What to Do When You Find Mold in Your Home
Leave it in place, note where and when you saw it, stop the water if you can do so safely — and call now to arrange an inspection.
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Call NowTL;DR
- First
- Leave the growth in place. Do not disturb a large area — disturbing it can spread spores into the air.
- Second
- Note where and when you saw it, and take a photo if you can do so without disturbing it.
- Third
- Stop the water if you can do so safely, and call now to arrange an inspection.
- What not to do
- Do not paint over it, and do not rely on bleach on drywall or wood.
Leave it in place
The first thing to do when you find mold is to leave it in place. Do not disturb a large area of growth — disturbing it can release spores into the air, and the growth can spread into rooms that were clean. Do not open a large section of wall yourself: the cavity should be opened by the provider, with containment where it is needed.
Small surface mold on a hard surface — tile, glass, metal — can sometimes be cleaned by the homeowner. But growth on drywall, wood or insulation, growth that covers a large area, or growth that is behind a wall should be left alone. The inspection finds the moisture source, and the plan follows from what it finds.
Note where and when you saw it
Note where you saw the growth, when you first noticed it, and whether there was a leak, a flood or a smell before it appeared. Take a photo of the area if you can do so without disturbing it. That information helps the provider find the moisture source, and it is the record that matters in a rental dispute, a home sale, or an insurance claim.
Keep the note. The inspection report is the record of what was found, and your note is the record of when it was found. Together, they show the timeline — and the timeline is what decides whether the damage follows from a sudden event or a long-term leak.
Stop the water, if you can do so safely
If the mold follows a leak, stop the water if you can do so safely — a shut-off valve, a bucket under a drip, a towel at a door. Do not walk through standing water near electrical outlets or appliances. Do not turn on the heating or cooling system if the ducts are wet.
Move furniture and valuables out of the water, if you can do so safely. Then the drying starts: the water is removed, air movers and dehumidifiers run, and the moisture readings are taken. The removal of affected material follows once the area is dry enough to work in.
Call now to arrange an inspection
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. After the inspection, the provider explains the plan: what will be removed, what will be dried, how long it takes, and what is not covered. The plan and its terms are theirs.
Do not wait. Mold can start growing 24 to 48 hours after moisture arrives, and a leak dealt with this week is a small job while the same leak dealt with next month is a larger one. The inspection is the step that moves the matter forward.
Frequently asked questions
Answers from the questions Utah County homeowners actually ask.
Call NowLeave it in place, note where and when you saw it, and do not disturb a large area — disturbing it can spread spores into the air. Call now to arrange an inspection.
Small surface mold on a hard surface can sometimes be cleaned by the homeowner. Growth on drywall, wood or insulation, growth that covers a large area, or growth behind a wall should be left alone.
No. Paint hides the growth and does nothing about the moisture behind it, and the growth returns through the paint. The moisture source has to be found and the affected material removed.
What you are seeing, where the property sits, and when the problem was first noticed. A photo of the area helps, if you can take one without disturbing the growth.
Stop the water if you can do so safely, move furniture and valuables out of the water, take a photo of the damage, and call now to arrange an inspection.
In days, not weeks. Mold can start growing 24 to 48 hours after moisture arrives, and a leak dealt with this week is a small job while the same leak dealt with next month is a larger one.
Mold problem in Provo?
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