Black Mold Removal in Zephyrhills, FL

Is black mold in a mobile home harder to remove?

It can be harder to reach. About 27 percent of housing units in Zephyrhills are mobile homes, and in those, dark mold often grows where nobody looks: the underbelly insulation, the subfloor around a tub drain, or the back of thin wall panels under a leaking roof seam. A remediation company may need to work from below, behind the skirting, as well as inside. Ceiling panels and soft particleboard floors that have been wet for a while usually come out rather than get cleaned. Keeping the area under the home dry, with skirting vents open and no standing water, is what keeps it from returning.

Does an older house here need a different plan?

Not a different method, but more places to check. About 34 percent of Zephyrhills housing was built before 1980, and the median year built is around 1990. Older roofs, original galvanized or copper lines and AC equipment that has been replaced piecemeal give water more ways in. The removal plan is the same for any color of mold: find the source, contain the room, take out porous materials that are colonized, clean and dry framing, and have an independent assessor confirm the area before walls are closed. Florida law keeps the assessor and the remediator on the same structure separate for 12 months.

What should I do before someone comes out?

Turn off the water to a leaking fixture if you can, and shut down the AC if the growth is on or near the air handler, because EPA warns a contaminated system can spread mold through the house. Don't scrub or sand a large patch, and don't paint over it. Take photos for your insurer. If you rent and a roof or plumbing leak isn't being fixed, the City of Zephyrhills Code Enforcement handles minimum housing issues such as roofs and windows, through the city's online service request portal or by phone.

A local note

Zephyrhills sits inland in east Pasco, on rolling ground well away from Gulf surge, and nearly 30 percent of residents are 65 or older. Most calls here come from rain and the AC rather than flooding. Rebuilding inside city limits, such as new drywall or framing, goes through the City of Zephyrhills Building Department on 8th Street. For health questions, the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County and the state DOH mold page are good starting points, and anyone with symptoms should see a health professional.