Mold After Water Damage in Texas

General information, not legal, medical, engineering or insurance advice.

Texas homes and businesses see plenty of water: roof leaks, plumbing and appliance failures, hurricanes, flash floods, freeze-burst pipes, and humid air that condenses on cool surfaces. Mold needs moisture to grow, so what you do in the first day or two after water gets in matters most. This guide sums up what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise.

Dry it out within 24–48 hours

EPA says “it is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.”¹CDC's storm guidance likewise says to clean and dry or remove wet items within 24–48 hours to prevent mold from growing.⁴

• Make sure it's safe first, especially around electricity after a flood.
• Open doors and windows. Once the electricity is safe to use, CDC suggests fans and dehumidifiers to remove moisture.⁵
• CDC advises that anything wet with flood water that can't be cleaned and dried completely within 24 to 48 hours should be thrown out, and suggests photographing discarded items for insurance claims.⁵

Fix the water source

“The key to mold control is moisture control,” EPA says, and if there is mold growth in your home, “you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem.”¹ CDC gives the same advice: clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem.³ Cleaning without fixing the leak, drainage or humidity problem usually means the mold comes back.

Humidity counts too. EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent relative humidity,¹ and CDC says to keep it as low as you can, no higher than 50%, all day long.³ An air conditioner or dehumidifier that runs properly helps in Texas's climate.

Small area or large area?

EPA says that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, you can usually handle the job yourself, following its cleanup guidance. If there has been a lot of water damage, or mold covers more than 10 square feet, EPA points you to its remediation guide for larger buildings.² Texas draws its licensing line higher: TDLR says that in most cases visible mold of less than 25 contiguous square feet can be cleaned up by people who are not licensed.⁶

Call a professional when:

• The affected area is more than about 10 square feet, or the water damage is extensive.
• The water was sewage or other contaminated water. EPA says to call in a professional with experience cleaning buildings damaged by contaminated water.²
• You suspect mold in the heating and cooling system. EPA says not to run the HVAC system if you know or suspect it is contaminated with mold, because it could spread mold through the building.²
• You can smell mold but can't find it, or you suspect it's inside walls or ceilings. A licensed mold assessment consultant can help locate it and the moisture source.

Health cautions

EPA says inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.¹CDC lists possible symptoms such as a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash, and says people with asthma or mold allergies may have severe reactions, while immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung disease may get lung infections from mold.³

• If you have health concerns, EPA suggests consulting a health professional before starting cleanup.²
• CDC recommends gloves, a mask and goggles to protect your eyes, nose, mouth and skin during cleanup.⁵
• Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners; CDC warns it can create toxic vapors.^3,5

Do you need mold testing?

Often not. EPA says that in most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary,¹and CDC does not recommend mold testing, noting you can't rely on sampling to know whether someone might become sick.³ Where testing is useful, for example to look for hidden growth or to check work after remediation, ask a licensed mold assessment consultant what it will tell you.

Insurance and records

Whether insurance covers mold depends on your policy and the cause of the water damage, so read your policy and ask your insurer or agent early. Keep records: photos and video before cleanup, a list (and photos) of discarded items, the assessment protocol, the remediation contract and invoices, and the post-remediation report. In Texas, when a licensed remediation project passes, you should get a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation (TDI form MDR-1); keep it with your property records.⁷

Hiring help

In Texas, mold assessment and mold remediation are separate TDLR licenses, and a license holder may not do both on the same project.⁸ See assessment vs. remediation and questions to ask before hiring, or find licensees in your county.

Sources

1. U.S. EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home.
2. U.S. EPA, Mold Cleanup in Your Home.
3. CDC, Mold.
4. CDC, Dry Off Wet Items After a Storm.
5. CDC, 8 Tips to Clean up Mold.
6. TDLR, Mold Assessors and Remediators FAQ.
7. Texas Department of Insurance, Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation (MDR-1).
8. Texas Occupations Code, chapter 1958 (section 1958.155).