Mold Remediation in Lithia, FL

Humid inland living

Lithia lies about 18 miles east-southeast of Tampa and mixes strawberry, citrus and blueberry farms and tropical fish farms with the FishHawk Ranch master-planned community. Inland doesn't mean dry. Air conditioning runs most of the year, and every hour it runs it pulls water out of the air and sends it down a condensate line. When that line clogs, the overflow lands in the air handler closet, the ceiling below an attic unit or the wall cavity beside it.

Other common sources in Lithia homes:

• Roof leaks after afternoon thunderstorms and tropical systems.
• Bathrooms without enough exhaust ventilation.
• Slow plumbing leaks behind dishwashers, refrigerators and vanities.
• Indoor humidity creeping above 60 percent when the thermostat is set high.

When the Alafia rises

Low ground near the river, including Lithia Springs at under 8 feet of elevation, can flood. After Hurricane Milton, residents off Lithia Pinecrest Road were evacuated by boat and high-water vehicles from homes surrounded by the rising Alafia, and one man was rescued from waist-deep water on his porch. The Lithia Springs Elementary track and field complex flooded as the river reached moderate flood stage. EPA says a home that flooded and couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours should be treated as if mold is growing.

Hillsborough County calls flooding its most costly and repetitive natural disaster and urges residents to check their flood zone; homeowners insurance usually doesn't cover flood damage.

County offices

Because Lithia is unincorporated, Hillsborough County Development Services issues building permits. Its storm guidance says drywall removal and replacement is cosmetic and doesn't need a permit, though a Substantial Damage packet is still required, while structural repairs in a Special Flood Hazard Area do need one. Renters with an unrepaired leak can file with Hillsborough County Code Enforcement. For health questions, the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County is the local contact; it doesn't test homes for mold.

What to expect

A call connects you with an independent local company. They'll want to know how large the area is, how long it has been wet and whether the moisture source has been found. If the river reached your home, mention that too, since floodwater changes what has to be removed. A photo or two of the affected walls and floors helps the conversation. Under Florida's s. 468.8419, the company that assesses mold in your home can't remediate it within 12 months, and the remediator can't be the assessor, so those are usually separate businesses. Look up the remediator's license on DBPR's site.