As part of National Fire Prevention Week, Piedmont Natural Gas is reminding the public about the importance of natural gas safety. The company is emphasizing that if someone smells gas, they should leave the area immediately.
Natural gas does not have a smell on its own. To help people detect leaks, an odorant called mercaptan is added to give it a scent similar to rotten eggs. This allows people to identify possible leaks quickly and take action.
“Our customers value safety, and we’re committed to continually educating the community about the simple ways to detect natural gas leaks,” said Brian Weisker, president of Piedmont Natural Gas. “Natural gas leaks can be managed quickly and safely if you know what to look for, and it starts with training your nose to recognize the odor of mercaptan.”
There are other signs besides smell that may indicate a leak. These include bubbling water, blowing dirt, dead plants near pipelines, sinkholes, exposed pipes, or hearing a hissing sound near a natural gas line or meter.
If someone suspects there is a leak due to any of these signs or smells, they should leave the area right away and call Piedmont at 800.752.7504 or 911 from a safe location away from the smell. People are advised not to return until given clearance by emergency responders or Piedmont technicians.
Another way to increase safety in homes is by installing a natural gas detector. These devices are available at many retailers and home improvement stores. If such an alarm sounds, residents should evacuate immediately and contact authorities using the same numbers as above.
Piedmont Natural Gas serves more than 1.2 million customers across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee as part of Duke Energy’s operations. According to J.D. Power’s 2024 study on residential customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South region, Piedmont Natural Gas ranked first in customer satisfaction.
More information about natural gas safety can be found on the Piedmont Natural Gas website (piedmontng.com).
