HVAC & Air Duct Mold Removal in Riverdale, GA

Signs to watch for

• A musty odor that rises and falls with the AC cycle
• Gray or black growth on registers, especially in humid rooms
• Stains on the ceiling under an attic unit or around a vent
• Water standing in the pan or on the floor near the furnace
• Sticky indoor air even when the thermostat is set low

What Riverdale homes face

Riverdale is a western Clayton County city about 13 miles from Atlanta, just south of Hartsfield-Jackson, that began as a railroad stop in 1886. Many homes have the air handler in the attic, where a clogged drain or an unsealed duct boot can drip onto drywall for weeks. Attic units are also exposed when the roof fails. WSB-TV reported on Riverdale renters who said mold developed after a storm-felled tree broke through their rental home's roof and rain kept getting in before repairs were made. Water coming through a roof can soak the duct insulation and the air handler cabinet as easily as the ceiling.

Clayton County was among the counties under a state of emergency during the September 2009 floods. The City of Riverdale Building and Permitting Division at 971 Wilson Road (770-909-5486) takes permit applications online through Citizenserve; ask whether a duct or equipment replacement needs one. Renters should give the landlord written notice of leaks and keep a copy; Georgia law requires landlords to keep rentals in repair, and Georgia Legal Aid points out that includes air conditioning that came with the unit. That is general information, not legal advice.

What affects the cost

Angi's Atlanta cost guide puts HVAC system mold remediation at $3,522 to $11,740. Price climbs with the number of duct runs involved, the need to replace duct board or lined duct, repairs to the coil or drain, and tight attic access. Ceiling drywall damaged by water adds more.

What happens when you call

You are connected with an independent local company. Be ready to describe where the unit is, when the smell started, and whether there has been a roof or drain leak. Expect an inspection of the unit and accessible ducts, photos of what is found, and a written scope separating cleaning from replacement. Georgia has no state mold license, so ask about training, and for rebuilding check the contractor on GOALS Verify Now.