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Mold in a Florida home: where to look and when to call a pro

In Florida’s heat and humidity, a small leak can turn into mold in a day or two. The good news: it usually starts in the same few places, and the fix always begins with the water.

5 min read

Black mold growing along the corner of a white window frame

Six places to check

  1. The AC closet. In Florida the air handler pulls a lot of water out of the air. If the drain pan or the drain line clogs, water sits there. Look for rust, a wet floor or a musty smell when the AC turns on.
  2. Under the sinks. Slow drips from pipes and the dishwasher hose.
  3. The bathroom. Grout, caulk, behind the toilet and the ceiling over the shower. Run the fan while you shower and for a while after.
  4. Closets on outside walls. Less air moves there, and the walls stay cooler.
  5. Windows and sliding doors. Water condenses on the frames and in the tracks.
  6. Behind the fridge and the washer. Ice maker and washer hoses can leak slowly, out of sight.

What you can do yourself

  • Fix the water first. As the EPA puts it, the key to mold control is moisture control. Clean without fixing the leak and the mold comes back.
  • Dry wet areas and things within 24 to 48 hours. That’s usually enough to keep mold from growing.
  • Keep the humidity down: below 60% inside, ideally between 30% and 50%. A small humidity meter costs a few dollars. Your AC is your best dehumidifier, so don’t switch it off in the summer, even when you travel: the University of Florida suggests leaving it set no higher than 85°F.
  • Clean small areas, under about 10 square feet (roughly 3 by 3 feet): scrub hard surfaces with detergent and water, then dry them completely. Gloves, goggles and an N-95 mask help.
  • Skip the bleach. The EPA doesn’t recommend bleach as a routine fix. Dead mold can still cause allergies, so it has to be removed, not just killed.
  • Throw out soaked things that stay moldy, like ceiling tiles and carpet.

When to call a pro

  • The moldy area is bigger than about 10 square feet.
  • After a flood, a sewage backup or water inside the walls.
  • The AC system or the ducts may be moldy.
  • Someone at home has asthma, allergies or a weak immune system. Talk to a doctor too.

Need a pro for this?

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Sources

  1. U.S. EPA: a brief guide to mold, moisture and your home
  2. Florida Statutes §468.8411: what counts as mold assessment and remediation
  3. Florida Statutes §468.8419: what mold assessors and remediators may not do
  4. UF/IFAS Extension: closing your seasonal home

This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules change, so check the sources and ask a licensed pro about your home.

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