pipe |
| What to check | CSST bonding, capacity for added loads | Corrosion, capped stubs, undersized lines |
Signs your gas lines need attention
- A rotten-egg smell (leave, then call from outside)
- A hiss from a fitting, valve or the meter
- Yellow or sooty flames on a range or furnace
- Rust or flaking on pipe in a crawl space
- A pilot that won't stay lit
- A connector that was bent or crushed when an appliance was moved
Only the smell means you should leave. The others are worth a call before the problem grows.
When to schedule
Most gas emergencies show up with the first cold weeks, when furnaces and water heaters work hardest. Planned work, like a new appliance line or replacing an older section of pipe, is easiest to book in spring or late summer. Allow time for the town or county permit and the inspection before the line goes into service.
Gas Line Services questions in Lillington
What gas piping problems turn up in older houses?
Does new gas piping need a permit and an inspection?
Can an appliance be switched from propane to natural gas?
I smell gas in the house. What should I do first?
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