Mold Remediation

Mold remediation costs average between $500 and $6,000. However, if you're dealing with a serious issue, such as mold covering an entire house or causing massive structural damage, your average costs can soar to $10,000 or more. Most of the time, that price includes not just cleaning the mold but also ensuring the mold doesn't come back. If you have a choice, it's better to use professionals rather than tackling the job yourself.

Mold removal is sometimes covered by homeowners insurance, but it depends on the circumstances. If mold appears as a result of a problem that's covered by the policy, such as a burst pipe, then the insurance may well cover the cleanup. But if the mold arises from something like failing to maintain the house—say, one didn't address an ongoing leak—then it's probably not going to be covered. Read your policy; ask your insurance company.

Mold removal and mold remediation are terms that sound alike, but they mean different things. Mold removal is about getting rid of molds that you can see. It usually involves cleaning away molds from surfaces. However, in many situations, it might not fix the problem completely because molds can come back if the conditions stay the same.Mold remediation is a bigger process. It doesn't just clean the mold; it also deals with what's causing it. This means finding out why mold appeared in the first place, like too much moisture or a leak. Mold remediation not only removes the visible mold but also fixes the reasons why it grew, making it less likely to return. It's a more complete way to make sure mold is gone for good.

Mold can be eliminated, but it is sometimes difficult to remove it completely. The key is to eliminate the mold and repair whatever caused it in the first place, such as leaks or excessive humidity. If you eliminate the mold, eliminate the cause, and then keep things clean and dry, it is much less likely to return. However, since mold spores are everywhere, you have to stay on top of it. Eliminate mold in your living or working area, and you are also well on your way to eliminating it from your life.

Getting rid of mold completely can be very difficult. Blasting it with something potent like bleach may work somewhat on surfaces, but mold can't be killed with bleach if it's inside carpets or wood. A special cleaner made just for mold might work better for those surfaces, as would using vinegar, which can kill many more types of mold. But with both those methods, you have to really soak the area you're treating, and even then, there's no guarantee 100 percent of the mold is dead. Beyond that, you've got to take care of any moisture problems, because mold's not going to go away if the places where it lives are always damp.

Mold toxicity can manifest in several ways in the people it affects. If a person is having difficulty breathing, or is prone to abundant sneezing, or has a stuffed-up or runny nose, those symptoms could be due to exposure to mold. It might also be the cause of any itchy or red eyes someone has. And while a never-ending headache might not seem like it could be mold-related, it can be, as can strange dizzy spells and a feeling of fogginess or inability to concentrate that some people get. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you'd be wise to check for mold in your home and to see a health professional.

Completely eliminating mold forever is extremely difficult. Mold spores are everywhere, and they can re-enter the home if the conditions are just right. But you can definitely manage it. First, you need to eliminate the mold that's already there. You can use special cleaners or call professionals if it's a big job. Then you need to keep it from coming back. The key is to keep everything dry, because mold loves moisture. Fix leaks, use dehumidifiers, and make sure rooms like the bathroom and kitchen have great airflow. And keep an eye on places that could be growing mold, like basements or windows, and check them regularly.

Different types of tools and products are used by professionals to eliminate mold and prevent its return. To start, safety gear—a mask and gloves, for example—is worn by the cleaner to ensure safe mold removal. Then, various types of cleaning solutions, including some that are homemade, are used to apply to the area in which the mold is located. After that, they use vacuums, specifically HEPA vacuums, to suck up any airborne mold spores and particulates that weren't trapped by the cleaning solution. In extreme cases, they might have to remove sections of drywall or flooring in order to ensure all of the mold is gone from the premises. If that's not enough, air scrubbers are used to filter and clean the air in the room. Finally, all of the moisture problems, like leaky plumbing or gutters, are fixed up so it can't grow back.

In the battle against mold, vinegar often has the upper hand over bleach. Bleach can kill mold on surfaces, but it isn’t very good at going deep into materials like wood and drywall, where mold can really hide out and thrive. Vinegar, on the other hand, can penetrate these surfaces and kill the mold at its roots, especially on the occasions when it is used undiluted and allowed to sit for an hour or more. Using undiluted vinegar is even safer than using a bleach solution, which can cause burns or damage to your respiratory system if you breathe in the fumes.

Mold remediation costs can depend on several factors. Usually, the homeowner foots the bill. If you own your home, you likely shell out the money for mold remediation yourself. However, your home insurance might pay for some or all of the costs if certain conditions are met. For instance, if mold was caused by something your insurance covers (like a pipe that burst), you're much more likely to have your insurance cover the remediation. But if it was caused by something that doesn't fall under most insurance policies (like a leaky roof that's been leaking for a long time), you might have to pay for it yourself. If you rent, the situation can be pretty much the same. Depending on the conditions of your rental agreement, you might be required to pay for it. But your landlord could also be on the hook if the mold problem stems from a condition in the building (like a plumbing problem that should have been fixed).