Home troubles grow when mold moves in

Mold is a fact of life in subtropical areas like Central Florida. But homes in foreclosure or suffering hurricane damage are especially vulnerable to mold contamination.

In a hot, humid house with no air circulation, it takes just 48 hours for mold to start growing and spreading. If the air conditioning is off and the house is not airtight or leaks exist, the growth will be rampant.

When buying a home that has been closed for any length of time without air conditioning, it may be worth having a mold test done - especially if you can see or smell mold. The cost for an inspection depends on the size of the home but usually runs from about $400 to $1,600. Homeowners insurance against mold that is unrelated to accidental water damage is not available in some areas, including Florida.

What is mold?

Mold is a fungus. It reproduces through tiny spores, which can remain suspended in the air for a long time. When inhaled, the spores can trigger a variety of respiratory-health problems.

When conditions in a home are warm, damp and still, the spores settle and start to grow. The mold dissolves and ingests organic matter such as fiberboard, drywall, carpet backing, paper, wood and cloth. On exposed surfaces, mold may be seen or smelled, but often it is hidden and difficult to detect. Once entrenched, mold is a challenge to eliminate.

Health problems

• About 15 million Americans are allergic to mold. The most common reactions are flulike symptoms and asthma.
• Those with chronic lung or immune problems are at risk for more serious reactions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Although indoor mold is not a major health hazard to most people, it can cause irritation of eyes, skin and throat, said Vincent Hsu, an infectious-disease specialist at Florida Hospital in Orlando. Reactions will be more severe in asthma sufferers and people with a sensitivity to mold. In people with decreased immune systems or chronic lung illnesses, mold could cause serious lung infections, sinusitis or hypersensitivity pneumonia, said Hsu.
• There are no specific tests to determine whether an ailment is mold-induced, he said. If symptoms are aggravated when you’re around mold, but diminish when you’re not, then mold is the likely cause.

Cleanup

Eliminating a sizable mold infestation is a job for professionals. Ordinary household cleaners will not solve the problem. Using a fan to dry the mold will simply spread the spores.

The cleanup process includes the following steps:

• Remediation experts wearing protective suits and masks erect containment barriers made from sheets of plastic around the contaminated area to prevent the spores from spreading to other areas of the home.
• Baseboards and drywall are removed to check for the source of leaks.
• Contaminated material is cut out, bagged inside the containment section, then removed and destroyed.
• The area is treated with an antimicrobial product, then dried and sealed with Zinsser mold- and mildew-proof sealant.
• To remove airborne spores, an air-scrubber machine with three different HEPA filters is operated in the space for three days.
• A mold-clearance test is conducted 24 hours after the air scrubber is removed. To pass the test, levels of mold inside the decontaminated room must be lower than in outside-air samples.

Insurance coverage

In the past, mold contamination resulting from accidental water damage - a burst pipe, storm damage to a roof, etc. - was covered by homeowners insurance. But that changed after the devastating hurricanes experienced this decade.

If mold insurance is offered in Florida, it is limited to a separate endorsement to a homeowner's policy, with a separate premium. Most policies exclude coverage for mold altogether, or they give a token amount, usually $10,000. And it is only covered when the primary cause of the loss from mold is water.

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