Start with the water
Mold is a sign that something got wet and stayed wet. The steps below follow the order that actually works: stop the water, protect the people in the house, remove what can't be saved, dry everything, then put the house back together.
Step 1: Find the source
Common sources in Pinehurst homes:
- roof, window and door leaks after heavy rain; the nearest NOAA station, at Fort Bragg/Simmons Army Airfield, lists a 100-year rainfall rate of 3.8 inches per hour;
- plumbing leaks under sinks, at toilets, at the water heater and at washing machine hoses;
- condensation on ducts and in crawlspaces during humid weather;
- a bathroom or laundry without a working exhaust fan.
Step 2: Stop it
Turn off the water to a leaking fixture, tarp a roof leak, or call a plumber. If the leak is on the utility side of the meter, call Moore County Public Utilities, which supplies water and sewer service to more than 18,000 customers including Pinehurst.
Step 3: Protect the household
Keep children, older people and anyone with asthma, allergies or a weakened immune system away from the area. Close the room. Don't run fans that blow over the mold.
Step 4: Decide what you can clean
Small spots on hard, non-porous surfaces can usually be cleaned with detergent and water and dried right away. Larger areas, mold inside walls, ceilings or ductwork, and anything after sewage or flood water are jobs for a remediation company.
Step 5: Hire with a written plan
Ask each company for a written plan that names the moisture source, the area and materials to be removed, how the work area will be contained, how drying will be measured and how the company will show the job is done. Ask for references from similar jobs.
Step 6: Contain and remove
Expect plastic sheeting around the work area, air filtration, and moldy drywall, insulation and carpet pad cut out and bagged before being carried through the house.
Step 7: Dry in humid air
The Fort Bragg station counts about 1,112 hours a year with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F. In summer, opening windows adds moisture. Drying needs dehumidifiers in a closed space and daily moisture readings until materials reach a dry standard the company named in advance.
Step 8: Look at the crawlspace
If the house sits over a crawlspace, have it checked even if the mold you found was upstairs. Humid air and cool framing make crawlspaces a common hidden source. Options include a ground vapor barrier, sealing and insulating ducts, and dehumidification.
Step 9: Check before closing up
Before new drywall goes up, ask to see the cleaned, dry cavity and to get the final moisture readings in writing.
Step 10: Prevent the next one
- Run bathroom and kitchen fans during and after use.
- Keep indoor humidity in check with the air conditioning and, if needed, a dehumidifier.
- Look under sinks and around the water heater a few times a year.
- Keep gutters clean and downspouts extended away from the house.
Keep the record
Keep the plan, moisture logs, photos and invoices together. They answer a buyer's questions later and help if mold ever returns.