What should I know about mold? I have water damage in my home.

Every situation is different but here's some good information I learned when I worked for a mitigation company. 

• What conditions are best for mold growth? 
  Mold requires water to grow and spread. It thrives in damp, humid, and wet conditions. You do not want the water-damaged material environment to be damp, humid, and wet for long.  
  
  Mold can begin to grow in as little as 48 hours after water damage occurs. It can take about 3 days for mold to begin spreading through your home. 
  
  
• Can a homeowner prevent mold by using fans they have on hand to dry out affected materials?
  In my experience, if the water damage is very minimal and the homeowner is positive they are quickly drying out all affected material, then using a few fans could possibly do the trick. However, you really should have a reputable company assess the damage. Insurance companies usually prefer the water damage be assessed by a reputable company that can provide them with moisture readings. If you try drying out affected material yourself and notice mold growth afterwards, it is highly unlikely that your insurance company will cover the loss. 
  
  
• If you notice mold:
  In my opinion, immediately calling your insurance company/carrier claims department to discuss your possible mold issue is not beneficial to you. I suggest reaching out to your local insurance agency.
  They will probably refer you to a contractor and/or a company that specializes in mold remediation for an assessment but you should still call your local agent/agency to let them know what's going on. 
  
  Here's why: Mold is rarely covered by homeowners insurance. It is usually a policy exclusion. Make sure what you're seeing is actually mold before informing the company claims department about it. This is where contractor and mitigation company expertise comes in. This will save you some frustration and possibly some money as well. 
  Of course, you can always reach out to your knowledgeable and experienced Principle Construction Company for assistance. ;)
  
  Know the difference: 
  There is a difference between your local insurance agency and your insurance company
  
  Insurance Company aka: Insurance Carrier: provides the product (your policy and coverage) 
  Examples: Nationwide, State Farm, Farm Bureau, Allstate, Progressive, Shelter, ...
  
  Local agent/agency: an individual or company authorized by a carrier to sell homeowner policies
  Examples: Michael Wiseman - State Farm, Brent Colbert - Farm Bureau, Stephanie Pugh - Shelter Insurance, Clay and Land Insurance, Hollis and Burns Insurance, Thompson Insurance, ...
  
  
• Helpful info from Mike Tooley with ECT Memphis. He is local and provides mold inspection and testing services. 

  "Don’t disturb visible mold. If you try to clean it yourself, you can very easily get it airborne. This will make the air quality worse." Click here for a link to his website

• Helpful Links: 
  
  Click here for more info, courtesy of State Farm Insurance. Mold coverage info is located under the policy exclusions section. 
  
  Nationwide Insurance has a great article about mold coverage. There's even an informative video. Click here to be directed to the Nationwide Home Insurance Resources page. 
  
  
• Important:
  Your coverage will depend on which insurance company your homeowners policy is with and the coverage your specific policy contains. Contractors and mitigation companies do not have access to your personal homeowners policy so all coverage questions should be directed to your local agent or the company/carrier.

This blog absolutely doesn't cover every aspect of dealing with home water damage and mold but I believe it can be a good start. Hope all goes well for you!

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