Repiping in Fremont, NC

Signs an old house needs new pipe

• Several leaks over the years, each patched at a different place
• Brownish water after the house has been closed up for a few days
• A kitchen faucet or shower that never gets full flow anymore
• Heavy rust, wrapped joints or clamps on pipes under the house
• A home inspection that flagged galvanized pipe or mixed materials

What Fremont's housing means for plumbing

About two-thirds of Fremont homes were built before 1980, and over 22% were built in 1939 or earlier, per Census survey data. Houses that old were often plumbed with galvanized steel, and many have been partly updated over the decades, so a single home may have galvanized, copper and plastic all joined together. Where two different metals meet without the right fitting, the joint corrodes faster.

Detailed information about Fremont's water system wasn't confirmed for this page. The town's water serves as a backup supply for neighboring Pikeville, according to Pikeville's utilities page. If you want to know about your own water's chemistry, the town office is the place to ask for the annual water quality report. For a repipe, the bigger factor here is simply the age of the pipe.

Cost factors to ask about

• How many fixtures and outdoor spigots need new lines
• Crawl space height and condition, which affect how fast pipe can be run
• Whether you choose PEX or copper
• Whether plaster or drywall repair is included
• Whether old pipe will be removed or abandoned in place

Older homes sometimes hide surprises, like a past addition plumbed separately, so a plumber may need to look before giving a firm price. In a house this age it also makes sense to ask about the valves at each fixture, since old shutoffs often seize and are easiest to replace while the lines are already open.

How the call works

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who serves Fremont and the surrounding part of Wayne County. Wayne County Inspections issues plumbing permits throughout the county outside Goldsboro and Mount Olive, which would include Fremont, and the town requires its own zoning permit for certain projects. The plumber can confirm what a repipe needs.