If there's a gas smell in your Princeton home, go outside and call 911 or Piedmont Natural Gas at 800-752-7504. For other gas work, such as a leaking fitting, an old connector or a new appliance line after the meter, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Princeton.
About gas lines in Princeton
Princeton is a small eastern Johnston County town on US 70 between Selma and Goldsboro. Its homes lean older: the median was built in 1977 and about 57% predate 1980, according to Census survey data. In houses that age, gas piping has often been tapped for new appliances and patched over the years, and connectors behind ranges and dryers may be older than anyone remembers.
A 2014 Utilities Commission report lists Johnston County in Piedmont Natural Gas's service area. Piedmont maintains the main and meter, and the homeowner owns everything after it. Mains don't reach every street, so check with Piedmont about service at your address.
Which office issues permits for Princeton wasn't confirmed in the research. Johnston County Inspections in Smithfield is the likely office, and the plumber can confirm it for your address.
Common calls here are repairs after the utility finds a leak on the house side, swapping old connectors when a range or dryer is replaced, and checking piping in a home that's just been bought.
Old connector or new?
| Connector type | What it looks like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Uncoated brass | Bare gold-colored corrugated tube | Replace; these can crack at the flare |
| Coated stainless steel | Yellow or gray plastic jacket | Keep if undamaged and properly sized |
| Rigid pipe to the appliance | Black iron right to the valve | Fine if tight, but makes servicing harder |
| Any type, kinked or crushed | Flattened bends behind the appliance | Replace |
Signs to watch for
- A rotten-egg smell (leave the house)
- Faint hissing from a valve or connector
- Yellow, lazy flames or soot on pots
- Visible rust on piping under the house
- A pilot that keeps going out
Leave the house only for the smell. For the other signs, turn the appliance off at its valve if you can and have it checked before using it again.
When to plan gas work
Heating-season starts in fall bring out problems that sat quietly all summer. If you know an old connector or a corroded section needs replacing, doing it before the furnace runs daily avoids a cold-weather shutoff. Spring and summer are the easiest times to schedule non-urgent work, including the permit and inspection.
Gas Line Services questions in Princeton
What gas piping problems turn up in older houses?
Should the old flexible connector behind an appliance be replaced?
Do gas appliances mean I need a carbon monoxide alarm?
Can a gas line be added for a new range, dryer or water heater?
More plumbing services in Princeton
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