A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home (From USEPA website)
Mold Cleanup
Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One
consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is
less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft.
patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following the
guidelines below. However:
- If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult EPA's
Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document is applicable to other building types.
- If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional
service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has
experience cleaning up mold. Check references and ask the contractor to
follow the recommendations in EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings,
the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygenists (ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional or government
organizations.
- If you suspect that the heating/ventilation/air conditioning
(HVAC) system may be contaminated with mold (it is part of an identified
moisture problem, for
instance, or there is mold near the intake to the system), consult
EPA's guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
before taking further action. Do not run the HVAC system if you know or
suspect that it is contaminated with mold - it could spread mold
throughout the building.
- If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other
contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience
cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.
- If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.