Gas Line Safety: What Every Charlotte Homeowner Should Know

Most Charlotte homes use natural gas for heat, water heaters, stoves, or dryers. It's safe when everything's working correctly. But gas leaks can cause explosions, fires, and carbon monoxide poisoning. You need to know the warning signs.

How to Detect a Gas Leak

Smell: natural gas is odorless, so utilities add mercaptan, which smells like rotten eggs or sulfur. If you smell it, you've got a leak. Don't ignore it, don't wait to see if it goes away, don't assume it's something else.

Sound: a hissing or whistling sound near gas lines or appliances means gas is escaping under pressure.

Sight: dead vegetation in a line across your yard where the gas line runs. Gas kills plants from the roots up.

Bubbles: if you suspect a leak on an outdoor line, spray soapy water on connections. Bubbles mean gas is escaping.

Physical symptoms: headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, difficulty breathing. These are signs of gas exposure or carbon monoxide poisoning. Get out immediately.

What to Do If You Smell Gas

1. Get everyone out. People and pets. Right now. Don't grab valuables, don't stop to think about it.

2. Don't touch anything electrical. No light switches, no phones, no garage door openers. A spark can ignite the gas.

3. Leave the door open as you exit. Ventilation helps, but don't waste time opening multiple windows.

4. Once you're outside and away from the house, call 911 and your gas company. For Charlotte, that's PSNC Energy: 1-877-776-2427. They have 24/7 emergency service.

5. Don't go back inside until the gas company says it's safe. Even if you think you're overreacting. Gas explosions are rare, but they're catastrophic when they happen.

Common Causes of Gas Leaks

Corroded pipes: old gas lines deteriorate, especially underground lines. If your house is 30+ years old and has original gas lines, consider having them inspected.

Loose connections: vibration, settling, or accidental bumps can loosen the connection between pipe and appliance.

Damaged lines from digging: this is why you call 811 before any excavation. Hitting a gas line with a shovel can cause immediate rupture or damage that leaks later.

Faulty appliances: a malfunctioning furnace, water heater, or stove can leak gas. If an appliance smells like gas, turn it off and call a tech.

DIY vs Professional Work

Here's the rule: if it involves gas, hire a licensed professional. Period.

You can legally do your own plumbing in North Carolina. You cannot legally do your own gas work unless you're licensed. And even if you could, you shouldn't. Gas work requires specialized tools, knowledge, and leak testing. One mistake can kill you.

Installing a gas range? Hire a plumber. Running a line for a new gas fireplace? Hire a plumber. Moving your dryer hookup? Hire a plumber.

Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer

Incomplete combustion of natural gas produces carbon monoxide (CO). You can't smell it, see it, or taste it. It kills you by preventing oxygen from reaching your organs.

Symptoms mimic the flu: headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, confusion. If multiple people in your house feel sick and symptoms improve when you leave, suspect CO.

Install CO detectors. One per floor, especially near bedrooms. They cost $20-40 and save lives. Replace them every 5-7 years.

If your CO detector goes off, treat it like a gas leak: get everyone out, call 911 from outside.

Maintenance to Prevent Problems

Have gas appliances professionally serviced annually. A tech will check for leaks, proper combustion, and ventilation issues.

Never store flammable materials near gas appliances. That includes paint, gasoline, propane tanks, and cleaning chemicals.

Keep the area around your furnace and water heater clear. They need airflow for proper combustion.

Know where your gas meter is and how to shut it off. There's a valve before the meter. Turn it a quarter-turn so it's perpendicular to the pipe. Only do this in an emergency—you'll need the gas company to turn it back on.

Before You Dig

Call 811 at least 2-3 business days before digging. It's free. They'll mark all underground utilities—gas, electric, water, sewer, cable.

This applies to any digging: fence posts, trees, landscaping, deck footings. Even if you're only going down 12 inches. Gas lines can be as shallow as 12-18 inches.

Hitting a gas line is a felony in North Carolina if you didn't call 811 first. More importantly, it can blow up your house.

The Bottom Line

Natural gas is safe when handled correctly. But it demands respect. Install CO detectors, know what a gas leak smells like, and never DIY gas work. These three rules prevent 99% of residential gas emergencies.