Crawl Space Mold Removal in Tyrone, GA

Why does my Tyrone crawl space get so damp?

Tyrone is a town of about 7,700 people in northwest Fayette County, roughly 22 miles from Atlanta, with Line Creek forming its western boundary with Coweta County. Lots on low ground toward the creek can hold more groundwater, but most crawl space moisture here comes from three ordinary sources:

• Summer air. From May into October, humid air flows through foundation vents and condenses on wood and ducts cooled by the air conditioning.
• Clay and runoff. Red clay drains slowly, and gutters or downspouts that empty at the foundation feed water straight to the crawl space.
• Leaks. Supply lines, drains and AC condensate lines that drip or empty under the house.

Any of these, left alone for a few months, gives mold time to spread across joists and into the insulation.

Is the mold coming through my air conditioning?

It might be. Ducts that run through a crawl space can sweat when cold air passes through them on a humid day, and leaky return ducts can pull crawl space air into the system. If the smell gets stronger when the system kicks on, mention it when you call. EPA says not to run an HVAC system you suspect is contaminated with mold, because it can spread spores through the house. A good assessment checks the ducts, the air handler and its drain pan along with the framing.

Who issues permits if wood has to be replaced?

The Town of Tyrone Building Department, part of Community Development and operated with SAFEbuilt, issues residential building, HVAC, electrical and plumbing permits. Cleaning mold is not permit work, but replacing joists, sill plates or subfloor is. Georgia has no state mold license, so ask whether the company holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license for any repairs and check it on GOALS Verify Now.

A local note

Tyrone Code Enforcement accepts complaints through an online violation form. Renters should send landlords written repair requests; Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 44-7-13) puts repairs on the landlord. This is general information, not legal advice. For costs, Angi's Atlanta cost guide reports crawl space mold remediation at $587 to $2,348.