The burden of dealing with a mold infestation in Tampa can be overwhelming. You not only need medical treatment to help yourself and your family recover from the exposure, but you also need to purge the mold from your home first.
And mold can be anywhere and everywhere — in any room in the house, in the basement or crawlspace, inside walls and ceilings, embedded in carpets and furniture, in your clothes, and spread throughout your heating and air conditioning system.
That means moving you and your family out — and a mold remediation company in — for the days or weeks required to purge the mold from your home. Where will you live? Who can you turn to for professional help? How will you pay for it all?
We have the answers to those questions, and if you live in Tampa or near central Florida, we can refer you to reputable businesses that can provide the help you need.
But before we do that, let’s look at the step-by-step process for addressing a suspected toxic mold infestation:
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Recognize the problem. You first discover you have a mold problem either by seeing the mold in your home or having yourself or a family member diagnosed as having been exposed to it.
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Identify the source. If you see mold in your home or another building you frequent, you know the source.
If you learned of the mold problem via a medical diagnosis, you need to track down the source, which may be in your home or workplace, your child’s school, or somewhere else. You’ll need to have your home tested professionally or request that your employer and your child’s school have their premises tested.
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Hire a mold remediation contractor. If your home tests positive for mold, you’ll need to hire a mold remediation contractor to eliminate it and retest — using an independent testing source, not the mold remediation firm — to be sure that the mold and the toxins it produces no longer pose a health risk.
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Find a place to live. Mold remediation stirs up mold and toxins, temporarily creating a dangerous living situation.
Depending on the level of mold infestation, you may need to move out of your home for days or weeks to avoid exposure.
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Get medical treatment. As the mold problem affecting your living space is being addressed, everyone in your home should get tested and, if necessary, treated for mold exposure and toxicity.
Some molds can infect your sinuses or lungs, and the mycotoxins that certain molds produce can trigger inflammation, cause a variety of chronic illnesses, and overwhelm the body’s natural ability to fight infections and detox itself.
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Call your renter’s, homeowner’s, and medical insurance providers. Mold remediation, medical treatment, and temporary housing can get expensive, and you want to be sure that your insurance will cover most of the cost.
You may even want to call your insurance providers first — some are good about recommending qualified contractors and healthcare providers.
Next, let’s focus on choosing a qualified mold testing contractor and how exactly you should go about doing that.
Choosing a Qualified Mold Testing and Remediation Contractor
You can find plenty of self-help information and products on the internet to test for and treat toxic mold in Tampa yourself, but we discourage you from going it alone.
Qualified professionals can do the job more safely and thoroughly and often more affordably than you can, and chances are good that your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover the cost.
You just need to find a quality mold testing and remediation contractor.
Do Your Research
Later in this post, we recommend reputable mold testing contractors in and near Tampa. If you live elsewhere, you can find companies by searching the web for “mold testing” or “mold remediation” (depending on the service you need) followed by the name of your town or city and the abbreviation of your state — for example, “mold remediation in Laguna Beach, Calif.” Or use your smartphone to search for “mold remediation near me.”
After finding the names and contact information for several mold testing and/or remediation contractors, start to vet the contractors on your list:
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Visit the contractor’s website. Be sure the contractor is licensed and insured and has relevant certifications, such as Council-certified Microbial Remediator (CMR), Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor (CMRS), Council-certified Mold Inspector (CMI), or Council-certified Indoor Environmentalist (CIE) — as offered through the American Council for Accredited Certification, which is an independent, not-for-profit, that’s considered North America’s oldest and most prestigious certifying body dedicated to indoor air quality.
This information is usually displayed on the contractor’s home page or its About Us page. Read content on the site about mold testing and remediation to gauge the provider’s knowledge and expertise.
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Check out the contractor’s Facebook page or other social media properties. Look especially for any customer comments and interactions.
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Search for the contractor’s name followed by “reviews” or “ratings” to find out what customers have to say about the provider on sites like Yelp, Google, and HomeAdvisor.
Ask the Right Questions
Any reputable business welcomes questions from prospective customers and clients. Contact the contractor via its website, social media, email, or by phone and ask the following questions:
- Are you insured? A reputable company should be insured and able to provide proof of insurance.
- Are you licensed and certified? Consider only contractors that are licensed and certified to conduct mold testing and remediation in your state.
- Do you offer air quality testing? A company with pride and confidence in its mold remediation services will test the air quality on-site after the job is completed to ensure that the mold and toxins are gone.
- Do you guarantee your work? For how long after you’re done? Choose a contractor that guarantees its work for at least one year.
When communicating with prospective mold remediation contractors, gauge how willing they are to have an honest dialogue about their expertise. That’s usually a good indication of how qualified they are to complete the work safely and effectively.
Discuss Your Budget
Before hiring anyone, discuss your budget and contact your homeowner’s insurance provider or broker to determine whether or not your policy covers mold testing and remediation and what your deductible will be. You don’t want any unpleasant and costly surprises when the job is done.
Pro Tip: Get a few estimates to compare prices. You don’t necessarily want to hire the cheapest mold remediation contractor, but you do want to make sure that you’re not paying a price that’s too high for the service you’re getting.
Request Referrals
Any reputable business should be able and willing to provide referrals from prior customers. A referral demonstrates the contractor’s ability to deliver on their promise and that their work has stood the test of time.
