Most of the Belews Creek area isn't on municipal sewer, so a house-wide backup here can mean either a clogged drain line or a problem with the private onsite wastewater system it runs to. A plumber can clear and inspect the pipe and tell you which it is. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Belews Creek.
Drain lines around Belews Lake
Belews Creek is a rural, unincorporated community in northeastern Forsyth County, near the lake Duke Energy built in 1973 for its Belews Creek Steam Station. City-County planning staff, reviewing a subdivision on Van Hoy Road near Fagg Farm Road, noted that no Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities sewer is available near the lake and that public sewer should not be extended into this rural area. Homes there drain to private onsite wastewater systems.
Housing in the wider area has a median build year of 1994, with about 28% from before 1980. Newer homes clog mainly from grease, hair and wipes. Older ones may have cast-iron drains inside and longer runs of pipe out to the yard, where roots and settling cause trouble. Some homes in the area also have their own wells, so the whole water system, in and out, is the owner's to look after.
Pipe problem or system problem?
| Clue | Points toward |
|---|---|
| Only one sink, tub or toilet is slow | A clog in that fixture's pipe |
| All fixtures back up, and a plumber clears a blockage in the line | A drain line clog, now fixed |
| All fixtures back up, but the line is open when cabled | The onsite system needs its own service |
| Wet ground or odor over the yard area past the house | Likely the system, not the house plumbing |
A good plumber will tell you when the problem is past the pipe instead of cabling the line again.
Signs to look for
- A toilet that gurgles after the shower drains
- Laundry water backing up into a nearby drain
- Slow drains throughout the house at once
- A sewage smell inside after heavy water use
Timing and weather
Heavy water use, such as laundry day, a houseful of guests or a holiday weekend, is when a marginal drain line tends to give out. Spreading out laundry loads helps if a line is already slow. Long rainy stretches can also leave the ground saturated, which some homes notice as slower drainage. For drain or sewer pipe replacement in the Forsyth County part of Belews Creek, permits go through the joint Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division; homes on the Stokes County side may fall under that county instead.
Drain Cleaning questions in Belews Creek
My home isn't on municipal sewer. Can a plumber still help with a backed-up main drain?
Are wipes labeled flushable safe for household pipes?
Why does the same drain keep clogging after it's been cleared?
Does drain cleaning require a permit?
More plumbing services in Belews Creek
Drain Cleaning nearby
Sources
Last updated: