Plumber in Cary, NC
Water heaters, drains, toilets and faucets, sewer and water lines, and whole-house repiping — from the 1960s ranches near downtown to the brand-new builds out west. A licensed plumber on every job, and the price in writing before any work starts.
Free in-home quotes during business hours — no trip charge, no estimate fee, no obligation to buy. Sending the form requests a visit — our dispatcher will call you to set the time.
What we do in Cary
Pick the problem, and we'll take it from there
Every service below is handled by ARC's own licensed plumbers — no subcontractors, no mystery vans. Each link goes to the full page for that service, with details on how the work is done.
Water Heaters
Cold shower this morning? Repair and same-visit diagnosis for tank water heaters, and replacement with posted flat-rate prices and a 5-year ARC warranty. Thinking about going tankless? See the Rinnai tankless page.
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes don't check the clock, and neither do we. Our emergency line is answered 24/7 and passed straight to the on-call technician, who calls you back. After-hours fees are quoted before anyone is dispatched.
Toilets, Faucets & Fixtures
Running or clogged toilets, dripping faucets, garbage disposals and shower valves. A toilet that runs all night is pouring money down itself — we repair what's worth repairing, replace what isn't, and tell you which is which.
Drain Cleaning
Slow or blocked drains cleared, with a camera inspection when the same drain keeps clogging, so you find out why instead of paying to clear it again.
Repiping & Polybutylene
Whole-house repiping with PEX-A, and polybutylene identification — a Cary-specific issue covered in its own section below.
Sewer Lines
Camera inspections, repairs and full replacements. Not sure whether a backup is yours or the Town's to fix? See who owns what in Cary.
Water Lines
Repair and replacement of the water service line between the meter and your house, including pressure problems and yard leaks.
Commercial Plumbing
Service and maintenance for Cary businesses, restaurants and property managers, coordinated around your access and hours.
Worth knowing in Cary
Cary grew up in the polybutylene era
Cary boomed in the '80s and '90s — great news for cul-de-sacs and shade trees, less great for water pipe.
About 40% of Cary's housing was built between 1980 and 1999, the years when gray polybutylene (PB) water pipe was installed across the country. Not every home from those years has it, and having it doesn't mean yours is failing today. But PB degrades from the inside, where you can't see it, so it's worth knowing what's in your walls — especially in Preston, Lochmere, MacGregor Downs and the other neighborhoods built during that stretch.
Find out what you have
PB is usually gray, stamped “PB2110”. The repiping page shows exactly how to check at your water heater or under a sink — or we'll check during any visit, free.
Spot repair vs. repipe
We repair PB leaks. But once PB has started leaking, we recommend replacing the rest — the same degradation is under way in the pipe that hasn't failed yet. We'll show you what we find and put both options in writing.
How an ARC repipe works
PEX-A replacement, typically 2–4 days for a 3-bed/2-bath home, with at least one working bathroom every night. We cut drywall cleanly but don't patch or paint — we refer a local painter. Details, research and FAQ on the repiping page.
Housing figure: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023, table B25034, city of Cary.
What customers say
We used ARC Plumbing for installing a water shut-off valve and replacing a hose bib in our newly purchased home. Caden, Clay, and Mike were polite and professional, and had the knowledge to make recommendations when I didn't know the best course of action. But more importantly than all of that, they were incredibly friendly towards our dog, which is a huge plus for me. I will definitely be using their services again!
From ARC Plumbing's Google reviews (★ average).
Cary-specific
Sewer backup? Here's who's responsible in Cary
It depends on where the blockage is — and Cary's rule is different from Raleigh's, so don't go by what your brother-in-law in Raleigh swears is true. Nobody wants to learn this one at 9pm on a Saturday, so here it is in plain English.
| Where the blockage is | Who clears it |
|---|---|
| The main sewer line | The Town of Cary |
| The lateral, between the main and the cleanout at the edge of your property | The Town of Cary |
| The lateral, between the cleanout and your house | You (the homeowner) |
| Anywhere in the lateral, if your property has no cleanout at the edge | You (the homeowner) |
Source: Town of Cary, Sewer Maintenance — checked September 30, 2026. The cleanout is the vertical, capped 4″ pipe near the edge of the property. Not sure it's a blockage at all? Cary 311 can dispatch the Town's crew for the parts that are theirs.
Two more things worth knowing. First, Cary's rule above is about clearing blockages — who pays to repair or replace a damaged lateral is a separate question, and we'll help you sort out which situation you're in before any work starts. Second, the water side has its own split: Cary maintains the Town-owned portion of the system up through the meter, and the line from the meter to your house is yours — the Town says so in its water-main replacement guidance. A leak on that stretch, call us: (919) 888-3500.
If the blockage turns out to be on your side, our drain cleaning and sewer line pages explain how we handle it — including a camera inspection so you see what's in the pipe before deciding anything.
