Erwin's water and sewer have belonged to Harnett County since 2006, so commercial plumbing here means working with Harnett Regional Water for the utility side and an independent plumber for everything inside the property: drains, restroom fixtures, water heaters and service lines. Many buildings are old, and that shapes the work. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Erwin.
About Erwin
Erwin is a former cotton-mill town next to Dunn on the Cape Fear River; the Erwin Cotton Mill ran from 1902 to 2000. Downtown Erwin is on the National Register, and the town's buildings are old: about two-thirds of homes predate 1980, and roughly 24% were built in 1939 or earlier. Erwin has no town water department. Harnett County bought the water and sewer systems in 2006, and service calls and billing go to Harnett Regional Water (910-893-7575). Its water is Cape Fear River water disinfected mainly with chloramine.
What to do now
- Shut off the water at the fixture or the building main if a leak is running.
- Close off fixtures that are backing up. Keep staff and customers from using them.
- Decide whose problem it is. A main break or a sewer overflow in the street goes to Harnett Regional Water; anything inside the building or on your side of the meter goes to a plumber.
- Note the pipe you can see. Cast iron, galvanized or a mix tells the plumber what to expect in an older building.
- Check the lease if you rent, before approving repairs.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Low pressure at several fixtures | Corroded galvanized supply pipe |
| Repeat clogs in the same line | Scale or a sag in old cast iron or clay |
| Sewer odor in a back room | Dry floor drain trap or a cracked vent |
| Rusty water when a tap first opens | Old supply piping inside the building |
| Hot water fading during the day | Aging or undersized water heater |
What affects cost
- How much old pipe is involved, and whether repair or partial replacement makes more sense
- Access in older buildings with plaster walls or crawl spaces
- Scheduling outside business hours
- Permits: a Town of Erwin zoning permit comes first, then Harnett County Inspections issues the building permit and inspects plumbing under an interlocal agreement
No separate backflow program for Erwin turned up in our research. Since Harnett Regional Water is the water provider, ask it whether your service has a testable assembly on record. Fire lines, irrigation and kitchen or process equipment are the usual reasons a commercial building has one.
Commercial Plumbing questions in Erwin
The main line backed up during business hours. Who do we call first?
Who issues the plumbing permit for work on a commercial building?
How does a new or expanding business get a water or sewer connection?
Do apartment buildings and rental houses count as commercial plumbing?
More plumbing services in Erwin
Commercial Plumbing nearby
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