Mold Is Really a Water Problem
Finding mold in your home is unsettling, especially if you're worried about your family's health or what it will cost to fix. It helps to know that mold doesn't appear out of nowhere. Mold spores are almost everywhere, indoors and out, and they only start to grow where there's moisture. A slow leak under a sink, a roof leak, a flooded basement or water that wasn't fully dried after a pipe burst are the usual causes.
That's why the most important part of getting rid of mold is fixing the water problem behind it. If the moisture stays, the mold comes back. A water damage professional can find that moisture, dry it out properly and remove the mold safely, all as part of one job.
Signs Water Damage Has Led to Mold
- A musty or earthy smell, even if you can't see anything
- Dark spots or fuzzy growth on walls, ceilings, grout or around windows
- Stains, bubbling paint or warped materials near a past leak
- Mold returning after you've cleaned it
- Allergy-like symptoms that improve when you leave the house
When You Can Clean It Yourself
For very small areas, you may be able to handle it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests homeowners can usually clean mold covering less than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3 ft by 3 ft patch, as long as the moisture problem has been fixed. Wear gloves, goggles and an N-95 respirator, scrub hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry them completely.
When to Call a Professional
In most other situations, it's safer and less stressful to bring in a water damage and mold remediation company. Call a professional when:
- The moldy area is larger than about 10 square feet
- Mold is inside walls, under floors or in your heating and cooling system
- The mold followed flooding, a sewage backup or a major leak
- You smell mold but can't find where it's coming from
- Someone in the home has asthma, allergies or a weakened immune system
What a Professional Will Do
A qualified restoration company handles both the water and the mold, so you don't have to coordinate several contractors.
Find the Moisture
The team uses moisture meters, and often thermal cameras, to find where water is hiding and how far the mold has spread. They'll identify the source, whether that's a leak, poor ventilation or leftover water damage.
Contain the Area
To keep spores from spreading to the rest of your home, they seal off the work area with plastic sheeting and often use HEPA-filtered fans that pull air out of the space.
Remove and Clean
Materials that soak up water, like drywall, insulation and carpet, usually have to be removed if they're moldy. Hard surfaces like wood framing and concrete can often be cleaned and treated instead. HEPA air scrubbers run throughout the job to capture spores in the air.
Dry Everything Properly
Professional dehumidifiers and air movers bring the area back to normal moisture levels. This is the step that stops mold from returning, and it's where professional drying equipment makes the biggest difference.
Repair and Restore
Once the area is clean and dry, removed materials are replaced, from new drywall and paint to rebuilding part of a room.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire
- Do you handle water damage and mold remediation together?
- Are you licensed and insured? (Some states require a specific mold license.)
- Is your team IICRC certified?
- How will you find and fix the moisture source?
- Do you work with insurance companies?
Find a Water Damage and Mold Professional Near You
You don't have to figure out a mold problem on your own. A restoration professional can tell you what you're dealing with and what it will take to fix it. Browse restoration and remediation companies by city on the American Restoration Registry to find one near you.