Home / Services / After water damage
Mold After Water Damage in Gainesville, FL
After a leak, flood or storm, the clock matters more than the cause. The EPA says water-damaged areas should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to keep mold from growing. If it has been longer, or the water was sewage or flood water, call a licensed remediator.
First 48 hours
Do this in the first 48 hours
- Stop the water. Find the leak or close the source.
- Photograph before you touch anything. Wide shots, close-ups, the water source and the date. You’ll want them for your insurer or your landlord.
- Dry it. Fans and a dehumidifier. Pull wet carpet, ceiling tile and anything soft that stayed soaked. Porous material that stays wet often has to be thrown away.
- Leave the AC alone if you think mold is in the system. The EPA says not to run an HVAC system you know or suspect has mold. Call the same day.
Flood and sewage
When it is flood or sewage water
The EPA says sewage and flood water need a professional. Don’t treat it like an ordinary leak, and don’t wait to see whether mold shows up.
Gainesville storms
What storms have done here
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. When Helene passed through in September 2024, the University of Florida’s weather station recorded a 66 mph gust, tens of thousands of residents lost power, and trees came down across the city and campus. Wind-driven rain gets into attics through damaged roofs and soaks insulation.
Tropical Storm Elsa in July 2021 flooded parts of northwest Gainesville. WUFT reported at least four homes in Hills of Santa Fe with significant water damage.
Insurance
Insurance and paperwork
Coverage usually depends on how the water got there. One Florida insurer’s published guidance says mold from covered water damage, like a burst pipe or a covered storm, may be covered, while slow undetected plumbing leaks, long-term roof leaks, uncontrolled humidity and poor ventilation typically aren’t. Your own policy is what counts, so read its mold section and call your agent before you sign a contract.
We document the work with photos, moisture readings and the scope. Your insurer decides what it pays.
The work
What the remediator does
A written scope first, then containment, removal of what can’t be saved, drying until a moisture meter shows the materials are dry, and a re-check. The full order is on the process page.
Drying
What decides whether mold starts
EPA guidance is to dry wet areas and items within 24 to 48 hours. The hard part is knowing what is still wet. Standing water is easy to see. The wet material is often hidden: the back of the drywall, insulation inside the wall, padding under carpet, the subfloor. A moisture meter can find damp material that looks dry to the eye.
When you talk to a remediator, ask whether the crew will take moisture readings, which materials they expect to remove, and how they will confirm the structure is dry before anything is closed back up. EPA says porous materials such as carpet and ceiling tile may have to be discarded if they stay wet or grow mold.
Paperwork
Document the loss before you clean it up
Photograph and date everything before you move or throw anything away. Keep damaged items until the adjuster has seen them, if you can. Write down what happened, when you found it and what you did first. Keep every receipt for drying equipment, repairs and hotel stays.
Coverage usually depends on a sudden, accidental water event. One Florida insurer says long-term moisture is excluded from mold coverage. That is why the first photos and the date of the leak matter. See the claim checklist and why claims get denied.
More questions
More questions, answered
How long do I have before mold grows
EPA says to dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours. After that, mold growth becomes more likely, especially on porous materials. Warm, humid weather in Gainesville makes the window feel shorter.
Should I run the AC after a leak or flood
If water reached the air handler, ducts or a return, have the system checked before you run it. EPA advises against running an HVAC system you suspect is contaminated with mold, because it can spread spores through the home. See AC and air handler mold.
Do I need testing after water damage
Not always. If you can see or smell mold, testing usually will not change what you do. See mold testing and inspection and testing kits.
FAQ
Mold remediation in Gainesville: your questions
Does homeowners insurance cover mold in Florida?
Sometimes. One Florida insurer’s published guidance says mold from covered water damage, such as a burst pipe or covered storm, may be covered up to a limit, with $10,000 standard on its policies, while slow leaks and humidity problems typically aren’t. Your own policy decides, so read its mold section.
How long does mold remediation take?
It depends on the size of the job and how long the structure takes to dry. The written scope should give you a schedule.
Can I stay in my house during mold remediation?
That depends on where the work is and whether the area can be sealed from the rest of the house. Ask the company, and get the answer in writing. If anyone at home has asthma or serious allergies, ask their doctor before staying.
Will the mold come back?
Only if the moisture does. The EPA says that if you clean up mold but don’t fix the water problem, it will most likely return. Ask what the warranty covers and what voids it, and get it in writing.
Sources: U.S. EPA mold guidance, Florida Statutes sections 468.8419, 83.51 and 83.56, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Florida Department of Health, and National Weather Service records.
Get a quote
Get a written quote for your Gainesville mold problem
Send a few photos and a short description, and PureGuard Restoration will come back with a written scope of work and price. We will get back to you as soon as we can.
- Call(352) 668-9909
- Text photos(352) 668-9909
- Or use the formName, phone, ZIP code, and what happened.
Ask for the license number when someone calls you back. You can check it on the state lookup.
About us: PureGuard Restoration is a mold remediation company serving Gainesville and Alachua County. We do not test for mold.
Request your written quote
What helps most in the first message
- Where the mold is and roughly how big it looks. A coin, a hand or a sheet of paper next to it helps.
- Where you think the water came from, and whether it’s fixed.
- When you first noticed it, and whether there was a leak, storm or AC problem before that.
- Whether you own, rent or manage the property, and whether you plan to involve insurance.