Rutherfordton was laid out in 1787 to replace Gilbert Town as the county seat. From 1790 to 1840 it sat at the center of North Carolina's gold rush, and Christopher Bechtler minted the first U.S. gold dollars here. About 3,600 people live in town today.
Water comes from the Broad River Water Authority, whose treatment plant is in Rutherfordton. Sewer is the town's own system, with a treatment plant that discharges to Cleghorn Creek and is being rehabilitated. Natural gas is Enbridge Gas North Carolina, formerly PSNC and Dominion Energy North Carolina.
Building and trade permits for Rutherfordton come from Rutherford County Building Inspections at 270 North Toms Street, and the town handles zoning for work that adds square footage. Gas Guys is licensed in North Carolina (#L39015) and serves Rutherfordton from its base in Spartanburg County, SC.
Rutherfordton at a glance
- Natural gas
- Enbridge Gas North Carolina. Enbridge Gas North Carolina serves Rutherfordton; homes out in the county past its mains use propane.
- Water
- Broad River Water Authority
- Sewer
- Town of Rutherfordton
- Permits
- Rutherford County Building Inspections (town zoning permit first for additions)
- Housing
- Nineteenth and early twentieth century homes in the Main Street area, mid-century houses, and newer homes outside town limits.
Plumbing and gas in Rutherfordton: what to know
Historic houses, layered plumbing
A house in the Main Street area may have been plumbed for the first time long after it was built, then redone every few decades. Expect a mix of cast iron drains, galvanized steel supply, copper and newer plastic. Repairs in a historic house go better when they reroute rather than open finished plaster, and a careful plumber looks for the route before cutting.
Water authority or town sewer
Water and sewer are separate here: the Broad River Water Authority supplies water, and the Town of Rutherfordton handles sewer. A leak at or before the water meter goes to the authority. A blocked public sewer main goes to the town. The service line from the meter and the drain to the tap belong to the homeowner.
Gas logs in old masonry fireplaces
Many older homes here have brick fireplaces converted to gas logs with a line run up through the hearth. Vented logs need the damper locked open. Vent-free logs have strict room-size and clearance rules, and in an old house with a tight chimney or a small room, vented is often the safer fit. A pilot that will not stay lit is usually a thermocouple, not the gas line.
Crawlspaces and cold snaps
Rutherfordton sits at the foot of the mountains and gets harder freezes than the SC Upstate. Supply lines in crawlspaces, near foundation vents and on north walls freeze first. Close the vents for winter, insulate exposed pipe, and know where your main shutoff is before you need it.