Plumbing in Ardmore, Winston-Salem

About Ardmore's houses

Ardmore is one of Winston-Salem's largest historic neighborhoods, a roughly 600-acre National Register historic district southwest of downtown with more than 2,000 contributing buildings (Ardmore Historic District). It grew in phases from about 1910 into the 1950s: early residential developments in the 1910s and 1920s, then infill and post-war apartment complexes. Bungalows, American Foursquares, Colonial Revivals and Tudor-influenced cottages line streets shaded by very old trees.

That history shapes the plumbing. A typical Ardmore house may have been plumbed with galvanized steel supply lines and cast-iron drains, then partly updated with copper in the 1960s or 1970s and partly again with PEX during a kitchen or bath remodel. It is common to find three or four pipe materials in one house.

The plumbing problems we hear about in Ardmore

Low pressure and rusty water

Galvanized pipe rusts from the inside, narrowing until a shower barely runs when a toilet refills. Brown water after the house sits unused is another sign. Replacing the remaining galvanized lines, often starting with the main line from the meter and the busiest branches, usually restores pressure. See repiping.

Roots in the sewer lateral

Ardmore's big oaks and maples are part of its charm, and their roots are a leading cause of main-line clogs in clay tile laterals. If roots came out on the cable during a cleaning, a camera inspection will show whether a spot repair, lining or replacement makes sense. On Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities sewer, call City Link (311) first when sewage backs up; the utility handles the portion of the line inside the public right-of-way (WSFC Utilities, Sewer Backup Policy & Responsibilities).

Cast-iron drains under the house

Old cast-iron drain lines in crawlspaces and basements crack along the bottom and scale up inside, causing slow drains and slow leaks that show up as musty smells or damp soil. Sections can be replaced with PVC where they fail.

Remodel surprises

Opening a wall in an Ardmore bath often reveals undersized vents, old drum traps or a mix of materials joined with improvised fittings. Planning plumbing early in a remodel, and permitting it, avoids rework later.

Service line letters

Older homes are more likely to have a private service line listed as galvanized or unknown in the utility's inventory. If you received a letter, use the self-report tool at WSFC Utilities service line inventory (cityofws.org/pipes) and follow the utility's guidance on timing.

Working in a historic district

Most plumbing work is inside the house and does not affect a home's historic character. If a project changes exterior features, such as adding a vent through a front-facing roof slope or moving an exterior wall penetration, check whether local historic district rules apply before work starts.

Tell us your street, roughly when the house was built, and what you are seeing. We'll call you back to talk it through.

Plumbing services in Ardmore

• Drain Cleaning
• Water Heater Repair & Replacement
• Leak Detection & Repair
• Sewer Line Repair
• Emergency Plumber
• Frozen & Burst Pipes
• Toilet & Faucet Repair
• Repiping
• Garbage Disposals

Sources for Ardmore facts: Ardmore Historic District; WSFC Utilities, Sewer Backup Policy & Responsibilities; WSFC Utilities service line inventory (cityofws.org/pipes).