A planned city on flat land
Much of Palm Bay was laid out by the General Development Corporation as thousands of lots along a grid of streets and drainage canals. Homes were built lot by lot over decades, so a single street can have houses from the 1970s, the 1980s and last year. The land is flat, and drainage depends on canals and swales that fill quickly in heavy rain.
Fay showed the risk
When Tropical Storm Fay stalled over Brevard County in August 2008, its rain flooded many Palm Bay neighborhoods, with water standing in streets and homes for days. Turkey Creek and the drainage canals couldn't keep up. Many flooded homes were outside high-risk zones. Rising water from rain is a flood loss, excluded from homeowners policies. Check your address in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
1980s homes and polybutylene
Palm Bay's building boom came in the 1980s, the peak of polybutylene supply pipe. Many homes still have it, and it fails at fittings, often in attics. Homes from that era also have aging water heaters, original AC equipment and slab plumbing that's decades old. See burst pipe repair.
Wells, septic and growth
Parts of Palm Bay, especially in the southeast and west, still rely on wells and septic, while the city extends utilities. Saturated ground after heavy rain can back septic systems up. The city is also growing fast to the west and south, with new construction and its first-years leaks. See sewage cleanup.
Most-requested services in Palm Bay
In Palm Bay, most of our calls fall into three groups: burst pipe repair in 1980s homes with polybutylene supply lines; flood cleanup when drainage canals and Turkey Creek overflow; and sewage cleanup in neighborhoods still on septic. Not sure which fits your situation? Call and describe what you see, or compare all 12 services.
All 12 services in Palm Bay
- Water Damage Restoration
- Flood Cleanup
- Burst Pipe Repair
- Ceiling & Roof Leak Repair
- Storm & Hurricane Damage Restoration
- Mold Remediation
- Structural Drying & Dehumidification
- Sewage Cleanup
- AC & HVAC Condensation Leak Damage
- Insurance Claims Assistance
- Hurricane & Flood Damage Reconstruction
- Commercial Water Damage Restoration
Palm Bay neighborhoods and nearby communities
These pages cover local conditions in more detail:
Palm Bay questions
Do you have an office in Palm Bay?
No. SwiftFlow's only office is in Tallahassee, and Brevard County jobs are coordinated from there through our statewide response network. We'll give you an honest arrival estimate when you call.
How do I know if my home has polybutylene pipe?
Look for flexible gray plastic pipe where water lines come out of the wall under sinks, near the water heater, or in the attic. It's often marked PB2110. A plumber can confirm it quickly.
My street floods every heavy rain. Is that my problem or the city's?
Street and canal drainage is usually the city's responsibility, while water that enters your home is covered by your flood policy, if you have one. Report recurring street flooding to the city, and consider flood coverage.