Provider profile
PuroClean of Downtown St. Petersburg
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
St. Petersburg homeowners dealing with hurricane-related water or mold damage who want an owner-operated franchise that responds within hours and handles insurance documentation.
Best for
- St. Petersburg and Pinellas Park homeowners needing mold remediation or water damage restoration after storms or plumbing failures
- Vacation homeowners or Airbnb hosts who need fast remote-coordinated emergency response
- Property owners who want the same person doing the estimate and overseeing the job site
- Commercial property managers needing water damage restoration with minimal downtime
- Homeowners who need help documenting damage for insurance claims with before/after photos
About this company
PuroClean of Downtown St. Petersburg is a franchise location on 39th Ave N, owned and operated by brothers Cristian and Alex Ciobanu. Cristian brings over twenty years of business ownership and thirteen years running a property maintenance company. Alex has a sales and recruitment background. Between the two, Cristian handles job sites, estimates, and equipment while Alex oversees sales and operations.
The company uses thermal imaging and moisture meters to locate hidden moisture, dehumidifiers and high-velocity air movers for drying, and EPA-registered disinfectants for cleanup. They mention a proprietary drying panel system for wood floors that they say reduces the need for refinishing. The website describes a concierge program where subscribers become priority clients with free inspections and preferred scheduling.
This is a PuroClean franchise, which means standardized pricing systems and training. The Ciobanu brothers hold IICRC certification, EPA Lead-Safe certification, and membership in the Restoration Industry Association. They serve both residential and commercial properties.
A 5.0-star rating across 70 Google reviews is unusual. No reviewer in the dataset left anything below 5 stars. Many of those reviewers are Local Guides with substantial review histories, which adds credibility to the rating. Multiple reviews specifically reference hurricane response work after Idalia and Helene/Milton.
Services
Service area
Headquartered at 3135 39th Ave N in St. Petersburg, Florida. The website lists service areas as Feather Sound, Gandy, Highpoint, Largo, Lealman, Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg, and South Highpoint. All listed areas are within Pinellas County.
Review consensus
Cristian is the name that comes up most often. Reviewers describe him as responsive, hands-on, and willing to explain what he is doing and why. Multiple reviews mention him arriving within one to two hours of a call. Kat Clement, a Local Guide with 124 reviews, noted Cristian explained the mold remediation process and gave prevention recommendations. Samantha Varian said he has helped on several occasions with water damage and mold inspections and always provides detailed feedback. Suzanne Lanza praised his communication during a mold remediation project. Alex is mentioned less frequently but drew praise for fast response on a fire damage job and for clear communication. Several reviewers mention fair or reasonable pricing without being prompted. Guy Falzarano described the team responding quickly after Hurricane Helene left 30 inches of salt water and sewage in his home.
0 found across 70 total reviews at 5.0★. No negative reviews exist in the recent window. Across all 70 reviews, every single one is 5 stars.
The review profile is remarkably uniform: 70 reviews, all 5 stars, spread across two years. A significant portion of reviewers are Local Guides with double-digit review counts, which makes coordinated fake reviews unlikely. The pattern that emerges is an owner-operated franchise where Cristian personally shows up to most jobs and stays involved through completion. Several reviews reference hurricane response work, suggesting the business grew substantially during the 2023-2024 storm seasons in the Tampa Bay area.
Cristian Ciobanu (owner/operator — praised across 30+ reviews for responsiveness, knowledge, and hands-on involvement). Alex Ciobanu (owner/operator — praised for fast response on fire damage and clear communication).
Ask for Cristian if your job involves mold or water damage. He appears to be the primary field presence. Since they do both testing and remediation, get a separate mold assessment if your situation involves significant remediation costs. The 5.0 rating across 70 reviews is strong, but request references from jobs similar to yours to confirm fit.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. This is a conflict of interest: the company identifying your mold problem is the same one getting paid to fix it. Consider getting an independent mold assessment before committing to remediation.
- This is a franchise, not an independent company. Pricing follows PuroClean's national system, which means less room for negotiation but more predictability.
- The service area covers St. Petersburg, Largo, Pinellas Park, and surrounding communities. If you are outside Pinellas County, confirm they will travel to you.
- The website leans heavily on water damage content. Mold remediation appears as a secondary service. Ask specifically about their mold remediation process and equipment before assuming the same depth of capability as their water damage work.
- All 70 reviews are 5 stars with no negatives. While many come from established reviewers, the absence of any criticism makes it harder to anticipate potential issues.