When your plumbing systems fail in Hickory—whether that’s a burst pipe flooding your Viewmont historic home, a grinder pump malfunction at your Lake Hickory waterfront property, cast iron sewer line deterioration in downtown’s aging infrastructure, or a water heater failure in Newton—you need contractors who approach plumbing as precision craftsmanship, not just pipe fitting. A&B Plumbing has earned a perfect 5.0-star rating across 301 verified reviews by treating every project as a referendum on our reputation in a tight-knit community where our children attend the same schools, our families worship in the same churches, and our word is our bond. Craftsmanship isn’t a marketing slogan here—it’s the standard our neighbors expect and the legacy we’re building for the next generation of Catawba Valley plumbers.
We’re based on 2nd Street NE in downtown Hickory, centrally positioned to serve the entire metro—from the historic homes of Viewmont where cast iron pipes installed in the 1940s-60s require expert replacement, to the commercial corridor along Highway 70 where businesses need reliable plumbing contractors who understand operational continuity, to the lakefront properties of St. Stephens where grinder pumps and lift stations require specialized maintenance. From our shop, we reach downtown Hickory in 5 minutes, Viewmont in 8 minutes, Newton in 15 minutes, Conover in 12 minutes, and Lake Hickory properties in 20 minutes. We’re not a regional franchise learning Catawba County’s infrastructure from a manual—we’re the hometown craftsmen who’ve been maintaining, repairing, and installing Hickory’s plumbing systems since before Lenoir-Rhyne University expanded their campus and Highway 70 became the region’s commercial spine.
Complete Plumbing Solutions for the Catawba Valley
Hickory’s mix of historic downtown infrastructure, lakefront properties with specialized systems, and growing suburbs creates plumbing demands that require both traditional craftsmanship and modern technical knowledge. We deliver solutions that honor both traditions.
- Comprehensive Plumbing Repair & Maintenance — We handle the full spectrum of residential and commercial plumbing: leak detection and repair, fixture installations, pipe replacement, drain cleaning, water pressure regulation, slab leak repair, gas line work, and emergency response. But here’s what separates craftsmen from plumbers: when we diagnose your problem, we also evaluate the broader system context. That leaking fixture? We check supply line condition, water pressure, and shut-off valve functionality—not just replace the faucet and leave underlying problems to fail next month. Those slow drains? We investigate beyond the immediate clog to identify chronic issues (root intrusion, pipe deterioration, improper slope) that cause repeat problems. This comprehensive approach prevents the callback cycle that plagues homeowners who hire contractors focused on quick fixes rather than lasting solutions.
- Water Heater Installation & Service (Tank & Tankless) — Water heater failures are inevitable—traditional tanks last 8-12 years, and when they fail, it’s usually catastrophic flooding. We install and service both conventional tank units and modern tankless systems, but our craftsmanship approach means we don’t just swap equipment. We evaluate your household’s actual hot water demand (not builder’s default sizing), assess water quality impacts (Hickory’s municipal water hardness affects tankless longevity), verify adequate gas supply or electrical service (tankless requires upgraded infrastructure), and install with proper venting, expansion tanks, and shut-off valves that code-minimum installations skip. For Newton families and Conover homes where water heaters are often located in basements or garages, we also install drain pans and alarms that prevent the flooding damage that occurs when tanks fail unnoticed.
- Cast Iron Pipe Replacement (Historic Home Specialists) — Downtown Hickory and Viewmont’s historic neighborhoods have cast iron sewer lines installed 50-80 years ago that are deteriorating from the inside out. Cast iron corrodes, cracks, and collapses—creating sewage backups, foundation damage, and health hazards. We specialize in cast iron replacement using modern materials (schedule 40 PVC or ABS) with proper slope, clean-outs, and connections that last decades. Our craftsmanship shows in details other contractors skip: minimizing interior wall damage during replacement, properly supporting horizontal runs to prevent future sagging, installing accessible clean-outs for future maintenance, and restoring finishes so you can’t tell work was performed. For historic homes where preservation matters, we coordinate with homeowners to maintain architectural integrity while upgrading infrastructure.
