Mold Inspection in Lutz, FL

What happens when you call

The number connects you with an independent local company that does mold assessment. You'll describe what you've noticed and when it started, whether there was a leak, storm or flood, and the size and type of home. At the visit, the assessor works through the house with a moisture meter and usually a thermal camera, checks the AC air handler, drain pan and registers, looks at plumbing walls, window frames and the attic, and notes indoor humidity. EPA recommends keeping it below 60 percent.

Florida's s. 468.8419 bars the assessor from remediating a structure it assessed within 12 months, and from taking a job where the fee depends on the conclusions. Expect a separate company for any removal, and use the written report to compare their bids.

Cost factors

• Home size; most Lutz housing is single-family (about 84 percent)
• Number of rooms or areas with symptoms
• Attic and air handler access
• Lab samples, if they would actually change the plan

Angi reports Tampa-area inspections typically run $300 to $1,075.

Local conditions in Lutz

Lutz grew from a rural community north of Tampa, with U.S. 41 through its center and I-275 along its east side, and about 9 percent of the area is water. The median home was built in 1989, so many houses are old enough for original roofs, windows or plumbing to have been patched. Hurricane Milton showed that flood maps don't tell the whole story: Tampa Bay Times coverage of neighborhoods outside flood zones that Milton swamped included floodwater and downed trees around homes on Linda Vista Road. If your house took water, EPA says to assume mold if materials weren't dried within 24 to 48 hours.

The office for permits depends on the side of the county line. Hillsborough County Development Services handles the Hillsborough part of Lutz; addresses in the Pasco County part fall under Pasco County.

Checklist before the visit

• Write down the date of any leak, storm or flood
• Clear access to the attic, AC closet and under sinks
• Don't clean or paint the affected area
• Have roof or plumbing repair records on hand
• Confirm which county your address is in