What the City says about the Original Section
The City of Greenacres says on its history page that the city was founded in 1923 by Lawrence Carter Swain, who bought about 1,000 acres and divided it into plats. It also says Plat II, laid out one-half mile west of Military Trail, became the city's Original Section and that it still exists. That is the verified local fact this page rests on.
What we cannot verify is the age or build of any one house. A plat from the 1920s tells you when the land was divided, not when a particular home went up. Lots in an old plat get rebuilt, added to and renovated over many decades, so one street can hold very different plumbing from house to house.
So treat the history as a reason to look, not as a diagnosis. If you want to know what is behind your walls, leak detection finds an active leak without opening anything up, and a camera shows the real condition of the drain.
Find your own home's age before assuming anything
The public property record for your parcel usually lists a year built. Look that up first, because it tells you more than the neighborhood name does. A house built in one decade and extended in another may carry two kinds of pipe in the same wall.
Pipe material depends on when each part was plumbed and who did the work, so we do not guess it from the street. A sewer camera inspection shows what the drain line is made of and whether it is cracked, offset or filled with roots. If the camera or a pressure check shows a failing supply line, repiping is the conversation to have, with the price given before any work starts.
Signs that deserve a call in any home, old or new
These are general plumbing signs. They are not claims about specific Original Section houses.
A drain that slows again within weeks
A cable opens a hole in the clog but may leave buildup on the pipe wall. If the same sink or tub slows again, drain cleaning or a camera look is the next step.
A water bill that jumps with no change at home
Turn off everything that uses water and watch the meter. If it still moves, water is going somewhere it should not.
A warm or damp spot on a slab floor
Water under a slab can carry heat from a hot line. A warm patch that comes and goes deserves a leak check before the floor is damaged.
Rust or pooling at the base of the water heater
A tank that weeps from the bottom is usually past repair. A water heater replacement is cheaper when it is planned than when the tank fails overnight.
Not sure what you are looking at?
Call us and describe it. We would rather ask three questions on the phone than guess at the door.
Who to ask first when something goes wrong
Some problems belong to the utility, and some belong to the house. This table helps sort the two.
| What you notice | Ask first | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Low pressure on your whole street. | Your water utility. | Call us if the utility says the problem is on your side of the meter. |
| One fixture runs weak. | Call us. | A quick check of the valve, aerator or supply line usually finds it. |
| Sewage smell or backup at several drains. | Call us. | A main line check, often with a camera. |
| Water changing color across the block. | Your water utility. | Call us if it is only in your house. |
Most of Greenacres is supplied by Palm Beach County Water Utilities. Ask the utility which provider serves your address if you are unsure.
Before you call
Three small steps make the first call faster and the visit shorter.
Find the main shutoff
Know where the main valve is and turn it gently. If it will not move, stop and tell us rather than forcing it.
Give the full street address
The house number and the nearest cross street help us find you without guessing.
Photograph what you see
Take a clear photo of the leak, the stain or the water heater label. It speeds up the call and helps with an insurance claim.
Nearby neighborhoods and towns
Original Section plumbing questions
The City says Plat II, laid out one-half mile west of Military Trail, became the Original Section. That makes it the plat the city began with. It does not tell us how old any single house is.
We cannot say that for any specific house. Pipe material depends on when each part of the home was plumbed. A camera inspection and a pressure check give a real answer.
The public property record for your parcel usually lists a year built. That is a better starting point than the neighborhood name.
Call your water utility first. If the utility says the problem is on your side of the meter, call us and we will look at the house side.