Highland's story is tied to the history of Black residents in Gastonia. The original Highland School stood at Walnut and North York Street, and the building completed in 1926 served students for decades. Community members describe North York Street as the part of Highland that has always been home to Black residents.
For plumbing, what matters most is that much of the housing is older and has been maintained and updated piece by piece over the years. That usually means mixed pipe materials and original sewer laterals.
Highland at a glance
- Core area
- North York Street, north of downtown[1]
- Landmark
- Highland School building completed 1926; Highland High School later moved[1]
- Today
- Highland School of Technology sits on the second Highland High School site[1]
- Community history
- Oral histories held by the Gaston County Public Library[2]
What older Highland homes commonly need
- Replacing sections of galvanized or older supply pipe that leak or restrict pressure
- Clearing and inspecting older clay or cast-iron sewer laterals
- Protecting crawl-space pipes from winter freezes
- Replacing old shutoff valves so water can be stopped in an emergency
- Water heater replacement and venting checks
Keeping repairs manageable
Ask the plumber to separate urgent safety and leak repairs from upgrades that can wait. Many older-home problems, such as a seized shutoff valve or one failing section of pipe, can be fixed on their own without a whole-house project.
Small repairs that prevent big ones
None of these require a whole-house project, and each one reduces the chance of an emergency later.
- Replace an old main shutoff with a quarter-turn ball valve
- Swap rubber washer hoses and toilet supply lines for braided stainless
- Insulate crawl-space pipes before winter
- Fix running toilets and dripping faucets to lower water bills
- Have the sewer lateral cleared and inspected if drains are slow
Getting a fair quote
Ask the plumber to explain what they found, show you the problem where possible and list the work and parts in writing. For bigger jobs, such as a sewer repair or repipe, ask for camera footage or photos and compare at least two quotes for the same scope. A licensed North Carolina plumber should pull permits where required.
Plumbing services for Highland homes
Nearby areas we cover
plumbing in Downtown Gastonia, plumbing in Forest Heights, plumbing in Loray Mill Village. See the full Gastonia and Gaston County service area guide.
Helpful guides for Highland homeowners
- What to Do When a Pipe Bursts: Shut off the main water valve immediately, then open the lowest faucet in the house to drain the pipes.
- Why Drains Keep Clogging: Drains keep clogging when the buildup was only punched through instead of removed, when something structural catches waste (roots, a sag or a broken pipe), or when the same materials keep going down the drain.
- Signs of a Sewer Line Problem: The main signs of a sewer line problem are several drains backing up at once, water rising in a tub or floor drain when a toilet is flushed, gurgling, sewage odor in the yard and a soggy or sunken strip of lawn along the sewer route.
- Why Water Pressure Drops: Low pressure at one fixture is usually a clogged aerator, cartridge or supply valve.
- How to Find Your Main Water Shutoff: The main water shutoff is usually where the water line enters the house: in the crawl space near the front foundation wall, in a garage, utility closet or near the water heater.
Other areas we serve
Willow Creek plumbing · York-Chester plumbing · Plumber in Belmont · Plumber in Mount Holly · Plumber in Cramerton · Plumber in McAdenville · Plumber in Lowell · Plumber in Ranlo · Plumber in Dallas · Plumber in Bessemer City
Highland plumbing questions
Where is the Highland neighborhood in Gastonia?
North of downtown, centered on North York Street, where the original Highland School stood.
What plumbing problems are common in older Highland homes?
Aging supply pipe, older sewer laterals, drain clogs, crawl-space freezes and old shutoff valves that won't close.
Can I fix one problem without repiping the whole house?
Usually yes. A plumber can replace a failing section or a seized valve on its own, and plan larger updates over time.
Sources
- Highland Rising: Where is Highland?
- Gaston County Public Library: Oral History collection
- NC Digital Collections: Highland High School, Gastonia
Local facts on this page are drawn from the sources above and were last reviewed 2026-10-06. Plumbing guidance is general and based on typical materials for the homes' age.