What Should I Do If I See Mold
It depends on the situation. If the mold isnt widespread, then its possible to remove it yourself. Store-bought mold cleaners work well, as does diluted bleach in water. Keep in mind, though, that mold can live in unseen areas, and can come back easily once its removed. Make sure youre addressing all the underlying causes of the mold, and check the area frequently after cleaning to ensure it hasnt returned.
Pro Tip: When dealing with mold, its important to wear the appropriate protective gear. Goggles, gloves, and a high-quality face mask are all recommended.
If the mold is widespread, then youre going to have to call in the professionals. There are specific techniques for removing and repairing widespread mold infestations that youre not going to be able to handle on your own. Remember, large amounts of mold can be dangerous to your health. You dont want to make yourself sick trying to clean it up.
How To Protect Your Home From Mold Growth
Protecting your home from mold growth is relatively simple, and so important for your homes long-term health. Mold tends to grow in humid and warm environments, so there are easy steps you can take to keep it from growing in likely areas such as HVAC closets, bathrooms and gutters.
- Install dehumidifiers in the bathrooms and basement
- Commit to regular home maintenance and cleaning
- Areas especially susceptible to mold growth should be monitored regularly
- Install smart devices to help keep an eye on your homes condition
- Devices like temperature, humidity and water leak sensors can take the guesswork out of home maintenance by immediately alerting you to any issues
As frustrating as it can be, mold growth isnt a death sentence for your home. And with proper preventative care, you can decrease the chance of mold spreading again throughout your home. If you’re looking for an insurer thatll walk you through the claim process, speak to a member of our team about your home insurance options.
Save up to 25%*
Sickly Abodes: As Mold Continues To Spread Homeowners
All too often, the insurance company does not respond in a timely Farmers Insurance Group has eliminated coverage for mold damage in 30
Lemonade Allstate State Farm Travelers USAA. To give you an estimate of annual home insurance rates in Texas, we included sample quotes
value of any covered property prior to or following re- Leased does not include temporary rental State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Com-.
Read Also: Do I Really Need Mold Remediation
If You Have A Water Leak Or Flooding
Follow these tips to prevent more damage after a water leak or flood:
When Does Home Insurance Cover Mold
Find Cheap Homeowners Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Homeowners insurance policies often include vague wording regarding mold coverage, and it can be difficult to determine whether any mold damage you encounter will be covered. Policies typically exclude coverage for mold damage, except when the mold is the result of a covered claim, such as water damage.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Mold In Crawl Space
What To Expect From State Farm Homeowners Insurance
MoneyGeeks guide gives you an overview of what you can expect if you purchase your homeowners insurance from State Farm. Well touch on various services and features you may encounter in your customer journey.
Getting a quote
You can get a homeowners insurance quote from State Farm on their website. Their online quote tool allows you to gather pertinent information using your unique profile.
Customer support
You can reach out to State Farm for any comments or questions by calling 800-STATE-FARM . They also provide a separate support line if you need technical assistance regarding your online account.
Filing a claim
State Farm provides multiple platforms for filing claims, such as through your mobile app or on their website. You can also use the same channels to track a claims progress.
Canceling your policy
There may come a time when you want to cancel your State Farm homeowners insurance policy. You can do this by phone, through the mail or in person.
State Farm homeowners insurance policyholders can file claims in several ways. You can call 800-SF-CLAIM or speak to your agent. Other options include filing through their website or using a mobile app, which allows you 24/7 access.
State Farm homeowners insurance is widely available in the United States. You can purchase it in most states except Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
State Farm Homeowners Insurance Discounts
You can benefit from a variety of discounts with State Farm that keep your policy more affordable.
- Multipolicy discount: Combine your homeowners insurance policy with your State Farm auto insurance policy to save up to 20%.
- Home alarm discount: State Farm provides discounts if your home is protected with a smoke, fire or burglar alarm.
- Roofing materials discount: Installing impact-resistant roofing earns you lower premiums with State Farm.
- No-claim discount: The company provides discounts for those who havent made recent claims. You can qualify for this discount even if youre switching from another company.