- Drain Cleaning & Sewer Line Service — Slow drains, recurring clogs, and sewage backups indicate mainline problems requiring professional intervention. We use video camera inspection to diagnose issues (tree roots, pipe collapse, grease buildup, improper slope), then implement appropriate solutions: mechanical augers for simple obstructions, hydro-jetting for heavy buildup, and excavation for structural failures. Conover and Newton’s mature tree coverage creates inevitable root intrusion into clay and cast iron sewer lines—we don’t just clear temporary paths through root masses, we remove roots completely and recommend solutions (chemical treatments, pipe replacement, or scheduled maintenance) that prevent rapid regrowth. This prevents the “clear it today, clogged next month” cycle that wastes homeowner money.
- Grinder Pump & Lift Station Service (Lake Hickory Specialists) — Lake Hickory’s waterfront properties often use grinder pumps and lift stations to manage sewage in locations where gravity drainage isn’t possible. These systems require specialized knowledge that typical plumbers don’t possess: electrical troubleshooting for pump motors, float switch adjustment, check valve maintenance, alarm system verification, and emergency response when failures occur. We service all major grinder pump brands, carry common replacement parts, and respond quickly to failures because we understand that non-functional sewage pumps create immediate health hazards and property damage risks. For lakefront homeowners in St. Stephens and around the lake, we also provide preventive maintenance contracts that catch problems before emergency failures occur during holiday weekends or when guests are visiting.
- Commercial Plumbing Services (Highway 70 Corridor) — Businesses along Hickory’s Highway 70 commercial corridor need plumbing contractors who understand operational continuity. Restaurant grease traps require regular maintenance on schedules that don’t disrupt service. Retail facilities need rapid repair response when customer restrooms fail. Office buildings require after-hours service that doesn’t interrupt business operations. We provide commercial plumbing with the same craftsmanship standards as residential work but with scheduling flexibility and communication protocols that respect business needs. We coordinate with property managers, document work for building records, and maintain relationships that make us the first call when urgent commercial plumbing needs arise.
Serving Hickory, Newton, and Conover
Whether you’re near L.P. Frans Stadium where Hickory’s sports complex meets downtown neighborhoods, living in St. Stephens where lakefront properties require specialized grinder pump maintenance, managing historic homes in Viewmont where cast iron pipe replacement preserves architectural character while upgrading infrastructure, operating businesses along the Highway 70 corridor where plumbing failures disrupt commerce, or maintaining family residences in Newton and Conover where water heater replacements and drain cleaning keep households functional—A&B Plumbing understands that every corner of the Catawba Valley has distinct plumbing challenges shaped by infrastructure age, property types, and community character.
We’re positioned on 2nd Street NE in downtown Hickory—not in a strip mall on the outskirts or dispatching from another county. Our downtown location means we reach Viewmont’s historic district in 8 minutes, downtown businesses in 5 minutes, Newton in 15 minutes, Conover in 12 minutes, and Lake Hickory properties in 20 minutes. We know that Viewmont’s homes built in the 1940s-60s have cast iron that’s reaching end-of-life. We know that Lake Hickory properties depend on grinder pumps requiring specialized service. We know that Newton’s family homes often have water heaters in basements where failures cause flooding damage. We know that Conover’s mature trees send roots into sewer lines creating chronic backup issues. We know that Highway 70’s commercial properties need contractors who understand business operational pressures.
Our service area extends throughout Catawba County—covering Maiden, Claremont, Catawba, and Sherrills Ford. When Lenoir-Rhyne University needs reliable plumbing contractors for campus facilities, they call us because we deliver on commitments. When historic downtown property owners need cast iron replacement that respects architectural integrity, they call us because craftsmanship matters to them as much as it does to us. When Lake Hickory homeowners need grinder pump specialists who understand lakefront system complexities, they call us because we’re one of few local contractors with that expertise. When families throughout the valley need plumbers they can trust in their homes, they call us because our perfect 5.0 rating across 301 reviews proves we treat every property like our own.
