Piedmont Natural Gas is reminding customers of the importance of recognizing and responding to natural gas leaks as part of National Fire Prevention Week, which runs from October 5 to 11. The company emphasizes that if anyone smells natural gas, they should leave the area immediately.
Natural gas itself has no odor, but an additive called mercaptan gives it a smell similar to rotten eggs. This is done so that leaks can be easily detected by the public. “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.”
In addition to the smell, signs of a leak can include bubbling water, blowing dirt, dead plants in otherwise green areas, sinkholes, or exposed pipe. A hissing sound near a natural gas line or meter may also indicate a leak.
If a leak is suspected due to any of these signs or smells, people are advised to leave the area right away and call Piedmont at 800.752.7504 or dial 911 from a safe location away from the source. Individuals should not return until authorities confirm it is safe.
Piedmont also recommends installing natural gas detectors as an extra safety measure. These devices are available at major retailers and home improvement stores and will sound an alarm if elevated levels of natural gas are detected indoors. If such an alarm goes off, residents should stop what they are doing, move away from the area immediately, and call 911 or Piedmont.
Piedmont Natural Gas distributes natural gas to over 1.2 million customers across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee as a subsidiary of Duke Energy. The company recently ranked first in customer satisfaction with residential service among large utilities in the South according to J.D. Power’s 2024 study.
More information on natural gas safety can be found on the Piedmont Natural Gas website.
