Many homeowners don’t think about mold and in all honesty, most will never have to deal with a large mold problem in their homes. However, mold is an issue in almost all parts of the United States, including Redmond, WA where it is often wet and mild temperatures, and prevention is key to keeping mold from damaging or even ruining your home.
Mold, if left undetected, can quickly spread from one area to another as it feeds on organic matter in your household. In order to prevent mold from spreading, it is key to identify it immediately and treat it. Most homeowners insurance policies will only pay to remove and/or repair a small amount of damage caused by mold or mildew.
While it may be impossible for a typical homeowner to identify mold problems in their home, it is recommended that you have a mold inspection completed annually to ensure that if mold begins growing, that it can be removed and the problem eliminated before it becomes a major problem.
There are several problem areas in homes where mold tends to grow. Be sure you check your:
- Basements (walls, corners, any exposed wood)
- Crawl spaces (is the ground wet? What about the floor joists? Pull back a bit of insulation and look), attics (look up in your attic at the underside of the roof)
- Bathrooms (tile grout, behind the toilet, under the sink)
- Kitchens (behind the dishwasher, under the sink and anywhere else that may get wet regularly)
- and around your windows.
Mold Treatment
If you find mold growing in your home, the minor cases (usually less than the size of your hand) can be treated with bleach water and a scrub brush or abrasive sponge to remove it. Mold remediation is typically not covered by your standard homeowners insurance policy unless it is the direct result of another, covered loss such as a pipe bursting. Regardless, you need to talk to your licensed insurance agent for a more definitive answer as all homeowner’s insurance policies are different and what one company may cover, another may not.
Mold claims can be very expensive, typically exceeding the cost of a traditional homeowners insurance claim by 5 times. If you suspect mold may be in your household (a damp smell in the air) contact a specialist immediately. Not only can mold be bad for your home, it can have serious effects on your health resulting in asthma and more.
