Wade Hampton quick facts
| What it is | An unincorporated community (Census-designated place) northeast of the City of Greenville, named for Wade Hampton III |
|---|---|
| ZIP codes | Mostly parts of 29607 and 29609 |
| People / homes | About 20,900 people in about 9,660 housing units |
| Built | Median 1973. 32% in the 1970s, 28% in the 1960s, 12% in the 1950s; only 5% since 2010 |
| Owner-occupied | 65%. Median home value about $339,000 |
| Utilities and permits | Greenville Water; sewer generally MetroConnects (check your bill); Greenville County Building Safety, (864) 467-7060 |
Why the drains go before the supply pipes
In a house from the 1960s or 1970s, the supply lines have often been replaced already, during a kitchen remodel or after a leak. The drains usually haven't, because they're under the floor, in the slab or buried in the yard. That's why most calls in neighborhoods like these are about backups, slow drains and sewer smells rather than leaks.
| Pipe | Where you'll find it | How it fails | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cast iron | Under the house and inside walls | Rusts from the inside, scales up, then cracks along the bottom | Slow drains throughout, sewer smell, rust-colored stains under the house |
| Clay tile | The lateral from the house to the street | Roots enter at the joints; sections shift | Backups that come back months after a cleaning |
| Orangeburg (fiber pipe) | Some laterals from the 1950s–60s | Softens and flattens into an oval over time | Recurring backups; a camera shows the pipe deformed |
| Galvanized steel | Original supply lines, if never replaced | Narrows with rust, then pinhole leaks | Low pressure, brown water after it sits |
Drain trouble in Wade Hampton? Call a local plumber
Our older homes guide shows how to identify each pipe type.
Camera first, then decide
If a main line backs up a second time, a camera inspection is usually the best money you'll spend. It shows whether the problem is roots that a cleaning will clear for a while, a belly where waste settles, a crack, or a collapsed section. With that in hand you can choose between:
- Clean and monitor: cable or jet the line, then re-check in a year. Fine for light roots in sound pipe.
- Spot repair: dig and replace one bad section. Makes sense when the rest of the line looks good.
- Replace the lateral: when the camera shows Orangeburg, repeated breaks or long root-filled stretches. In red clay, digging is slow, so ask how the price handles depth.
Ask for the camera footage or still images. A good company will show you what it saw.
Buying a 1960s–70s house here
A general home inspection usually doesn't include a sewer camera. For a house of this age it's worth adding one before closing; a broken lateral discovered after you move in is yours to fix. Also ask:
- Have the supply lines been replaced, and with what?
- When was the water heater installed? (Read the serial number; see our water heater guide.)
- Is there a cleanout in the yard, and where?
- Any history of backups or of roots being cut?
Remodeling? Deal with the pipes while the walls are open
With a median home value around $339,000, many Wade Hampton houses are being updated rather than torn down. A kitchen or bathroom remodel is the cheapest moment to replace old cast-iron stacks or galvanized lines in that part of the house, because the walls and floor are already open. Ask your contractor to have a plumber look before the drywall goes back up, and make sure the plumbing is on the Greenville County permit.
Whose pipe is it?
Across MetroConnects' service area, the property owner is responsible for the private sewer lateral from the house to the connection at or near the property line; the utility handles the main. In any backup, call MetroConnects first at (864) 277-4442; its 2023 lateral policy asks owners to, so it can check its section. If its side is clear, call a plumber. Our who-owns guide explains the split and reimbursement. On the water side, Greenville Water owns up to the meter; everything from the meter to the house is yours.
Choosing a plumber for an older home
- Ask whether they have a sewer camera and can show you the footage.
- Ask for options: cleaning, spot repair and replacement prices.
- Confirm the SC license on the LLR website and that they'll pull the county permit for replacements.
- Get it in writing, including restoration of the yard or floor after digging.
What drain and sewer work costs
| Job | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Drain clog cleared | $152–$421 (average about $240) | HomeAdvisor, Greenville SC, checked Oct 2026 |
| Sewer camera inspection | About $270–$1,731 | HomeAdvisor national guide, 2025 |
| Hydro jetting | About $350–$600 | HomeAdvisor national guide, 2025 |
| Sewer line replacement | $60–$250 per foot | Angi, Greer SC, checked Oct 2026 |
Around Wade Hampton
- Wade Hampton Boulevard (US-29): the commercial spine running northeast from Greenville toward Taylors and Greer.
- Bob Jones University: on Wade Hampton Boulevard at the area's southwest edge.
- Paris Mountain: to the north, with older neighborhoods on its lower slopes.
- Neighbors: Taylors to the east and the City of Greenville to the south and west; see the Greenville guide.
Talk to a plumber who works in Wade Hampton
Wade Hampton plumbing questions
Is Wade Hampton part of the City of Greenville?
No. Wade Hampton is an unincorporated community with a Greenville mailing address. Greenville County, not the city, issues plumbing permits there.
What is Orangeburg pipe, and do I have it?
Orangeburg is a fiber pipe made from wood pulp and tar, used for some sewer laterals until about the 1970s. It slowly flattens and fails. Only a camera inspection or digging confirms it.
How long does cast-iron drain pipe last?
Often 50 years or more, but many cast-iron drains in 1960s–70s homes are now at that age. Scale buildup, slow drains and cracks along the bottom of the pipe are the usual signs of the end.
Should I get a sewer scope before buying a 1970s house?
Yes, it's worth it. Standard home inspections usually don't include one, and a failed lateral can cost thousands once you own the house.
Why does my drain back up again a few months after cleaning?
Usually roots regrowing through joints in a clay lateral, or a sag where waste collects. A camera inspection shows which, so you can decide between repeat cleanings and a repair.
Who fixes the sewer line in my yard?
The private lateral from your house to the edge of MetroConnects' easement or the right of way is the owner's responsibility, so a plumber does it. MetroConnects owns its service lateral and the main beyond that point.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Wade Hampton CDP: tables B01003, B25034, B25035, B25003, B25077.
- MetroConnects: service area, private lateral responsibility, emergency line. metroconnects.org
- Greenville Water: service area and customer responsibility from the meter. greenvillewater.com
- Greenville County Building Safety: residential plumbing permits.
- HomeAdvisor (Greenville, SC; national sewer inspection and hydro jetting guides, 2025); Angi (Greer, SC).
Page history
October 2026: first published.