In Selma, much of the commercial plumbing work comes from the highway hotels and restaurants along I-95, plus older buildings downtown: drain and sewer clogs, restroom fixtures, water heaters and service line leaks. The Town runs its own water and sewer collection, and Johnston County handles building permits after Town zoning approval. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Selma.
Selma in short
Selma is a railroad town next to Smithfield where I-95, US 301, US 70 and NC 96 meet, and its commercial life leans on highway hotels and restaurants. The Selma Union Depot still serves Amtrak, and the downtown and West Selma historic districts hold older buildings. Housing is older too: the median home was built in 1974, and over half predate 1980.
The Town's main water system draws from its own wells and uses chlorine. A separate Selma-Countyline system distributes water bought from Johnston County East. Wastewater runs through the Town's collection system and 19 lift stations to the Johnston County interceptor and the county's central plant.
What to do now
- Shut off water to the problem. Close the fixture stop or the building main if a leak is active.
- Take backed-up fixtures out of use. In a hotel, block the affected rooms; in a restaurant, stop running the dish machine into a slow line.
- Check more than one floor or room. Several backups at once point to the main.
- Look outside. Sewage at a cleanout or water bubbling in the lot near the meter helps the plumber narrow it down.
- Know your water system. Your bill shows whether you're on the main Town system or Countyline, which matters if you have a water quality question.
Signs and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Backups in several hotel rooms on one stack | Blockage in the stack or building drain |
| Kitchen floor drain overflowing during cleanup | Grease narrowing the kitchen line |
| Hot water running short at checkout time | Water heater capacity or a failing unit |
| Wet ground near the meter | Service line leak |
| Musty or sewer odor in a guest room | Dry trap or a failed toilet seal |
What affects the cost
- Number of rooms, fixtures or tenants affected
- Working around occupancy, often at night or early morning
- Equipment such as jetting or camera inspection in older lines
- Permits: zoning approval from the Town of Selma first, then Johnston County Building Inspections
The Countyline system had a disinfection byproduct (TTHM) violation in 2025, listed in the Town's 2025 water quality report; read the report for the details.
Commercial Plumbing questions in Selma
Who issues the plumbing permit for work on a commercial building?
Can the work be done before opening or after closing so we stay open?
How is a commercial water heater different from a residential one?
The main line backed up during business hours. Who do we call first?
More plumbing services in Selma
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