Mold in your home can be a serious health risk - here's what you need to know to stay safe.

There is an enemy lurking in your home - almost undetectable, slowly spreading while you sleep, growing uninhibited until it can damage your family’s health.  We’re talking about toxic mold, which can spring up behind the walls and under the floors wherever there is a source of moisture.  There are more than 200 types of mold, but with and with 1 in 12 Americans affected with asthma or some respiratory illness, mold in the home can severely affect your health – or even cause hospitalization or death in extreme cases.  Luckily, if you’re buying a house there are very specific mold disclosure laws in California, and we always recommend you get a thorough home inspection, which should be able to identify potential problem areas.  But it can’t hurt to be careful and proactive, so here is a quick primer on the problem of mold in your home:

What is it?

Mold is an organic fungus and part of the natural environment.  In the outdoors, mold serves a purpose by breaking down dead organic matter like leaves and dead trees.  There are over 200 types of mold and it can come in several colors – like black, green, gray or white.  Some molds are visible and give off an odor, but others are virtually undetectable.  The most dangerous molds give off mycotoxins, which can cause severe illness.  Mold grows where there is consistent moisture or dampness.  Therefore, mold growth in houses or apartments is a major problem that could impact the resident’s health and should be taken seriously. 

Mold reproduces by releasing its spores, which are invisible to the naked eye but can spread through the air.  Mold spores will only grow and spread if moisture is present.

Where can mold grow?

The scary thing about mold in the home is that it can grow virtually detected wherever there is a moisture source and needs only 24-28 hours to appear.  Mold can grow at the base of leaking windows, on the back of sheetrock, the top of ceiling tiles, under carpet or flooring, and even take hold inside your heat and air conditioning vents.  Bathrooms, basements, anywhere there is a water leak, areas of flooding, and near area where pipes or vents access the outdoors are typical areas of potential mold.

Is mold dangerous?

Mold can be extremely dangerous so should be treated seriously and with the utmost caution.  Mold spores produce allergens, irritants, and sometimes mycotoxins, which can exacerbate allergies or health problems or even cause sickness.  While most molds are not deadly, black mold and other strains can seriously affect a person’s health or even prove fatal over time.  Some molds can take a toll on your health immediately, while others manifest over time.

How can I prevent mold?

Remember the mantra, “The key to mold control is moisture control.”  Around the house, look for dripping pipes, leaking plumbing, windows, doors, or areas of the roof that allow water in, or other constant moisture sources.

If you have an area of the home that is prone to moisture, like a damp basement, buy a humidifier to take some of the moisture out of the air.  Make sure your bathrooms have good ventilation fans. 

Inspect your home inside and out for areas of mold growth, water damage or consistent water access and fix accordingly. 

What are the warning signs?

Inside the home, look for wet patches or areas of flooding.  While these are often behind the walls or in other areas hidden from eye, there are warning signs.  Look for brown or discolored patches on sheetrock or building materials.  Look for signs of soggy or rotting walls, woodwork, door and window sills and jams, or ceiling tiles.  Of course keep an eye out for drips, leaks, and standing water.  Check basements, AC pans and hoses indoors and out, and in or behind appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, or dish washers.  Check ventilation registers and inputs for signs of discoloration or dampness.  Some mold gives off an odor that’s warning sign – a damp, earthy smell, but other mold is odorless.  But remember that mold can only exist with moisture, so thoroughly examine your home with that in mind.

How can it impact my health?

If airborne mold spores are inhaled, which means they can easily affect a person’s respiratory or immune system.  People with asthma or other respiratory illnesses usually are most susceptible, and could have problems sleeping and headaches.  Other health problems that could develop from mold spore exposure are breathing problems, congestion, headache, severe or increased allergic reactions, asthma, sinusitis, and many kinds of infections.  Since mold spores are allergens, they can cause skin rashes (dermatitis,) sneezing, red and itching eyes, throat and lung issues, and other symptoms.

How can I clean it up?

It’s recommended that you hire a professional if you have a serious mold problem or any doubt about its existence or seriousness.  But some times there may be small areas of non-toxic mold that you want to clean up proactively.  You can buy a simple test kit at any Home Depot or most hardware stores.  You’ll probably also want to wear a N-95 respirator, which you can buy for $20 or so.  Wear protective rubber gloves and dispose of everything carefully when finished.  Most non-toxic mold infestations can be cleaned up by scrubbing with regular household detergent.  Some people have used biocides like chlorine bleach to clean up mold, though it should never be mixed with other detergents or chemicals and a proper respirator, gloves, and protective eyewear should be worn.   Never just paint or caulk over mold and make sure to keep it away from children.

