Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Availability & Advantages of Natural Gas
Natural Gas Appliances
Getting Service, Financing, and Billing
Maintenance & Service of Natural Gas Appliances
Safety
How to Read Your Natural Gas Meter
How can I tell if natural gas is available at my home?
Call Piedmont Natural Gas at 1-800-752-7504. They'll tell you if a natural gas line runs in front of your house. If it does, there's usually no charge to run a service line from the street to your home if you plan to use natural gas for heating or water heating. Why is natural gas better than other fuels?
- Natural gas equipment is easier to maintain and repair, which means lower maintenance costs.
- Most natural gas equipment lasts longer than similar electric appliances.
- Natural gas is the most environmentally friendly fossil fuel.
- 83% of home buyers prefer gas heating*
- 82% prefer gas water heating*
Source: *UNCC Urban Institute Study 1999 back to top
What natural gas appliances are available?
- Water heaters
- Central Cooling and Heating Systems
- Space Heaters
- Outdoor Grills
- Gas Lights
- Ranges, Ovens, Cooktops
- Dryers
- Fireplace Logs
- Pool Heaters
- Gas Generators
What are the benefits of a gas furnace?
A gas furnace heats your home with warmer air than that generated by an electric heat pump which makes a home feel drafty. Gas furnaces are less expensive to maintain and last about twice as long as electric heat pumps. Gas furnace: 125-140 Degrees
Electric heat pumps: 90-95 Degrees
Sources: Appliance Magazine and Manufacturers Specifications Advantage Home. What makes a gas water heater better?
A gas water heater works nearly twice as fast as an electric one, so you're less likely to run out of hot water. Sources: Appliance Magazine and Manufacturers Specifications What's the difference between cooking on gas vs. electric?
In a word, control. Professional chefs prefer the instant flexibility of gas cooking for exact, controlled food preparation. Are gas clothes dryers available?
Yes. gas clothes dryers dry clothes faster and actually treat your clothes more gently than electric dryers. Why are gas fireplace logs so popular?
An instant, roaring fire with no logs to lug or mess to clean up is what makes gas logs a joy to own without polluting the air like a wood burning fire. What about outdoor gaslights and gas grills?
A natural gas outdoor light provides year-round soft, natural light for beauty and security even when the power is off. And nothing is faster and easier than cooking on an outside gas grill. Do natural gas appliances operate when the power goes off?
With the exception of gas furnaces and clothes dryers, gas appliances keep right on working for you when the electricity is off. back to top
What if there isn't a natural gas line on my street?
Call Piedmont Natural Gas at 1-800-752-7504. Request that they conduct surveys in your area to see if others want natural gas appliances. If there's enough interest, we'll install a gas main line at no charge to homeowners. If natural gas is not available, consider propane gas. Will my yard be torn up when the gas line is installed?
Piedmont plants grass and makes every effort to restore your yard to its original condition. What special billing services does Piedmont provide?
Is a deposit required to get gas service?
We may require a deposit on your account depending on your credit history. Should a deposit be required, it is refundable after one year of satisfactory payment history. I am a North Carolina customer and noticed a $10 monthly charge listed on my bill -- what is that charge?
The $10 monthly charge, previously known as the facilities change, is a monthly charge for basic service. The charge offsets fixed costs such as the cost of maintaining underground natural gas pipelines and regulator stations, adminstrative costs, and property taxes on regulator station sites, underground gas lines, vehicles and equipment. Does Piedmont sell and install gas appliances?
Our Gas Advantage Dealers and our Gas Advantage Contractors network offers appliance purchase and installation assistance. To find a Gas Advantage Dealer or Gas Advantage Contractor in you area, use our simple search function. Does Piedmont sell central heating systems?
We don't sell or install central heating systems. We'll help you select a reputable Gas Advantage Contractor in your area who does. Does Piedmont finance gas heating systems, water heaters and other gas appliances?
Piedmont offers third-party financing through Gas Advantage Contractors and Gas Advantage Dealers. For more information, use our simple search function for a Gas Advantage Contractor or Gas Advantage Dealer, or call us at 1-800-752-7504. back to top
How often should I have my heating system checked?
Homeowners should have their furnace or central heating system inspected annually. When heating systems are properly adjusted, the by-product of combustion is water vapor and carbon dioxide -- the same things we exhale as we breathe. When a heating system powered by a fossil fuel gets out of adjustment and the system isn't operating properly, carbon monoxide may be produced. An annual check-up of your heating system by a qualified professional ensures it is operating safely and efficiently with the proper mix of fuel to air. Does Piedmont service gas appliances?
Our service department provides repair service on gas appliances such as water heaters, ranges, dryers, gaslights, space heaters and wall furnaces -- for a labor and materials charge. For these and other customer service requests, please call us, from 7 AM - 7 PM Monday through Friday, 1-800-752-7504. We can recommend a Gas Advantage Contractor to service any gas heating system. back to top
What should I do if I smell gas?
Natural gas has no odor of its own, so gas companies add an odorant as a safety precaution. The distinctive odor intentionally smells bad to immediately signal a possible gas leak.
- Don't turn on a light.
- Don't switch on anything electrical.
- Don't light a match.
- Don't use your phone.
- Alert others and leave immediately.
- Call us from your neighbor's house or another location.
- Tell us where you are so you can let us in your house when we arrive.
Most gas leaks are small and aren't usually dangerous, but don't try to judge for yourself if a leak is dangerous or not - call us and let us quickly locate it and repair it. back to top
How to Read Your Natural Gas Meter Click here to view illustration. back to top
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