Repiping in Winston-Salem, NC

Signs it may be time to repipe

• Repeated leaks in different places, especially pinholes in copper or leaks at fittings on polybutylene.
• Low pressure throughout the house that is not explained by the street pressure, typical of galvanized pipe that has narrowed with rust.
• Brown or rusty water when you first open a tap, especially hot water, after the water heater has been ruled out.
• Visible corrosion: green crust on copper fittings, rust and flaking on galvanized pipe.
• Known problem materials: gray polybutylene (often stamped "PB2110") or galvanized steel supply lines.
• A remodel that opens walls anyway: the cheapest time to replace old pipe.

The pipe materials in Winston-Salem homes

Material	Typical era	Common issues
Galvanized steel	Common in homes built before about 1960	Rusts from the inside, narrowing the pipe; low pressure, discolored water, leaks at threads
Copper	1950s onward	Long-lived, but old copper can develop pinhole leaks, often near fittings and bends
Polybutylene (gray)	Late 1970s to mid-1990s	Prone to failure at fittings and as the plastic ages
CPVC (cream or tan)	1980s onward	Becomes brittle with age and heat; can crack when disturbed
PEX (red, blue, white)	Late 1990s onward	Flexible, freeze-tolerant; must be kept out of sunlight and protected from rodents

Your service line from the meter

Repiping inside the house is separate from the private service line that runs from the meter to the house. WSFC Utilities has inventoried service line materials and notified owners whose line is listed as lead, "galvanized requiring replacement," or unknown. It asks owners to self-report the material at WSFC Utilities service line inventory (cityofws.org/pipes) and says owners with a verified lead or galvanized service line should wait for its replacement plan, which may include financing options, before replacing it. If your house has galvanized piping inside, it is worth checking the inventory listing for your service line too. The utility also notes its treatment has controlled lead leaching since 1992 (Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities, 2025 Water Quality Report).

PEX or copper?

Most repipes today use PEX, a flexible plastic tubing that snakes through walls and crawlspaces with fewer fittings and less wall opening, tolerates freezing better than rigid pipe, and costs less to install. Copper is still an excellent material with a long track record and is sometimes chosen for exposed runs or because an owner simply likes it. Winston-Salem's very soft water is less likely to cause scale in either material. Whatever is used, ask how the lines will be supported, insulated in the crawlspace, and protected where they pass near the water heater.

How a repipe usually goes

1. Walkthrough and plan. The route for new lines is planned to use the crawlspace, basement or attic and keep wall openings small. Fixtures are counted and the main line size is checked.
2. Permit. Repiping generally requires a plumbing permit and inspection.
3. Run new lines. In crawlspace homes, most of the work happens under the house, with small openings behind fixtures. Water is usually off only for parts of each day.
4. Connect fixtures and new shut-offs. Each fixture gets new supply lines and quarter-turn valves.
5. Pressure test and inspection. The new system is tested before walls are closed and inspected as the permit requires.
6. Patch. Ask who patches drywall and whether painting is included.

Partial repiping

Not every house needs everything replaced. A common approach is replacing the main line and the most-used branches, or replacing all polybutylene but leaving sound copper. A good plan explains what stays and why.

Related guides

• Tank vs. Tankless Water Heaters for Winston-Salem Homes

Sources: WSFC Utilities service line inventory (cityofws.org/pipes); Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities, 2025 Water Quality Report.