Pipe and water heater leak cleanup in Fort Lauderdale
A supply line or a water heater can push clean water into a house for hours before anyone notices, and in a condo the first sign can be a stain on the ceiling of the unit below. Clean water gives drying a head start: drywall, cabinets and baseboards can often be dried in place if extraction and dehumidifiers start within the first day.
Who handles what depends on where the pipe broke. The City of Fort Lauderdale's utility billing FAQ says the city's property stops at the meter, and any pipe from the meter to the house belongs to the homeowner. A break on the street side, or a water main break, goes to the city's 24-hour Neighbor Service Center at 954-828-8000.
Your call is connected with an independent local company. Water category for this page: category 1 (clean) from supply lines when caught early; washer and dishwasher drain water is category 2.
Illustrative photo.
Right now
- 1Close the main shutoff valve, usually near where the line enters the house or beside the meter box.
- 2For a water heater, also close the cold-water inlet valve above the tank and switch off its breaker or gas. Let it cool before touching the drain valve.
- 3If water is coming through a ceiling light or near outlets, switch off that circuit from a dry spot, or stay out of the room.
- 4In a condo, tell the association and the unit owner above or below in writing, with photos and the time you noticed it.
- 5Photograph the source, the wet areas and anything damaged for your records before moving things.
Fort Lauderdale facts for this problem
The City of Fort Lauderdale's property stops at the water meter; pipe from the meter to the home is the homeowner's responsibility.
The city says it does not check private property for leaks.
Water main leaks and breaks go to the city's 24-hour Neighbor Service Center at 954-828-8000.
For billing questions after a leak, the city lists Utility Billing Customer Service at 954-828-5150.
In a Florida condominium, the association's property policy excludes water heaters, appliances and floor, wall and ceiling coverings inside each unit.
Source: Fla. Stat. 718.111.
About 65% of homes in Fort Lauderdale's ten residential ZIP codes were built before 1980, by Census estimates for ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, tables B25034 and B25035, calculated by Lauderdale Flood Line on November 12, 2026.
The median home in ZIP 33306 was built in 1967; in ZIP 33301 the median is 2006 (Census ACS 5-year).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, tables B25034 and B25035, calculated by Lauderdale Flood Line on November 12, 2026.
The city's 24-hour Neighbor Service Center at 954-828-8000 takes reports of water main leaks and breaks. Inside your property line it's different: the city's utility billing FAQ says its property stops at the meter. For billing questions after a leak, the same FAQ lists Utility Billing Customer Service at 954-828-5150.
Sources: City of Fort Lauderdale: Sanitation Service Tips; City of Fort Lauderdale: Utility Billing FAQ
What the work usually involves
Use this as a checklist when a company walks you through the job.
- Map the waterMoisture meters trace how far the water traveled under tile, behind baseboards and into the next room or unit.
- ExtractStanding water is pulled out of carpet, pad and grout lines so the drying equipment isn't fighting puddles.
- Open only what's neededSwollen baseboards and soaked insulation come out. Cabinet toe kicks are often removed to dry the space underneath.
- Dry and monitorDehumidifiers and air movers run with daily readings until each material reaches its normal dry level.
- RecordsPhotos and moisture logs are kept for you, which also helps if a condo association or neighbor asks what happened.
How insurance usually treats it
A sudden supply-line or water heater failure is usually treated differently from a slow leak that went on for months, which many policies exclude. In a condominium, Florida Statutes section 718.111(11)(f) says the association's policy excludes floor, wall and ceiling coverings, appliances, water heaters and built-in cabinets inside the unit, which fall to the unit owner. Your own policy and your association's declaration decide the rest.
General information, not insurance advice. Your policy decides. Florida rules at a glance.
What changes the size of the job
- How long the water ran before it was shut off
- Rooms, floors or neighboring units the water reached
- Tile and grout, wood, laminate or carpet in the wet area
- Cabinets and built-ins that have to be opened or removed
- How many days the drying equipment runs, and how many units
We don't quote prices. A company measures moisture on site and writes an itemized estimate.
Questions people ask
Who fixes a leak between the meter and my house in Fort Lauderdale?
You do. The city's utility billing FAQ says its property stops at the meter and pipe from the meter to the home is the homeowner's responsibility. The city also says it does not check private property for leaks. Leaks on the street side of the meter go to 954-828-8000.
The condo above me leaked into my unit. Who pays to dry my unit?
It depends on your association's declaration and both owners' policies. Florida Statutes section 718.111(11)(j) makes a unit owner responsible for damage caused by their own negligence or by not following the declaration. Report it to the association in writing right away, with photos.
Can I keep using the water while I wait?
Not if the leak is on a line you can't isolate. Close the main and use bottled water until the line is repaired. If only the water heater failed, you can usually close its valves and keep the rest of the house running.
Can tile floors be saved after a leak?
Tile itself rarely needs replacing, but water can sit under it and in the grout. Moisture readings around the edges of the room show whether drying is done.