Keeping Mold at Bay
By Kristi Vaughan
Have you looked at your homeowner’s insurance policy lately? Right there, in the not-so-small print, you might see new limitations on one of the biggest issues to hit the insurance industry in years -- mold.
In fact, so prevalent have mold claims become that by 2003 insurance claims for damage caused by mold in Texas alone – one of the hardest hit states – had reached $4 billion. The problem isn’t just the smelly, ugly nature of the microscopic organisms but the adverse health effects felt by some people. These may include allergic reactions and symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, sneezing, skin rashes, headaches and eye irritation.
What can you do to keep your house mold free? And what should you do if you suspect mold damage?
Keeping your house mold-free
Mold can be found everywhere -- indoors and outdoors and in winter as well as summer. Indoor mold can come from a sudden, one time event such as a burst pipe or from a chronic condition such as a leaking pipe. Common places to spot mold growths are in basements, kitchens, bathrooms and garages.
In most cases, mold needs two fundamental conditions in which to grow – humidity and moisture. As such, vigilance against allowing moisture to build up and vigilance in cleaning any suspect areas with bleach and water could be your best defense against mold.
Specific prevention steps suggested by the Insurance Information Institute include:
- Use air conditioners and dehumidifiers to keep humidity between 30-60%
- Use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms
- Remove carpets from bathrooms and basements
- Add mold inhibitors to bathroom paint before applying
- Inspect hoses, pipes and fittings for leaks
- Clean gutters
- Maintain your roof
If you have had a flood or burst pipe:
- Remove soaked carpets, padding etc. within 48 hours
- Remove standing water as quickly as possible
- Disinfect all flooded areas.
Making a claim
Not all mold-related damage is covered by insurance. Most commonly, says the III, claims are limited to situations where there is a direct cause such as a burst pipe. Check with your insurance agent to see what your policy covers.
If, after reviewing your policy and talking with your insurance agent, you feel you have reason to make an insurance claim, you will want to compile documentation to support that claim. This could include a description of what happened and when it happened as well as a listing of what was damaged. Your agent should be able to guide you in this process.
