If you live in one of Jacksonville’s charming older homes—maybe a mid-century gem in Riverside or San Marco—or a historic beauty in St. Augustine, you’ve got a lot to love. The character, the big oaks, the stories in the walls. But beneath all that charm, there’s a sneaky threat quietly wreaking havoc: slab leaks. These hidden plumbing failures are more common than you’d think in Northeast Florida, thanks to our shifting clay soils, and they’re not cheap to ignore. At Turner Plumbing, right here at 1903 Hendricks Ave. in Jacksonville, we’ve seen how fast a little drip can turn into a big problem—and how catching it early (and fixing it the right way) can save your home.
What’s a slab leak, anyway?
Picture this: the pipes running under your concrete foundation spring a tiny hole. Maybe it’s from corrosion, maybe it’s from Duval County’s clay soil flexing and cracking the slab—either way, water starts escaping where you can’t see it. The signs creep in slowly. Your water bill might spike unexpectedly, or maybe you notice a warm spot on the floor where a hot water line is leaking beneath the slab. Left unchecked, slab leaks can cause warped floors, mold behind walls, or even damage to the foundation itself. And if your home was built during Jacksonville’s 1950s and ’60s housing boom—or centuries ago in St. Augustine—your aging pipes might be living on borrowed time.
Here’s the catch:
While Turner Plumbing does not perform leak detection, we work closely with trusted local specialists who can pinpoint the leak without tearing up your home. Once located, we step in to make the repair—but here’s what we want every homeowner to know: repairing a slab leak is often just a short-term fix. Once a pipe has started leaking, the surrounding lines—aged, stressed, and buried under your foundation—are likely not far behind. That’s why we strongly recommend repiping the water lines in your home if you’ve experienced a slab leak. It’s a bigger project upfront, but it saves you from the cycle of future leaks, costly repairs, and constant uncertainty.
Want to stay ahead of the problem?
Even if you haven’t had a slab leak, peace of mind is worth a lot—especially in our area, where the ground moves with every rainy season and dry spell. For homeowners who want to proactively protect their homes, we recommend installing a Moen Flo Leak Detection System. This smart device monitors your home’s water usage in real time, detects leaks, and can even shut off your water automatically if something goes wrong. It’s like having a 24/7 guard dog for your plumbing system.
Why this matters right now:
Slab leaks don’t happen on a schedule. Whether you’re in a cozy San Marco bungalow or a historic cottage near the bay in St. Augustine, the ground underneath your home is always shifting. We’ve seen soggy yards, warped hardwoods, and even small business owners dealing with water damage that interrupted operations. Don’t wait until a small issue turns into a major repair—or worse, a foundation problem.
Bottom line:
If your water bill has spiked, your floors feel unusually warm, or you just want to protect your home before trouble starts, give Turner Plumbing a call at (904) 396-7044 or visit https://turnerplumbingco.com. Whether it’s repairing a slab leak, repiping your water lines, or installing a leak detection system for prevention, we’ll help you keep your foundation—and your peace of mind—rock solid.