Mold remediation in Utah

What mold remediation involves

Good remediation follows the same order every time, and the first step isn't about mold at all. The EPA's brief guide to mold and moisture puts it plainly: "The key to mold control is moisture control." The CDC says the same: clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem.

1. Find and fix the water source. A leak, a seeping foundation, a bath fan venting into the attic. If it isn't fixed, the cleanup won't last.
2. Contain the work area. The EPA's remediation guidance generally recommends limited containment for 10 to 100 square feet of mold and full containment above 100 square feet, kept under negative pressure so spores don't drift into the rest of the house.
3. Remove what can't be cleaned. The EPA notes that absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Hard surfaces can usually be cleaned.
4. Clean and dry. The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
5. Verify the result. An independent clearance check confirms the job is done before walls are closed up or the final bill is paid.

The industry's procedural standard is the ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard for Professional Mold Remediation, which covers the procedures and precautions for remediation and lists post-remediation verification as part of the job.

When you need remediation, and when to test first

Size matters. The EPA says that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, you can usually handle the job yourself following its guidance. Above that, after significant water damage, or if the water was sewage or otherwise contaminated, the EPA points to professional cleanup.

You don't always need a test first. The EPA's guide says that in most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. If you can see it and you're going to remove it, spend the money on the fix. A test earns its cost when:

• You smell mold but can't find it, or water got behind a wall or under a floor.
• You're buying a home, or you need independent documentation for a landlord or insurer.
• You want to know how far the problem goes before you collect remediation quotes.

For that, start with our Utah mold testing or Salt Lake City mold inspection pages. Testing requests go only to independent inspectors.

A note on health: mold can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms in some people, according to the EPA and CDC, and people with weakened immune systems or chronic lung disease can be at higher risk. If you're worried about your health or a family member's, talk to a doctor. The EPA also advises consulting a health professional before starting cleanup if you have health concerns.

Crawl space mold

Crawl spaces sit close to the soil, so they collect ground moisture, plumbing leaks and poor ventilation in a space nobody visits. Mold often shows up on floor joists, subfloor and insulation. The work is slow because the space is tight, and a lasting fix usually means dealing with the moisture too: the leak, the drainage, or the ground cover. Ask any remediator how they'll handle the moisture source, not only the visible growth.

Attic mold

Attic mold usually grows on the underside of roof sheathing. Common causes are roof leaks, bathroom or kitchen fans that vent into the attic instead of outside, and warm, damp household air reaching a cold roof deck in winter. Cleaning the wood without fixing the venting or the leak tends to bring the mold back. Insulation that got wet may need to come out.

Basement mold

Basements take water from every direction: seepage through foundation walls, plumbing leaks, window wells and condensation on cool surfaces. Finished basements hide the problem, because the back of the drywall and the bottom of the framing get wet long before anything shows on the painted side. Expect a remediator to open walls to see how far it goes, and expect drywall, insulation or carpet to be removed if they're moldy.

How to pick a remediator

• Ask for IICRC certification and proof of insurance. Ask which IICRC certification the crew holds and whether they follow IICRC S520.
• Ask about experience and check references. The EPA's mold cleanup guidance says to make sure a contractor has experience cleaning up mold and to check references.
• Get a written scope. It should name the areas, the containment, which materials come out, how the area gets dried, who fixes the water source, and what rebuilding is or isn't included.
• Ask how they'll contain the work. Plastic sheeting, negative air, and how they'll keep dust out of the rest of the house.
• Ask who does the clearance test. The right answer is an independent inspector you choose, not the remediation company itself.

Why the clearance test must be independent

A company grading its own cleanup has every reason to call it finished. The EPA's remediation guidance gives the questions an independent check should answer: the water or moisture problem is completely fixed, no visible mold, mold-damaged materials or moldy odors remain, and, if samples are taken, the kinds and amounts of mold indoors are similar to those outside. Our Utah clearance testing page explains what the inspector checks. Clearance requests go to the testing lane, never to a remediation company.

More on remediation in Utah

• Mold remediation in Salt Lake City
• What mold remediation costs
• Independent mold clearance testing in Utah
• Types of mold found in Utah homes