About 55% of Selma homes were built before 1980, so a backing-up sewer line here is often older pipe with roots, cracks or a sag. The Town runs the collection system, and the line on your property is yours. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Selma.
The Town of Selma runs its own sewer collection system, including 19 sewer lift stations, and its wastewater goes through a Johnston County interceptor to the Central Johnston County Regional Wastewater Facility for treatment. Selma is a railroad town on I-95 next to Smithfield, and its housing is older: median build year 1974, with about 55% of homes built before 1980. The Downtown Selma and West Selma historic districts are where the oldest lines are likely to be.
What to do first
- Stop using water. Don't flush or run laundry, showers or the dishwasher.
- Keep everyone away from wastewater. Close off the area.
- Check with neighbors. If others nearby are backing up, the Town's main or a lift station may be involved; call the Town.
- Look for a cleanout. Older homes may not have one, or it may be buried.
- Call for a plumber, and note which fixtures backed up first.
Signs and their usual causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Repeat clogs after cleaning | Roots in clay joints or a sag |
| Several drains slow together | Partial blockage in the main line |
| Wastewater at the lowest fixture | Full blockage downstream |
| Rust-colored flakes in a backup | Corroding cast iron pipe |
| Odor or soggy ground over the line | Crack or broken joint |
What moves the price
- Depth and what's over the pipe: lawn, driveway, porch or trees
- Pipe material, since clay and cast iron may need adapters
- Spot repair versus a longer replacement or lining
- Adding a cleanout if the house lacks one
- Permits: Selma requires Town zoning approval first, then Johnston County Building Inspections handles building permits
The fact sheets don't show where the Town's responsibility ends on a sewer service. If a camera finds trouble near the street, call the Town before paying for that part of the job.
In older Selma homes, a camera inspection often shows more than one problem: roots at a few joints, a corroded stretch of cast iron, a spot where the line has settled. Ask the plumber to walk you through the footage and separate what needs fixing now from what can be watched. If the whole run is in poor shape, lining or replacing it once usually beats paying for repeated cleanings and spot repairs over the next several years.
Sewer Line Repair questions in Selma
What are sewer pipes under older houses usually made of?
Who issues the permit when a sewer line repair needs one?
How do roots get into a sewer pipe, and will they come back after it's cleared?
Where is the sewer cleanout, and why does a plumber want access to it?
More plumbing services in Selma
Sewer Line Repair nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: