What To Do About Mold In Your Home

If you recently found mold in your home, you are probably searching the internet to figure out what to do. Don’t panic, it may take some time but you will get past this. The key is to educate yourself and do it right the first time so the mold does not return.

1. If you have been suffering any illnesses that wouldn’t go away like allergies, itchy eyes, sore throat, headaches, fatigue, etc., go see your doctor and explain to him that you may have mold in your home. Knowledge about the mold will help him to correctly treat you.

2. Have your home tested by a trained mold tester. Many people make the mistake of cleaning up the mold without testing. It is important to know the type of mold your dealing with, and how bad the problem is.

3. Identify the cause of the mold. Make sure during the cleanup that it is fixed so that the mold will not return. If there was a leak in the roof, make sure its repaired. If a pipe causes a water leak in a wall, make sure its fixed. If the humidity level on your home humidifier is set too high, make sure it is turned lower. You don’t want the mold to return.

4. Contact your insurance company and find out if mold removal is covered in your policy. In some cases it is, depending on the cause of the mold.

5. After getting your mold test results and speaking with the mold inspector, decide if Mold remediation is neccesary. If it is make sure you are hiring a company that specializes in Mold Remediation. Not just a handyman or a general contractor.

6. Have the mold in your home removed. Mold removal is a much more complex process than most people realize. You don’t want to spread the mold to other parts of your home. You also don’t want to make yourself sick from breathing in mold during the removal process. Personal safety is very important and you must be overly cautious.

7. If you are going to hire a professional mold remediation company, make sure you get a few estimates and choose a company that you believe will do a thorough job. Be sure to check with your local Better Business Bureau to make sure the company has a good reputation. Ask for recent references. Ask the mold inspector if they are familiar with them.

8. You may want to purchase a book on mold and the removal process such as Brian Turners A Homeowners Complete Guide To Performing Mold Remediation. It is important to educate yourself on the mold removal process so that you are sure everything is done correctly. This book is quite thorough.

9. After the mold in your home has been removed, have the Inspector come back to preform an air test for mold. They will be able to tell you if the levels of mold are acceptable. Remember it is impossible to remove all of the mold. The goal is to try to get the levels inside your home the same as outside your home.

10. Be proactive in the future about mold prevention.

11. If you have any questions about mold in your home, feel free to contact us 619-270-7253 / 619-971-0681