Plumbers in Lexington, NC

Lexington at a glance

Lexington is the Davidson County seat, incorporated in 1828, and sits about 21 miles south of downtown Winston-Salem in a straight line. I-85, I-285/US 52, US 29/70 and US 64 all meet here. The city counted 19,632 residents in 2020. It calls itself the Barbecue Capital of the World and grew up on textiles and furniture, which shows in the Uptown Lexington Historic District, the Lexington Residential Historic District and the Erlanger Mill Village.

A city that runs its own utilities

The City of Lexington owns and operates water, sewer, electric and natural gas, and serves customers out in Davidson County as well. The water system has more than 192 miles of lines and over 10,000 meters. Raw water comes from Lake Thom-A-Lex, shared with Thomasville, with City Lake and interconnections with Davidson Water available for emergencies. The two treatment plants off Old Greensboro Road date to 1922 and 1967. The 2025 report shows chlorine disinfection, no violations, and a 90th-percentile lead result of 0 ppb, and the City has posted its full service line inventory online.

Wastewater goes to the City plant on Glendale Road, rated at 6.5 MGD. That plant also takes loads from haulers serving Davidson County homes that are not on municipal sewer.

Old housing, old pipes

The median Lexington home was built in 1969, about 68% predate 1980, and roughly 14% predate 1940. In the historic districts and mill village, galvanized supply lines, cast-iron drains, and clay or older sewer laterals are common sources of trouble. Whole-house repiping and sewer line work come up here more than in newer suburbs.

Gas works differently here

Unlike Winston-Salem, which is served by Piedmont Natural Gas, most of Lexington gets natural gas from the City's own system. Gas line and gas water heater work in town ties to the City utility. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 or the City of Lexington gas utility from outside. Piedmont serves portions of Davidson County outside the City system.

Permits and backflow

The City publishes plumbing permit process sheets and takes applications through its online Permit Portal at City Hall, 28 W Center Street (336-243-2489). Lexington's cross-connection policy requires backflow protection on every irrigation system, residential ones included, with a test at least once a year by a City-approved tester at the owner's cost. Most single-family homes are otherwise exempt, though adding a pool can trigger a device requirement.

What to have ready

Note your address, whether the problem is water, drain or gas related, and whether you've shut off the main. You'll be connected with an independent local plumber who works in Lexington and settle details directly with them.