Common causes of mold
April 27, 2019
By Karen Schiffmiller
Why do I have mold in my home and is it harmful?
Mold is a fungi that grows on certain materials such as drywall, insulation, wood, carpet, clothing, and other items in your home when exposed to moisture or humidity. Some people can experience allergic symptoms or can have sensitivities which can be respiratory in nature when exposed to mold.
What are the common causes of mold?
Mold spores need a food source to grow like some of the items mentioned above and will grow in dark, warm and wet environments. Water leaks are a main cause of mold growth and the growth can occur within 24-48 hours. There are many causes of mold such as plumbing leaks, air conditioner leaks, appliance leaks, roof leaks, hurricanes, and water from a fire loss can all cause mold growth.
What do I do if I find mold in my home?
If you suspect mold in your home, you must first determine what caused the mold and eliminate the water source to prevent further growth. Sometimes there may not be visible signs of mold but a mold or mildew like odor is present. In this case, you should have your air conditioning system checked. In South Florida, the humidity levels are high and sometimes your air conditioner will have mold inside the unit due to high moisture levels. You should have your air conditioning system checked and maintained every few months. Once you have located the water source and it has been eliminated, you will need to have an air quality assessment taken in your home to see what type of mold is present.
Is mold covered under my insurance policy?
We get many calls from clients telling us they have mold and they have a mold claim. Technically your claim is not a mold claim. Mold will only be covered if the issue that caused it is covered in your insurance policy. For example, if you are covered for a pipe break and the water from this pipe break causes mold, then your mold coverage applies. Another example is if you have a roof leak that causes mold, but you are not covered for roof leaks in your policy, there is no mold coverage. Mold in and of itself is not a covered loss.
How much mold coverage should I buy?
Depending on the size of your home would depend on the amount of coverage you should have. There are usually several options for mold coverage offered by your
insurance company for example $10,000, $25,000 or $50,000. We typically find that most homeowners do not have enough mold coverage when we review their policies. Additionally, many people are not fully aware of their insurance coverages in general. Reliant offers a free policy review when you schedule your Pre-Loss Property Assessment inspection. Call today for more information on this valuable service we offer
(561) 288-6434.
Can I remove the mold myself?
You should never remove mold on your own as some can be very toxic. There are protocols that must be followed to avoid spreading the mold and cross contaminating other unaffected areas. The remediation process requires protective clothing, containment barriers to isolate the contaminated rooms and special equipment required during the mold removal. It is always best to have a professional company who is reputable, licensed and insured do mold remediation in your home.
Mold is a fungi that grows on certain materials such as drywall, insulation, wood, carpet, clothing, and other items in your home when exposed to moisture or humidity. Some people can experience allergic symptoms or can have sensitivities which can be respiratory in nature when exposed to mold.
What are the common causes of mold?
Mold spores need a food source to grow like some of the items mentioned above and will grow in dark, warm and wet environments. Water leaks are a main cause of mold growth and the growth can occur within 24-48 hours. There are many causes of mold such as plumbing leaks, air conditioner leaks, appliance leaks, roof leaks, hurricanes, and water from a fire loss can all cause mold growth.
What do I do if I find mold in my home?
If you suspect mold in your home, you must first determine what caused the mold and eliminate the water source to prevent further growth. Sometimes there may not be visible signs of mold but a mold or mildew like odor is present. In this case, you should have your air conditioning system checked. In South Florida, the humidity levels are high and sometimes your air conditioner will have mold inside the unit due to high moisture levels. You should have your air conditioning system checked and maintained every few months. Once you have located the water source and it has been eliminated, you will need to have an air quality assessment taken in your home to see what type of mold is present.
Is mold covered under my insurance policy?
We get many calls from clients telling us they have mold and they have a mold claim. Technically your claim is not a mold claim. Mold will only be covered if the issue that caused it is covered in your insurance policy. For example, if you are covered for a pipe break and the water from this pipe break causes mold, then your mold coverage applies. Another example is if you have a roof leak that causes mold, but you are not covered for roof leaks in your policy, there is no mold coverage. Mold in and of itself is not a covered loss.
How much mold coverage should I buy?
Depending on the size of your home would depend on the amount of coverage you should have. There are usually several options for mold coverage offered by your
insurance company for example $10,000, $25,000 or $50,000. We typically find that most homeowners do not have enough mold coverage when we review their policies. Additionally, many people are not fully aware of their insurance coverages in general. Reliant offers a free policy review when you schedule your Pre-Loss Property Assessment inspection. Call today for more information on this valuable service we offer
(561) 288-6434.
Can I remove the mold myself?
You should never remove mold on your own as some can be very toxic. There are protocols that must be followed to avoid spreading the mold and cross contaminating other unaffected areas. The remediation process requires protective clothing, containment barriers to isolate the contaminated rooms and special equipment required during the mold removal. It is always best to have a professional company who is reputable, licensed and insured do mold remediation in your home.
