Just How Bad Is Your Mold? Understanding Mold Levels

When it comes to your health and safety, the presence of mold in a home is never a good thing. However, all cases of residential mold are not the same. Having a general idea of the degree of contamination in your home can be especially helpful. If a flood or other event has left you with mold, determining the degree of contamination can help you determine if remediation is necessary and what safety precautions you should take.  

Small Infestation

Small infestations are best defined as areas of contamination that don't exceed 10 square feet. While it's important to take action, small infestations aren't necessarily of grave concern. These small areas are often found on baseboards or ceilings. Generally, you can resolve this issue with self-cleaning. However, if you have allergies, asthma or an immune disorder, you should not attempt to do so.

It's important to understand that it's 10 total square feet. For example, a 10 square feet space in your master bedroom and another 10 square feet area in your bathroom means you have 20 square feet of contamination and it might be a good idea to contact a professional.

Medium Infestation

Medium infestations are greater than 10 square feet, but not more than 100 square feet. A good estimate of this would be an entire wall panel that is covered with mold. In this type of instance, you can safely self-clean, but there are a number of precautions that should be taken. First, wearing gloves and a face mask, cover the mold infested area with plastic, securing the perimeter with tape to help prevent the spread of mold spores until cleanup is complete.

Next, perform self-cleaning. Once finished, use a HEPA rated vacuum to clean up the entire area, followed by a mop. Any gloves and tools used during the process should be removed from the home or thoroughly cleaned. Infants and anyone with asthma, allergies or an immune disorder should be vacated from the home until treatment has been completed.

Large Infestation

A large infestation is categorized as anything greater than 100 square feet. If you have this type of infestation, every member of the home should vacate the property until it has been tested and cleared by a remediation professional.

Make sure you are relying on a professional like American Environmental Specialists LLC or others in your area. If the affected area is greater than 100 square feet, you have multiple areas of contamination or you have any other concerns, it's time to call on a remediation professional for assistance.