Do You Have Mold? Let's Figure Out What To Do.
Answer a few quick questions and get honest, plain-English guidance, including when you can safely handle it yourself. No scare tactics, no pressure.
Question 1 of 2
What are you dealing with?
Signs You May Have Mold
Mold needs moisture to grow, so the clearest clues usually point back to a damp spot or a past water problem. Any one of these on its own does not confirm mold, but several together are worth a closer look.
- Visible spots or staining on walls, ceilings, or grout
- A persistent musty or earthy smell
- Surfaces that feel damp or look discolored
- Peeling, bubbling, or cracking paint or wallpaper
- Warped wood, baseboards, or flooring
- Allergy-type symptoms that ease when you leave the room
- A recent leak, flood, or ongoing condensation
- Indoor humidity that often climbs above 50 percent
When You Can Clean It Yourself vs. Call a Pro
Not every spot of mold needs a contractor. As a general guideline, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that a mold area smaller than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3-by-3-foot patch, can often be cleaned by a homeowner using soap or detergent and water, with the surface dried thoroughly afterward. This is general EPA guidance, not a strict rule, and you should use your own judgment about what feels safe.
It is generally wiser to call a professional when the affected area is larger than that, when the mold came from sewage or major flooding, when it is growing inside an HVAC system, when it keeps coming back after cleaning, or when you cannot reach or fully see the source. People with asthma, mold allergies, a weakened immune system, or chronic lung conditions may also prefer to let a pro handle removal with proper containment.
Whether you clean it or hire someone, the lasting fix is the same: remove the mold and correct the moisture behind it. The EPA puts it simply, the key to mold control is moisture control.
Where Mold Hides
Because mold follows water, the worst growth is often somewhere you do not look every day. These are common hiding spots worth checking when something seems off:
- Under and behind sinks and cabinets
- Inside bathroom walls and around tubs and showers
- Behind washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators
- Under carpet, vinyl, or laminate flooring
- In crawl spaces and basements
- Around windows that collect condensation
- In attics beneath roof leaks
- Inside or around HVAC units and ductwork
Rather Just Have Someone Look?
If you would rather not guess, tell us what you are seeing and we will take a look and lay out exactly what it will take to make it right.