A Lithia Springs remediation job starts with the moisture source, then containment, removal of growth and any porous materials it has damaged, and drying before repairs. EPA says patches under about 10 square feet can usually be cleaned by the homeowner. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Lithia Springs.
Lithia Springs at a glance
Lithia Springs is an unincorporated community of about 16,600 people in northeastern Douglas County, roughly 16 miles from Atlanta, named for the mineral springs that drew visitors in the 1880s. It gave up its city charter in 2000, so Douglas County handles permits and code enforcement. Sweetwater Creek, a Chattahoochee tributary, runs through the area. In September 2009 the creek crested just over 30 feet against a 17-foot flood stage, and the Georgia Bulletin reported a two-story home on Hasty Drive submerged under more than 11 feet of water. Businesses near the creek flooded too. Away from the creek, the everyday sources are humidity, clogged AC drains, roof leaks and clay soil that keeps foundations wet after storms.
What to do first
- Make sure the area is safe, then stop the water: a pipe, a roof leak or surface water reaching the foundation.
- Pull wet rugs, cushions and boxes out to dry or discard.
- Start fans and a dehumidifier; EPA says to dry materials within 24 to 48 hours.
- Keep the HVAC off if water reached ducts or the air handler.
- Call a company for anything bigger than about 10 square feet or anything inside walls.
Signs and likely causes
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Spotting low on walls after heavy rain | Water reaching the foundation or slab edge |
| Musty odor from floor registers | Damp crawl space or wet ductwork |
| Mold on the ceiling near a bathroom fan | Fan venting into the attic instead of outside |
| Swollen cabinet bottoms | Slow plumbing leak under the sink |
Costs and county rules
Angi's Atlanta cost guide reports typical remediation at $1,249 to $4,363, crawl space work at $587 to $2,348, and whole-house jobs at $11,740 to $35,220 for the worst cases. Flood-related work runs higher because more material comes out and drying takes longer.
Douglas County Building Permits & Inspections, at 4655 Timber Ridge Drive in Douglasville, covers rebuild permits for Lithia Springs addresses. Renters can contact Douglas County Code Enforcement, which enforces the International Property Maintenance Code in unincorporated areas. Georgia has no state mold license; for rebuild work, ask whether the company holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license and check it on GOALS Verify Now.
Mold Removal & Remediation questions in Lithia Springs
Who should stay away from the work area?
Can I hold back rent until the mold is fixed?
Should I test for mold before remediation?
Can I just paint over the mold or spray bleach on it?
More mold services in Lithia Springs
Mold Removal & Remediation nearby
Sources
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- EPA: Homeowner's and Renter's Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters (pdf)
- EPA: Mold Information Slideshow (testing and sampling)
- Angi: Mold Remediation Cost in Atlanta, GA
- GeorgiaLegalAid.org: Repairs to Rental Properties
- Georgia SOS GOALS: Verify Now
- Douglas County: Building Permits & Inspections
- Douglas County: Code Enforcement
- Times-Georgian: Two years later, historic flood's wrath still felt
- Georgia Bulletin: Flood of biblical proportion submerges home (2009)
- Lithia Springs, Georgia (Wikipedia)
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