When an area of a Stone Creek home is exposed to too much moisture, it can lead to mildew or mold. Mildew is a relatively minor problem for a home to have, and once spotted, can be cleaned with general cleaners. But mold is the proverbial horse of a different color. Homeowners need to take action to both prevent and treat mold—especially if they live in an area with high humidity.

The Basics of Mold

Most people know that some molds are actually good for them—it can stimulate the immune system and make certain foods tastier. But other species of mold can make people ill and even cause fatal diseases if the infestation goes undetected for too long. Mold can form anytime, anywhere, and invisible inactive spores in the air can make it difficult to truly rid the home of the fungus. If a homeowner has mold, they are highly encouraged to take residents to the doctor, especially if they have a long-standing cough or unexplained allergy-like symptoms.

The Origin of Mold

Mold can come from anywhere in the home where there's water. This includes leaky pipes and appliances, condensation from the shower, and pooling water from faulty drainage. Mold can hide under floorboards, inside walls, and in dark corners in the basement or attic. Homeowners can use a DIY testing kit to understand more about the type of mold they have, though it should be noted that it's not uncommon for two types of mold to develop alongside one another. A home testing kit is not sophisticated enough to properly identify both species, which can compromise the results.

Getting Rid of Mold

Small, surface instances of a benign species of mold can be removed with a household cleaner (e.g., bleach, etc.). However, most home professionals recommend hiring an expert to remove all traces of mold. The ventilation equipment, cleaners, and inspection tools are specialty gear that homeowners should really use to get the best results, and the costs to purchase it all would be significant. Unless a homeowner can guarantee they'll be able to catch every last spore, it ultimately doesn't make sense to take the DIY chance.

Hiring a professional not only increases the chances of securing the home, but it also allows homeowners to request third-party testing after the removal has taken place. This can be the final answer a homeowner needs to confirm their air is entirely safe to breathe.

Will Insurance Cover a Mold Infestation?

The answer depends on the circumstances of the mold's formation:

• Covered event: Mold is covered by homeowners insurance if it was determined to be caused by a covered event. If a storm ripped part of the roof open and the incoming water caused mold to form, then this could conceivably be covered under a homeowner's policy.
• Non-covered event: If the insurance company determines the mold was caused by a lack of maintenance on the part of the homeowner, they will deny the claim for mold.
• Claim process: Insurance companies expect homeowners to pay careful attention to changes in their home. They may deny mold remediation costs even under a covered event if they feel the homeowner didn't catch the problem quickly enough.

Mold can be a scary problem for homeowners to have, but there are ways to reduce the chances of it forming altogether. Monthly inspections of the home can go a long way to stopping problems before they start.