What is biohazard cleanup like in Downtown Lakeland?
ZIP code 33801 includes the center of Lakeland: Lake Mirror and its promenade, Lake Morton with its swans, the historic Terrace Hotel on East Main Street, the Lake Mirror Tower Apartments that began as the New Florida Hotel, and the Florida Southern College campus on Lake Hollingsworth Drive. It also reaches out to lakeside and newer communities such as Cypress Point at Lake Parker, Colonnades and Riverstone.
That makes it the part of town where the buildings are the oldest and the people live closest together. Many calls here involve apartments, condos, shared walls and shared hallways instead of a single-family house with a yard. The job is the same in principle, but the access, the neighbors and the building itself change how it gets done.
What do people in 33801 call about?
- A death in an apartment or condo. Odor and fluid travel through floors, walls and shared air systems, which makes unattended death cleanup more urgent in a multi-unit building.
- Police scenes. The Lakeland Police Department handles scenes inside city limits, and cleanup starts only after release. See crime scene cleanup.
- Rental turnover and evictions. Landlords and property managers deal with bodily fluid cleanup, medical waste cleanup and drug paraphernalia cleanup before a unit can be re-let.
- Businesses and venues. Restaurants, bars, offices and event spaces downtown may need a blood spill cleaned up fast enough to reopen the same day.
- Water and sewage in older buildings. Aging plumbing and heavy storms lead to sewage and biohazard cleanup.
What is different about older and shared buildings?
Shared walls, floors and air. In a condo or apartment building, fluid can move into the unit below and odor can follow shared ductwork or plumbing chases. Tell the provider whether you have neighbors on every side, whether there is a shared HVAC system, and where the building's air handler is.
Property managers and boards. Most multi-unit buildings have rules about vendors, hours, elevator use and notice to other residents. Tell the provider which management company or HOA to contact, and ask them to work around the building's requirements. Do not wait to tell the manager. They often have to notify their own insurer.
Older materials. Historic and older downtown buildings can have plaster walls, wood floors, original trim and layers of old finishes. Cleanup providers have to remove what is contaminated without causing more damage than necessary, and they will tell you what is likely to come out after seeing it. If the building is old enough to have lead paint or asbestos-containing materials, the provider should know before demolition starts, so tell them what you know about the building's age and any past testing.
Parking and access. Downtown streets are tight, loading space can be limited, and events at Lake Mirror, the RP Funding Center area and around the lakes can crowd the roads. Ask the provider about parking and an arrival time instead of assuming one.
Heat, humidity and water. Lakeland has about 550 lakes and many downtown buildings are close to one. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and mold can start within 24 to 48 hours in damp materials, according to the EPA.
What should I tell the provider?
- The building type, the floor and whether the unit is owner-occupied, rented or vacant
- The name of the property manager or HOA and any rules for vendors, elevators or work hours
- Whether neighbors have noticed odor or leaks
- Whether the unit has its own HVAC or shares a system
- Whether police or the medical examiner have released the scene
- Any known history of the building's age, past remodeling or testing for lead or asbestos
If you are a landlord, document what you find with photos and keep the estimate and waste receipt. Questions about who owes what between a landlord and a tenant's estate belong with a Florida attorney.
How does the call work?
- You call (863) 285-4232 and tell us the address and what kind of property it is.
- We connect you with an independent provider that serves 33801 and handles your type of scene.
- The provider assesses the property and gives you a written estimate.
- You approve the work, and the provider cleans, disposes of waste and gives you the paperwork.
Ask each provider for its Florida Department of Health biomedical waste ID, its insurance and how it disposes of waste. The biohazard cleanup in Lakeland, FL homepage lists the questions to ask.
Which nearby areas do you cover?
Downtown Lakeland sits between Northwest Lakeland to the west, Cleveland Heights to the south and North Lakeland along Lake Parker. See the full list of Lakeland service areas if your address is elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Do you cover apartments and condos in Downtown Lakeland?
Yes. Tell us the building type and the property manager when you call, because shared walls and shared air systems change how the work is done.
Do you cover Cypress Point at Lake Parker, Colonnades and Riverstone?
We take calls for those communities as part of ZIP code 33801. Provider coverage depends on the provider, and we will tell you when you call.
Who handles a death in a downtown apartment?
Law enforcement and the district medical examiner respond first. After the scene is released, the owner, estate or landlord arranges cleanup.
Does an older building change the cleanup?
It can. Plaster, wood floors and older finishes may need careful removal, and any lead paint or asbestos-containing materials have to be considered before demolition. Tell the provider what you know about the building.
Do I need to tell the building manager first?
Yes. Management usually controls vendor access, hours and elevator use, and may have to notify the building's insurer.