Plumbing Inspection in Winston-Salem, NC

Why age matters in this city

Census estimates put the median home in Winston-Salem at 1986, with roughly 43 percent built before 1980. Neighborhoods such as West End, which developed largely between 1887 and 1930, and Ardmore hold many older houses. Homes of that era can still have galvanized steel supply pipe, cast iron drains, or clay sewer laterals that have shifted with tree roots. A general home inspector may only note visible leaks, while a plumber looks closer at the materials and their condition.

What a plumber typically checks

• Supply piping: material, corrosion, active leaks and static water pressure
• The service line: what the line coming into the house is made of, where it can be seen
• Drains and vents: slow fixtures, gurgling, and signs of past backups
• Water heater: age, venting, relief valve and discharge piping
• Fixtures: toilets, faucets and shower valves for leaks and wear
• Sewer lateral: a camera run to look for roots, cracks, sags or offset joints

The service line inventory

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities keeps a service line inventory map at cityofws.org/pipes and asks customers to report the material of the private line on their side. A plumber can help identify whether a line is copper, plastic, galvanized or lead. If a lead or galvanized line is confirmed, the utility asks customers to wait for its replacement plan and financing announcement before acting, so it is worth checking that page before paying for replacement.

Good times to schedule one

1. During the due diligence period when buying a house, especially an older one
2. Before a kitchen or bath remodel that will open walls
3. When a drain backs up more than once
4. After a period of vacancy, or before listing a home for sale

Inspection versus permit inspection

A private plumbing inspection is a condition report for you. It is separate from the inspections the joint City-County Inspections Division performs on permitted work. If the inspection leads to repiping or a new water heater, that work may need its own permit.

What affects the price

Cost depends on the size of the home, the number of bathrooms, whether a sewer camera run is included, how accessible the crawl space or basement is, and whether you want a written report.