Mildew in Temple Terrace homes usually forms on bathroom ceilings, closet walls, window frames and around AC vents, and EPA says a homeowner can usually clean a patch smaller than about 10 square feet. Bigger growth, mildew on drywall or spots that keep coming back need a professional to find the moisture source. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Temple Terrace.
Temple Terrace at a glance
Temple Terrace is its own city next to northeast Tampa, planned in the 1920s as a Mediterranean Revival golf course community and now home to Florida College. The Hillsborough River runs through the eastern and southern parts of town. Humid river air, mature shade trees and homes of many different ages mean mildew shows up in predictable places: steamy bathrooms, closets on exterior walls and rooms where the AC doesn't reach well. In older homes, original bathroom fans and window frames that have been painted over many times are frequent weak points; in newer ones, it is more often an AC system that cools fast but doesn't run long enough to pull moisture from the air.
What to do now
- Check the size. A patch smaller than roughly 3 feet by 3 feet is generally a do-it-yourself job, according to EPA.
- Find the source. Run the bathroom fan and hold a tissue to it; if it doesn't pull, the fan is part of the problem. Check ceilings for stains and windows for gaps.
- Suit up. Gloves, goggles and an N-95 respirator, with the room ventilated.
- Scrub and dry. Use detergent and water on hard surfaces and dry them fully. Don't combine bleach and ammonia.
- Bag porous items. Moldy rugs, cushions and cardboard rarely come clean.
- Bring down humidity. EPA advises staying under 60 percent indoors.
Matching spots to causes
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Spotting over the shower | Fan too small, not vented outside or not used |
| Mildew on a ceiling after storms | Roof, flashing or vent-boot leak |
| Dark ring at supply registers | Cold air meeting humid room air |
| Musty smell near the air handler | Clogged condensate line or dirty drain pan |
| Growth behind a dresser on an outside wall | Still air against a cool surface |
What affects the price
Angi reports Tampa-area bathroom mold remediation typically costs $525 to $1,075 and labor commonly runs $75 to $120 an hour. Drywall removal, containment and multiple rooms push a job higher. If repairs mean replacing drywall or framing, Temple Terrace's Building Division handles permits within city limits, and Hillsborough County's storm-recovery guide tells Temple Terrace residents to contact the city for post-storm repair instructions. If you hire help, ask the company to explain what it will clean, what it will remove and which repairs belong to a roofer, plumber or AC technician, and check the remediator's license on DBPR's online licensee search.
Mold & Mildew Cleanup questions in Temple Terrace
I rent and the mildew keeps coming back. What can I do?
Is mildew just an early stage of mold?
Can I paint over mildew with mold-resistant paint?
Why does my closet smell musty?
More mold services in Temple Terrace
Mold & Mildew Cleanup nearby
Sources
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
- Angi: How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost in Tampa, FL?
- Florida DBPR Mold-Related Services FAQs
- Hillsborough County: Rebuilding and Repair After a Hurricane
- City of Temple Terrace Building Division
- City of Temple Terrace: Common Code Violations
- Wikipedia: Temple Terrace, Florida
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