Smell gas in a Roxboro home? Leave the building and call 911 or Enbridge Gas North Carolina at 1-877-776-2427 once you're outside. For repairs and new lines on the house side of the meter, or propane piping out in the county, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Roxboro.
Roxboro's housing and what it means for gas piping
Few places in the Durham market have homes as old as Roxboro's. Census survey figures put the median build year at 1967, with about 71% of homes built before 1980 and around 14% before 1940. Many of those houses have had their gas systems reworked several times as furnaces, ranges and water heaters came and went, which leaves a patchwork of iron pipe, old unions, abandoned stubs and connectors of uncertain age.
Enbridge Gas North Carolina, formerly PSNC, lists Person County among the counties it serves, but which streets have a main hasn't been confirmed. Out toward Hyco Lake and Mayo Lake, and on rural roads generally, propane is a common alternative. Person County Inspections in Roxboro issues plumbing permits, and its application lists gas water heaters among the covered items.
Fix it or replace it: a quick guide
| What the plumber finds | Usual approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One leaking union or valve | Repair that fitting | The rest of the line holds pressure |
| Old brass or uncoated connector | Replace the connector | Aging connectors can crack where they flex |
| Capped stubs to removed appliances | Cut back and cap properly | Dead legs are a common leak point |
| Rusted pipe in a damp crawl space | Replace the affected run | Corrosion keeps spreading under the surface |
| Line too small for a new appliance | Upsize from the meter or trunk | Undersized pipe starves burners |
A pressure test is usually what settles the question, since it shows whether the system as a whole is tight.
Signs to act on
- Odor of rotten eggs: leave and call from outside
- A hiss at the meter, a valve or behind an appliance
- Burner flames that are mostly yellow or that flutter
- Soot around a furnace or water heater
- Pilot lights that won't stay lit
- Rust flaking off pipe in the crawl space
Timing it right
Early fall is a smart time for a check. The furnace is about to run hard, and an older system that sat idle all summer is where weak fittings show up. If you're adding a gas range or replacing a water heater, schedule the line work before the appliance arrives so the new branch can be permitted and tested first. Lake houses that sit empty part of the year are worth a look before the season starts, since connectors and outdoor piping can be damaged without anyone noticing.
Gas Line Services questions in Roxboro
What do plumbers tend to find in the gas piping of older homes?
Should the flexible connector behind my stove or dryer be replaced?
Our home runs on propane. Can a plumber work on that piping?
Does a house with gas appliances need carbon monoxide alarms?
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