Mold Remediation in Tarpon Springs, FL

Tarpon Springs is a Pinellas County city about 23 miles from Tampa, known for its Greek heritage and a sponge-diving industry that dates to 1905. Its bayous, including Spring Bayou, feed into the Gulf of Mexico, and the Greektown and Tarpon Springs historic districts hold some of the oldest buildings in the county.

The Helene surprise

Before Helene, many residents near the water had never seen it inside their homes. On Seabreeze Drive, just north of Fred Howard Park, surge rose about 2.5 feet in 30 to 45 minutes. A family that had lived there 47 years had water in the house for the first time, and a neighbor had to swim up Riverside Drive. After the storm, the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County warned that moisture from leaks or flooding speeds up mold growth that can keep damaging materials long after the water is gone.

Older homes, older moisture paths

The median home in Tarpon Springs was built around 1984, and about 39.5 percent of homes date from before 1980, including a small group of houses built before 1940. Older homes tend to have more places for water to sneak in:

• Aging roof flashing and window seals.
• Original supply and drain lines inside walls.
• Ductwork and air handlers that have been patched over the years.
• Wood framing that has taken on water during past leaks.

EPA's advice applies here: fix the water problem first, keep indoor humidity under 60 percent, and don't caulk or paint over mold.

City offices to know

Tarpon Springs runs its own building department rather than relying on Pinellas County. The Building Development Department issues permits and inspections and manages floodplain rules, including the FEMA 50 percent substantial damage and improvement rule that matters when rebuilding after a storm. Pinellas County says everyone lives in a flood zone of some risk level, and most homeowners insurance doesn't cover flood damage.

About 21 percent of homes here are rented. Tenants with leaks or moisture problems a landlord hasn't fixed can contact the city's Code Enforcement Division, and unsafe buildings can be reported to Building Development.

When you call

You'll reach an independent local remediation company. Tell them what you see, where the water came from and how long materials stayed wet. In Florida, assessment and removal are normally handled by different businesses: s. 468.8419 bars an assessor from remediating a structure it assessed within 12 months, and the reverse. Verify the remediator's Florida license on DBPR's online search, and bring health questions to a doctor or DOH-Pinellas.