What to expect
How a visit works
You call, a person answers
During business hours, our own dispatcher answers every call — a real person, in our office, who knows exactly where Cary is. Tell them what the plumbing is doing and they'll set up your visit.
We look before we quote
A licensed plumber comes out, checks the actual problem, and explains what they found. In-home quotes are free — no trip charge, no estimate fee.
The price, in writing, first
You get the recommendation, the reason and the price in writing before any work starts. Ask questions, think it over, compare — there's no countdown clock.
Nights and weekends
Plumbing emergencies have a real talent for Saturday nights. Our emergency line is answered 24/7 by an answering service, which sends your information straight to the on-call technician — they call you back, usually within minutes.
After-hours and weekend emergencies carry a flat $365 dispatch fee. It covers scheduling and sending a technician to your property, it's confirmed with you before anyone is dispatched, and it's additional to any repair charges. During normal business hours there's no call-out fee.
Permits and inspections
ARC can pull all permits and call in inspections when needed, so you're not chasing the Town of Cary's inspections office yourself. We'll tell you up front whether your job needs one.
Already holding another plumber's quote? We'll give you a free second opinion on site.
You deserve to understand the problem and the price before you decide.
We built ARC so the person diagnosing your plumbing has no reason to talk you into more than you need.
In-home quotes are free. No trip charge. No estimate fee. No obligation to buy. You can find out what the work costs before deciding whether to spend the money.
No sales commission. Sometimes the right answer is a big repair. Sometimes it isn't. How we pay our people shouldn't change the recommendation.
You get the recommendation, the reason, and the price in writing. Ask questions. Think about it. Compare it. Call us when you're ready.
Already have a quote from another plumber? We'll give you a free second opinion. · Read the full ARC Promise →
Where we work
All of Cary, from our shop in Fuquay-Varina
From Preston to MacGregor Downs, Amberly to Lochmere, we cover all of Cary and the rest of Wake County from our shop at 2406 Waco Commercial Court in Fuquay-Varina. Cary is a big town — it runs from 1960s ranches to brand-new builds out west, and the plumbing spans every era too, which keeps us busy. Customers request on-site service; there's no walk-in counter (the trucks are the showroom).
And Cary is a little bit personal for us: our owner is a Cary High School alum. Go Imps!
If you smell gas, don't stay to troubleshoot. Leave immediately and warn others to stay away. From a safe place, call 911 and Enbridge Gas North Carolina at 877-776-2427. Don't flip light switches, use phones, garage door openers or flashlights inside, don't try to turn gas valves on or off, and don't start nearby vehicles — sparks can ignite gas. (Steps per Enbridge Gas North Carolina, checked September 2026.)
Once the utility has made the scene safe, we repair customer-side gas line leaks — call (919) 888-3500.
Questions Cary customers ask
Frequently asked questions
Do you charge to come out and give a price?
No. In-home quotes during business hours are free — no trip charge, no estimate fee, no obligation to buy. The only call-out fee we charge is the flat $365 dispatch fee for after-hours and weekend emergencies, and that's confirmed with you before anyone is sent out.
I already have a quote from another plumber. Will you look at it?
Yes. We give free on-site second opinions on major repair and replacement quotes. Sometimes the other quote is fair — we'll tell you that too. Details on the ARC Promise page.
Who's responsible if my sewer backs up in Cary?
It depends on where the blockage is. The Town of Cary clears blockages in the main line and in the lateral between the main and the cleanout at the edge of your property. Blockages between the cleanout and the house are the homeowner's responsibility — and if your property has no cleanout at the edge, the whole lateral is your responsibility. The table above lays it out, with the Town's source.
Will I have water during a repipe?
You'll have at least one working bathroom every night — we know, it's the first thing everyone asks. A typical 3-bed/2-bath whole-house repipe takes 2–4 days of plumbing work, depending on levels and crawlspace access. The repiping page walks through the whole process, including how drywall is handled.
Do I get the price before you start?
Yes — in writing, after the technician has actually looked at the problem. If anything changes mid-job, you approve the change before the work continues. Our technicians aren't paid based on how much you spend.
Do you handle the permit?
ARC can pull all permits and call in inspections when needed. We'll tell you up front whether your job needs one, and you won't have to coordinate with the inspections office yourself.
Talk to us
Need a plumber in Cary?
Tell us what the plumbing is doing and we'll tell you what it usually means — yes, even the mystery gurgle. Free in-home quotes, the price in writing before we start, and a licensed plumber on every job.
ARC Plumbing · 2406 Waco Commercial Ct, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 · NC Plumbing Contractor License #36473 · Emergency line answered 24/7 · Serving Cary and all of Wake County
2406 Waco Commercial Ct
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
(919) 888-3500
Serving Wake County, Durham, Chapel Hill & the Clayton area