If in doubt, hire a professional to run the appropriate tests.  If mold becomes a significant problem or you suspect airborne spores or are having any health problems, consult professionals.

Further resources.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides extensive information in the Molds and Moisture section of the EPA website.

The Center of Disease Control (CDC) offers comprehensive information on mold on their site. 

Always get a home inspection when buying a home and pay attention to the seller’s disclosures about mold and water damage.

Mold remediation companies can do a thorough inspection of your home, inside and out, and detect mold in the air by running lab tests.  They can also take samples of building materials like walls or ceilings to check for mold.  A professional inspection may cost you a couple hundred dollars but may be the best money you’ve ever spent!

10 Questions to ask about your homeowners insurance policy.

What does it cover?

Homeowner's insurance covers a specific array of damage to your property.  These could a fire in your home, a windstorm blowing the roof off, or burglars breaking in.  It also covers property damage, additional living expenses, personal liability, and medical payments.  But different policies have different levels of coverage, so ask to see if you’re covered.   For instance, your policy may cover you if someone breaks in to your car and steals something valuable. 

What doesn’t it cover?

Every policy has exclusions, so it’s important for you to ask your agent what is not covered.  Most policies don’t take care of you in case of natural disasters like earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes, and power failures, acts of war, nuclear accidents, government actions, and bad work by a contractor.  Tornadoes and hurricanes are usually covered unless you live in a particularly vulnerable area.

Ask if water damage is covered.

Water damage to your home is a completely different animal with most insurance policies, so specifically ask how well you’re protected.  Generally, water from below  - like from flooding or overflowing sewers or broken appliances – is not covered, while water damage from above – rainwater or burst pipes – is covered.

How much insurance do I need?

It’s important to have enough coverage in case the worst-case scenario comes to fruition.  That being said, your lender (if you have a mortgage) will decree how much minimum coverage you need.  But ask your agent if you should bump up that amount to cover personal affects and property.

What deductible is right for me?

Setting your deductible correctly is one of the biggest decisions you have when getting a policy.  Our first instinct is sometimes to go with the highest deductible to get the lowest possible policy cost.  But that may not be wise, especially if you consider that every year, about 6% of homeowners file a claim, and 97% of those claims are for some sort of property damage.  So set a deductible that you’re comfortable paying both monthly and if something happens and you file a claim.

Should you opt for Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value?

When taking out a policy, you’ll have the option between these two methods of reimbursement if something happens.  Replacement cost is the amount it would take to replace or rebuild your home or repair damages with materials of similar kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation.  It’s recommended your insurance covers at least 80% of the Replacement Cost.  Actual Cash Value is the amount it would take to repair or replace damage to your home after depreciation. 

Policies based on market value usually have lower premiums, but you’ll get less back if something happens.

Are discounts available for preventive action and maintenance?

Ask your agent if there are things you can do that will bode well with your insurer and yield discounts.  Installing new smoke detectors, a fence around your pool, a new roof, or maintenance on your HVAC unit.  Something as simple as installing deadbolts could save you 5%, and a new alarm system might get you a 15% discount!

Can I save money if I bundle policies?

By filling your insurance needs for homeowners, auto, and other policies, you usually get a significant discount.  You should price the options for bundling versus separate policies.  A word of caution - life insurance or insurance as an investment is totally different than homeowners and auto, so don’t worry about bundling these just for discounts.

What about my jewelry?

Most homeowner insurance policies have specific exclusions or rules when it comes jewelry.  So if your wedding ring is lost or stolen, the fine print might only require them to cover up to $3,000 in value.  So ask about the limits for jewelry (and sometimes electronics or cash,) because there are supplemental policies you can easily put in place to make up the difference

How much time do I have to file a claim? 

You should read the fine print about time limits to file a claim if something happens.  Too often, homeowners are overwhelmed, stressed, and confused if something catastrophic like a fire or flood happens, and take way too long to file a claim with the insurer.  That puts them in jeopardy of their claim being rejected based on time limits.  Sometimes, the window is as small as 14 days.

What should I document?

If you file a claim, the onus to prove the existence and value of your property will be on you, so document everything carefully.  It’s recommended you make a list of personal property include serial numbers and model numbers.  Save receipts and take photos of everything, keeping it on a flash drive in a different location.  When you get home improvements or work done on the house, document everything including contracts and materials used.  If you have to file a claim, it’s recommended you create a log with phone calls and emails to your agent, the insurer or any contractors.