Mold Remediation in Pinellas Park, FL

Housing that's been around a while

Pinellas Park is a city in mid-Pinellas County, about 17 miles from Tampa. Its median home was built in 1978, and about 57% of housing units predate 1980. Houses that age have often had roofs replaced more than once, plumbing repaired in pieces, and AC systems swapped into closets designed for older equipment. Each repair leaves joints and seams where water can get in. In a slab home, a slow plumbing leak tends to show up first as swollen baseboards, loose floor tile or a musty smell in one room.

Manufactured homes need their own checklist

About 15% of the city's housing units are mobile or manufactured homes. Moisture problems in those homes usually start in a few places:

• Under the floor, where humid air and any plumbing drips collect behind the skirting. Keep vents clear so that space can breathe.
• Roof seams and the flashing around vents and additions, especially after summer storms.
• Window frames and exterior doors, where caulk dries out over time.
• Ductwork that runs under the floor, which can sweat or leak and carry moisture through the house. EPA says not to run an HVAC system you suspect is contaminated.

After a storm, or any stretch when the home sat closed up with the AC off, a walk-through for leaks, soft floor spots and damp skirting can catch problems early.

Flooding

Pinellas County says everyone in the county lives in a flood zone, high, moderate or low risk, and standard homeowners and renters policies typically don't cover flood. After Hurricane Milton, the county told residents of flooded homes to remove wet contents quickly to prevent mold and to disinfect everything that got wet.

Local offices

Pinellas Park runs its own building department at 6051 78th Avenue N, which issues permits for repairs inside city limits, such as replacing drywall or framing after mold removal. About 31% of occupied homes are rented; tenants with a leak the landlord hasn't addressed can contact the city's Neighborhood Services Department at 7780 60th Street, which handles possible city code violations. The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County has a location in Pinellas Park for public health questions.

When you call

The number on this page connects you with an independent local company. Say whether the home is site-built or manufactured and where you think the water is coming from. Under Florida's s. 468.8419, the company that assesses a structure can't remediate it within 12 months, so testing or clearance comes from a separate mold assessor. Both can be checked on DBPR's online licensee search.