DIY vs Professional Mold Removal in Utah
Small surface mold can sometimes be cleaned by the homeowner. For areas larger than about ten square feet, the EPA guidance is to hire a professional.
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Call NowTL;DR
- What a homeowner can do
- Small surface mold on a hard, non-porous surface can sometimes be cleaned by the homeowner.
- When to hire a professional
- For areas larger than about ten square feet, and for growth behind a wall, under flooring, or in a duct.
- What the inspection adds
- The inspection finds the moisture source and measures how much material is affected.
- What to do next
- Leave the growth in place, note where and when you saw it, and call now to arrange an inspection.
What a homeowner can clean
A homeowner can clean small surface mold on a hard, non-porous surface — tile, glass, metal, sealed concrete. The growth sits on top of those surfaces, and it can be reached. A small patch on bathroom tile, or on a window frame, is a job a homeowner can sometimes do, and the fan and the ventilation should be dealt with at the same time, or the growth returns.
A homeowner can also do the work that keeps mold from coming back: a fan that runs during and after every shower, gutters that are kept clear, grading that slopes away from the house, and pipes and a water heater that are checked for drips. Those are the jobs that stop the moisture, and they are the jobs that matter most in the long run.
When the EPA guidance says to hire a professional
For areas larger than about ten square feet, the EPA guidance is to hire a professional. A professional is also needed when the growth is behind a wall, under flooring, in a crawlspace, in an attic, or in a duct — anywhere the homeowner cannot reach it, and anywhere the growth cannot be seen in full.
A professional is also needed when the growth keeps returning, when the moisture source is unknown, or when the property is being sold or rented and the inspection report has to stand on its own. In each case, the inspection finds the source, measures how much material is affected, and sets the plan.
What a professional does that a homeowner cannot
A professional takes moisture readings through drywall and in wood, and follows the readings to find how far the water travelled. A homeowner cannot see inside a wall cavity, and cannot measure how wet the framing is. A professional sets up containment, so the spores do not spread into the rest of the house while the work is done. A professional dries the area with air movers and dehumidifiers until the readings show it is dry, and a clearance check confirms the area is dry and the affected material is gone.
The inspection report is the other thing a professional supplies. It records what was found, what was removed, and what was dried, and it is the document that matters in a rental dispute, a home sale, or an insurance claim. A homeowner cannot supply that record.
The risks of doing it yourself
Disturbing a large area of growth can release spores into the air, and the growth can spread into rooms that were clean. Opening a wall without containment can spread the growth into the rest of the house. Cleaning with bleach on drywall or wood can make the surface look clean while the growth continues underneath. And a job done without finding the moisture source is a job that has to be done twice — the growth returns, because the water is still running.
Leave the growth in place when it is on drywall, wood or insulation, when it covers a large area, or when it is behind a wall. Note where and when you saw it, and call now to arrange an inspection. The inspection finds the moisture source, and the plan follows from what it finds.
Frequently asked questions
Answers from the questions Utah County homeowners actually ask.
Call NowSmall surface mold on a hard, non-porous surface can sometimes be cleaned by the homeowner. For areas larger than about ten square feet, the EPA guidance is to hire a professional.
For areas larger than about ten square feet, and for growth behind a wall, under flooring, in a crawlspace, in an attic, or in a duct. A professional is also needed when the growth keeps returning, or when the moisture source is unknown.
A professional takes moisture readings through drywall and in wood, sets up containment, dries the area until the readings show it is dry, and supplies an inspection report that records what was found.
Small surface mold on a hard surface can sometimes be cleaned by the homeowner, with ventilation and protective equipment. Disturbing a large area can release spores into the air. For health questions, speak with a clinician.
Because the moisture source was never found. A leak behind the wall is still running after the cleaning, and the growth returns. The inspection traces the stain to the source, and the plan covers the source, not just the stain.
Call now and describe what you are seeing and where the property sits. The provider takes the address, the rooms affected and when the problem was first noticed, and the inspection is arranged.
Mold problem in Provo?
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