Why Hickory Chooses A&B Plumbing
Perfect 5.0-Star Rating Across 301 Reviews — In the plumbing industry where one mistake can cause catastrophic property damage, maintaining a perfect 5.0-star rating across 301+ verified reviews is virtually unprecedented. This isn’t luck—it’s the result of craftsmanship-first culture where every technician understands that their work carries our family name into customers’ homes. We don’t just aim for technical correctness—we pursue excellence in every detail: clean work areas, respectful communication, thorough testing, proper documentation, and follow-up verification. This obsessive attention to detail is why we’ve never received less than 5 stars from any customer willing to share their experience publicly.
Craftsmanship Heritage (Multi-Generation Excellence) — A&B Plumbing isn’t a franchise that arrived yesterday or a startup learning on your property. We’re a Hickory institution with deep roots in the Catawba Valley. Our technicians include second-generation plumbers trained by fathers who served this community for decades. This heritage matters because craftsmanship isn’t just taught in trade school—it’s mentored through years of apprenticeship watching masters solve problems, make decisions, and take pride in work quality. When we say we approach plumbing as craftsmanship, we mean it literally: we’re carrying forward traditions of excellence that predate modern disposable culture.
Historic Home Specialists (Cast Iron & Preservation) — Viewmont and downtown Hickory’s historic properties require plumbers who respect architectural integrity while upgrading infrastructure. We’ve replaced hundreds of cast iron sewer systems in historic homes, learning to minimize invasive work, preserve original finishes where possible, and coordinate with homeowners who care about maintaining historic character. This isn’t just technical plumbing—it’s understanding that these homes are legacies being preserved for future generations, and our work either honors or damages that preservation effort. We choose to honor it.
Lake Property Expertise (Grinder Pumps & Lift Stations) — Lake Hickory’s waterfront properties present unique plumbing challenges that typical residential plumbers don’t encounter: grinder pump systems requiring electrical and plumbing expertise, lift stations with complex controls, sewage systems operating below grade, and emergency response needs where system failures can’t wait until Monday. We’re one of few Hickory contractors specializing in lakefront plumbing systems, combining electrical troubleshooting skills with plumbing knowledge to maintain the integrated systems that lakefront properties depend on.
Transparent Communication & Honest Recommendations — We treat customers as intelligent partners, not marks to be manipulated. When we diagnose problems, we explain findings clearly, describe repair options at different price points, provide honest assessments of urgency, and never pressure decisions. When customers decline recommended work, we document it for future reference but respect their choices without guilt trips or scare tactics. This transparency is why our perfect rating persists: customers trust our recommendations because we’ve proven we prioritize their long-term interests over our short-term revenue. In a tight-knit community like Hickory, dishonest contractors don’t survive—and we plan to serve this valley for generations to come.
Punctuality & Professional Operations — We schedule appointment windows and arrive within them—not “sometime Tuesday” vagueness that wastes your day waiting. If delays occur (previous job complications, traffic accidents), we call ahead updating you—not leave you wondering if we forgot your appointment. We arrive in clean trucks with organized equipment, not rolling junkyards. We wear uniforms, use floor protection, and clean work areas thoroughly before leaving. These seem like basic professional courtesies, but if you’ve dealt with contractors who treat schedules as suggestions and properties as construction sites, you know how rare true professionalism has become. We maintain these standards because they’re part of craftsmanship—respecting customers’ time and property is inseparable from respecting the trade itself.
Ready to Schedule Service or Request a Consultation?
Call A&B Plumbing at (980) 276-0199 or Request Service Online for expert plumbing repairs, water heater installations, cast iron replacement, drain cleaning, or grinder pump service throughout Hickory and the Catawba Valley. Whether you need routine maintenance, emergency repairs, or comprehensive system upgrades, we’ll provide the craftsmanship and professional service that 301 perfect reviews prove we deliver consistently.
Hickory’s historic infrastructure, lakefront properties, and tight-knit community character require plumbers who combine technical expertise with craftsmanship values and hometown accountability. Work with the only team that’s maintained a perfect 5.0-star rating across hundreds of reviews while treating every project as a referendum on our family name and community reputation. Find out why homeowners, businesses, and property managers throughout Viewmont, Newton, Conover, and Lake Hickory choose A&B Plumbing when craftsmanship, reliability, and honest service matter.
