Rural Hall's water comes from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities, so owners are responsible for testing and maintaining backflow assemblies through WSFCU-approved testing companies that report through BSI Online. Most assemblies test annually; eligible home irrigation without chemical feed has a three-year cycle. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Rural Hall.
Rural Hall and backflow
Rural Hall had public water long before it became a town: a sanitary district provided water and sewer from 1935, and the town incorporated in 1974. Today the City of Winston-Salem runs the Rural Hall water tank on Norman Drive, and homes on public water follow WSFCU's cross-connection rules. In early October 2026, that tank was taken out of service for maintenance and the city warned of pressure changes and discolored water along University Parkway, US 52, NC 65, NC 66 and Stanleyville Drive. Pressure swings like those are exactly when a backflow assembly earns its keep.
Steps to take now
- Find your assembly. It's usually on the irrigation line near the meter or where the line leaves the house.
- Figure out your cycle. WSFCU tests assemblies at installation and annually, except eligible residential irrigation without chemical feed, which moved to every three years under NC Senate Bill 166 in September 2024.
- Book an approved company. Testing has to be done by a WSFCU-approved testing company, which reports through BSI Online.
- Shut off a leaking device. Close the irrigation valve until a plumber can look at it.
- Get a permit for new work. Installing an assembly needs a permit from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division, which serves Rural Hall.
Signs and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Relief valve spitting after a pressure change | Supply pressure dipped, or debris on a check |
| Assembly wet at the seams | Aging gaskets or a loose union |
| Body split or bulged | Freeze damage, usually needs replacement |
| Sprinklers barely run | A shutoff partly closed or a stuck check |
| Failed test report | Worn internal seats or springs |
What affects the price
- Test only, or repair plus retest
- The type and size of the device
- Whether parts are available or the whole unit must go
- Permit and inspection steps for new or moved assemblies
- Access, especially if the device sits low in a box
About half of Rural Hall homes were built before 1980. In an older house, ask the plumber to look over hose spigots and any irrigation tie-ins while on site, since those are the usual places an unprotected connection hides.
Backflow Testing questions in Rural Hall
Do I need a permit to install or move a backflow assembly?
Why is my backflow device dripping or spitting water?
Has the testing schedule for home irrigation changed?
How often does a backflow assembly need a test here?
More plumbing services in Rural Hall
Backflow Testing nearby
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Sources
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