Dry it within 24 to 48 hours
The EPA says to dry water damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. The EPA lists the back side of drywall, wallpaper and paneling and the underside of carpet and pad among the places mold grows when moisture stays. That is why restoration crews try to start drying the same day.
Older Dallas houses add one more place to worry about. In a pier and beam house, the crawl space can stay damp while the rooms above look and feel dry.
Signs mold has already started
- A musty, earthy smell that's stronger in one room or near one wall.
- Spots or staining on drywall, baseboards or the back of cabinets.
- Paint that peels or wallpaper that bubbles near an old leak.
- A stuffy nose, wheezing or red, itchy eyes that seem worse at home. The CDC lists these as reactions people sensitive to mold can have.
The mold you can see is a symptom. The EPA warns that if you clean up mold but don't fix the water problem, the mold will most likely come back.
The Texas 25 square foot rule
Texas regulates mold work under Chapter 1958 of the Occupations Code, run by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. For a homeowner, four rules matter:
- Jobs under 25 contiguous square feet of mold are exempt from licensing. If you hire a company for 25 square feet or more, it needs a license, and TDLR says a licensed remediator works from a plan written by a licensed mold assessor.
- Those have to be two different companies. One license holder can't do both the assessment and the remediation on the same project.
- Owners doing the work on their own house generally don't need a license.
- Within 10 days of finishing a licensed job, the remediator has to give you a certificate of mold remediation. If you sell the house, the law says you give the buyer copies of any certificates from the last five years, so keep it with your house papers.
Before you hire anyone for a bigger job, ask for their TDLR license number and look it up on the TDLR website.
Small patches you can handle
A spot of mold on a bathroom ceiling or a window sill isn't a job for a licensed crew. The EPA says that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, roughly 3 feet by 3 feet, you can usually handle it yourself. Its guide covers cleaning hard surfaces with detergent and water and drying them completely, and throwing out absorbent things like ceiling tiles or carpet that have mold in them. The EPA's gear list is gloves, goggles and an N-95 respirator. If the patch keeps coming back, there is water behind it.
Who pays for mold
TDI's guidance is that most homeowner and renter policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, and that mold on items damaged by that covered water would be covered too. Damage from gradual leaks or seepage, and the mold that comes with it, usually isn't. If you file a mold claim, TDI says to make sure the mold professional has a state license, and that you'll need an inspection showing the mold was removed and the cause was fixed.
So report water damage quickly, dry it fast, and keep the moisture logs. They show the house was dried, which helps with the insurance claim and with any mold question later.
Sources: EPA mold and moisture guide, CDC, mold and your health, Texas Occupations Code ch. 1958, TDLR mold FAQ, TDI, water damage and mold coverage. Checked .
Questions Dallas homeowners ask
Do I need a licensed company to remove mold in Texas?
If you hire someone for a mold job of 25 contiguous square feet or more, yes. Texas law requires a mold license for jobs that size, regulated by TDLR. Jobs under 25 contiguous square feet are exempt, and the law also exempts owners working on their own house or other residential property with fewer than 10 units.
Can the same company test for mold and remove it?
Not on the same project. Texas law says a license holder can't do both the mold assessment and the remediation on the same project, and one person can't own both companies on it. The assessor writes the plan and a separate licensed remediator does the work.
Does homeowners insurance cover mold in Texas?
TDI says that if mold develops on an item damaged by a covered water loss, it would be covered. Mold from gradual leaks or seepage usually isn't. Read your policy for its mold terms.