If a pipe bursts in your Wilson home, close the main water valve right away and turn off electricity near any water. A plumber can replace the broken section and check the rest of the line. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Wilson.
Wilson's housing runs from early-1900s homes in the Old Wilson, West Nash Street and East Wilson historic districts to newer subdivisions mainly in the northwest. About 46% of homes predate 1980; the median year is 1983. The City of Wilson owns the service line from the water main to the property line or meter pit, and the customer owns the part on private property. Wilson's lead service line inventory covers homes built in 1986 or earlier, nearly 10,000 of them, which gives a sense of how many houses here have older plumbing.
What to do right now
- Stop the water. Close the main valve where the line enters the house. If you can't find it or it won't turn, the City can shut water off at the meter pit.
- Make it safe. Turn off breakers for any wet outlets, lights or appliances. Don't stand in water near live wiring.
- Drain the lines. Open a low faucet, such as a tub spout or outside spigot, to let the remaining water out.
- Protect the water heater. Turn off an electric unit's breaker or set a gas unit to pilot.
- Check for gas. If water reached a gas appliance and you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or Wilson Energy, the city's gas utility, from outside.
- Document it. Take photos before you start cleaning up.
What you're seeing and what it usually means
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water spraying from a pipe after a cold night | Freeze split |
| Rusty water and low pressure | Corroded galvanized pipe that has cracked |
| Water at the street or meter pit | Break on the City's side; call Wilson Water Resources |
| Wet yard between meter and house | Break in the private service line |
| Ceiling stain under a bathroom | Supply or drain leak; needs checking |
What affects the cost
- Access. Crawl space or basement breaks are faster to reach than ones in finished walls.
- Material. Older galvanized often needs a longer replacement and adapters.
- Extent. One crack versus several along the same wall.
- Service line. A break on your side of the meter pit means digging.
- Permits. Inside the city, permits come from the City of Wilson Inspections Department's Permit Desk at City Hall; outside city jurisdiction, Wilson County Inspections.
- Timing. Nights and weekends may cost more.
If the break led you to replace the water heater, note that Wilson lists water heaters in garages not raised 18 inches among its top code violations.
Burst Pipe Repair questions in Wilson
Who pays to fix a break between the water meter and the house?
Does an older house need repiping after one burst pipe?
Should I turn off the water heater once the supply is shut?
Water is showing up but I can't see the pipe. How is it found?
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