Keeping Mold Out of Your Home

Clean up any water damage or flooding thoroughly and immediately.

• Use a dehumidifier and a wet/dry vacuum to remove water quickly.
• Remove carpeting that cannot be dried out within 48 hours. If your carpet was contaminated by sewer water or a flood, it needs to be replaced.
• Repair basement cracks so that moisture cannot seep in.
• Add mold inhibitors to paint.
• Use a dehumidifier and/or air conditioner to reduce indoor moisture, especially during humid months of the year.
• Empty the drip pans in your air conditioner, refrigerator, and dehumidifier regularly to prevent water buildup.
• Run the exhaust fan for 20 minutes before and after showering, or consider using a humidistat-controlled fan that turns off when the moisture is ventilated from the area.
• Fix plumbing leaks immediately. Mold will begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours after a leak.

The Complications of Mold Exposure

A mold problem can cause serious health effects—especially for young children, the elderly, those who suffer from allergies or asthma and those with prior respiratory conditions. Symptoms of mold sensitivity include eye irritation, nasal stuffiness, shortness of breath, wheezing, and lung infections (in rare cases).

If you or a family member is experiencing some of these symptoms, consult a physician for a proper evaluation and diagnosis.

Home Insurance & Mold Coverage

Home insurance policies provides coverage for mold damage; however, it does not cover every instance of mold damage.  Coverage depends on the cause of loss and circumstances that resulted in the mold.  When coverage does apply, standard home policies typically provide coverage, under the Limited Fungi, Wet or Dry Rot, or Bacteria Coverage endorsement (see sample), of up to $10,000 for property damage and $50,000 for liability, if someone other than a household member becomes sick because of the mold. However, the challenge is that mold can grow in places where you can’t immediately identify it, which can quickly cause the cost of remediation and repairs to exceed the basic limits. We recommend purchasing expanded coverage of up to $50,000 for property damage and $100,000 for liability, which is generally available from most carriers if you are eligible.