It’s better than a rating or review because it shows that the service was so good that the customer is willing to go above and beyond to support the business.
Getting Help for Toxic Mold in Tampa
If you live in Tampa or anywhere near central Florida, we encourage you to check out the following mold testing and remediation contractors and other businesses and organizations committed to helping Floridians deal with toxic mold in their homes, condos, or apartments.
Toxic Mold Testing and Remediation Contractors
For in-home and office or workplace mold testing, we suggest the following Tampa mold testing companies:
StoneCrest Team Inspections
StoneCrest Team strives to provide the best inspections by having lab analysis and testing done only by accredited laboratories, where the latest diagnostic and testing tools and strategies are used by providing industry-leading first-class reports for mold, environmental, and thermography. They are committed, focused, and driven to provide you with the best inspection service.
- On the web: https://www.stonecrest.team/
- Phone: (813) 800 8326
- Email: service@stonecrest.team
- Service areas: Polk County, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Sunter County, Highlands County, Lake County, Osceola County and Orange County
Certified Mold Assessments (CMA)
CMA is dedicated to detecting and preventing mold and other microbial contaminants in indoor environments throughout central Florida and provides professional services for mold inspection, mold and allergen testing, and preventive maintenance. Every inspection project is supervised and conducted by a trained CMI and CIE.
- On the web: https://certifiedmoldassessments.com
- Phone: (813) 491-8713
- Service areas: Headquartered in Lutz, CMA serves all of Florida, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and Manatee counties.
Indoor Air Quality Services (IAQS)
This family-owned, licensed, and insured mold inspection company conducts testing and inspections only — no remediation. Rather than using a home mold test kit, consider hiring a contractor that specializes in testing. Indoor Air Quality Services has CIEs on staff to thoroughly inspect and test your home.
- On the web: https://iaqsfla.com
- Phone: (813) 586-4277
- Email: info@iaqsfla.com
- Service areas: Headquartered in New Port Richey, IAQS serves Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Polk, Hernando, and Sarasota counties.
Indoor Environmental Technologies
Indoor Environmental Technologies was founded in 1992 to provide residential and commercial services, including mold testing and detection, moisture inspection, indoor air quality assessments, thermal imaging, mold remediation protocols, and HVAC inspections.
They focus on inspecting, detecting, and correcting environmental challenges within a building through what they call applied science. They do not provide remediation services.
- On the web: https://ietbuildinghealth.com
- Phone: (727) 446-7717
- Service areas: Headquartered in Indian Rocks Beach, ITE serves Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Manatee, Sarasota, and Polk countries.
HVAC Air Quality Contractor
To have your AC checked and serviced properly (because this is where most mold problems begin), we suggest the following contractor:
Tampa Air Systems
Tampa Air Systems (TAS) is a leading HVAC contractor that focuses primarily on hygiene, maintenance, and replacement of commercial and residential ventilation systems.
The company delivers comprehensive HVAC services to keep indoor environments cool and clean year-round. When their recommended products and services are implemented, TAS offers a 100 percent Clearance Testing Guarantee.
- On the web: https://www.tampaairsystems.com
- Phone: (800) 980-4527
- Service areas: Based in Tampa, TAS serves South Tampa, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Clearwater, Indian Shores, Madeira Beach, Riverview, Sarasota, Bradenton, Myakka City, and St. Pete.
Do-It-Yourself Mold Testing
While DIY mold testing isn’t recommended, it’s a more affordable alternative to a certified mold inspection firm. If you’d like to start with preliminary testing before calling the pros, consider ImmunoLytics mold test kits:
ImmunoLytics
- On the web: https://immunolytics.com
- Phone: (505) 217-0339
- Cost: $33 per 12-by-12-foot room
Legal Counsel
If testing and remediation are out of your hands, and you can’t get a builder, an employer, a business, or a school to cooperate, you may need legal help. We recommend speaking with one the following legal professionals about your situation:
Johnson Daboll Anderson, PLLC
- On the web: https://jdalegal.com
- Phone: (813) 377-2499
- Email: contactjda@jdalegal.com
TJ Grimaldi, Attorney at Law
- On the web: https://www.tjgrimaldi.com
- Phone: (813) 226-1023
Mold-Free Housing
Finally, if you’re looking for a clean place to stay during remediation or in between homes, consider Healthier Stay:
Healthier Stay
Healthier Stay was founded by a family who struggled with toxic mold in their own home. Their journey took them to more than 40 doctors and top hospitals looking for help. From having children diagnosed with Lyme disease to living in water-damaged buildings, they’d had enough.
After spending years learning how to create healthy living environments with the right balance of healthy air and water, lower EMFs, and a guarantee of no mold, they launched Healthier Stay.
- On the web: https://healthierstay.com
- Phone: (888) 503-5592
- Email: info@healthierstay.com
- Location: 40 concierge-served apartments around Tampa (including in Oldsmar, Dunning, West Shore, and Clearwater).
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Disclaimer: Bio Design Wellness Center is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of the above companies. All product and company names are the registered trademarks of their original owners. The use of any trade name or trademark is for identification and reference purposes only and does not imply any association with the trademark holder of their brand. Any services provided by third-party companies listed above will be billed directly to you and be your sole responsibility.