If a pipe bursts in your Belews Creek home, stop the water at its source: switch off the well pump's breaker, or close the main valve if you're on public water. Then cut power near anything wet. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Belews Creek.
Water service around Belews Creek
Belews Creek is a rural, unincorporated corner of northeastern Forsyth County, and how your water arrives depends on the address. City-County planning staff have said there's no Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities water or sewer near Belews Lake, though some parcels there can get Town of Stokesdale water. Private wells are evidently common in the area, though no source counts them. Near the Belews Creek Steam Station, Duke Energy provided permanent replacement water supplies, either a public water hookup or a filtration system, to eligible households; NCDEQ reported that work complete in 2018.
Homes here are mostly 1990s and newer (median built 1994), with about 28% older than 1980. Rural houses often have long supply runs, well houses, crawl spaces and pressure tanks in unheated spaces, all of which can freeze during a hard cold spell.
Shutting off the water: well vs. public supply
| Your setup | How to stop the water | Who to call for the outside part |
|---|---|---|
| Private well | Switch off the pump's breaker, then close the valve by the pressure tank | A plumber or well contractor; the line from well to house is yours |
| Public water (WSFCU or Stokesdale) | Close the main where the line enters the house | The water provider for anything at the meter or street |
| Home with a filtration system | Close the main, then the bypass or inlet valve on the system | A plumber for cracked housings or fittings |
Signs a pipe has given way
- The well pump turning on and off with no water in use
- Water spraying in a crawl space, well house or utility room
- Ceiling or wall stains after a freezing night
- Pressure dropping throughout the house
- Wet ground over the line between the well and the house
Cold weather in a rural setting
Exposed well equipment is the soft spot in many Belews Creek homes. A pump house without heat, a pressure tank in an unheated garage, or a supply line that isn't buried deep enough can freeze before anything in the house does. A heat lamp or a thermostatically controlled heater in the well house, and foam insulation on exposed lines, go a long way. Plumbing permits for larger repairs in the Forsyth County part of the area come from the joint Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division.
Burst Pipe Repair questions in Belews Creek
My home runs on a private well. How do I stop the flow?
The taps are dry on a frigid morning. Is a pipe frozen?
What if the main valve is stuck or I can't locate it?
How do I keep an outside faucet from bursting next winter?
More plumbing services in Belews Creek
Burst Pipe Repair nearby
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