Don’t Miss: Are Home Depot Mold Tests Accurate
Strategies For A Mold Insurance Claim
If you do have mold coverage in your home insurance policy, Blumkin advises you to make sure that only the additional cost for mold remediation above what would normally be charged if mold were not present is applied toward your policys mold limitations, rather than the full repair cost.
For example, if restoration crews are cutting out wet or burnt drywall, only the additional cost for handling moldy drywall rather than regular damaged drywall should be placed into the mold remediation category.
The fact that it was moldy doesnt mean that 100 percent of the removal cost goes into the mold limits only the increased cost to deal with mold on the drywall should go into the mold limitation amount, Blumkin says.
So, for example, if it costs $1 per square foot to remove drywall that is damaged or destroyed as part of the covered event but its $1.10 per square foot to remove drywall with mold on it, only the extra 10 cents should be applied toward the mold coverage amount. The remaining $1 should be considered as regular damage coverage.
How Much Does State Farms Homeowners Insurance Cost
The average cost for homeowners insurance is $1,979 per year. However, it may vary depending on your unique profile. Insurers will consider factors like your homes location, age and construction type, among other things. Its best to speak with a representative to determine how much your State Farm homeowners insurance costs.
Scroll for more
Insurers look at your location, how much it costs to replace your home and personal property and your preferred deductible when setting your premium.
Typically, a $250,000 dwelling coverage is a reasonable amount, but the best way to compute how much insurance you need is by assessing your homes value. Youll need to determine limits for other coverages as well, which also affect your premium.
MoneyGeeks home insurance calculator can provide you with an estimate based on your preferred limits.
Recommended Reading: Does My Apartment Have Mold
What Is Mold Insurance
Most home insurance policies dont cover mold that results from homeowner negligence or natural events such as major storms or floods. To find out if this is the case with your policy, read through the section that lists out your covered and noncovered perils. More than likely youll find a laundry list of uncovered threats related to mold, dry rot, mildew, and fungi. If that all sounds like Greek to you, then give your provider a call. They can tell you exactly whats covered by your policy and what isnt.
FYI: If you notice mold in your home and want to make a claim to have it fixed, dont touch it. Take pictures and videos of the affected areas and give them to your insurance provider. That will help you establish the extent of the damage, and itll help your provider better understand the source of the infestation.
If you find your coverage lacking in regards to mold, then most insurance providers will add an endorsement to your policy. Itll cost a little more, but it might be worth it in the long run particularly if you live in a humid state like Florida. Essentially this endorsement will remove the language from your policy that excludes mold as a named peril, which is a fancy way of saying if you discover mold, you can make a claim to have it removed and the damage repaired.
That may seem like a no-brainer. Of course youd want mold covered by your policy, right? Well, there are a few considerations.
Can You Completely Get Rid Of Mold
According to the Environmental Protection Agency , There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. Even if you clean the mold, it will still come back if the room is humid and poorly ventilated or there is …
You May Like: How To Clean Mold Off Cutting Board
What Happens If My Mold Claim Is Denied
The unfortunate reality is that your homeowners insurance provider often will deny you the coverage you feel entitled to. If you make a claim for mold remediation and its denied, you dont need to panic.
FYI: Not all homeowners insurance providers are created equal. Some take customer service far more seriously than others, so be sure to read online reviews before making your selection. You dont want to be neglected when you need it most.
Get in touch with a licensed contractor to give you their professional opinion on the source of the mold. If they say you should have been covered, then you can appeal your providers denial. If youre still not getting anywhere, then it may also be worth it to contact your state insurance commission, which can help get your claim approved or lodge a formal complaint regarding the denial.
We hope it wont come to that for you, and it shouldnt if youve purchased adequate protections.
That about wraps us up. You should now have a much better handle on what causes mold, the threats it poses, how homeowners insurance providers approach mold problems, and whether purchasing additional mold protection is a good idea for you. We have a few parting thoughts though.
How State Farm Home Insurance Rates
State Farm homeowners insurance earned 4 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallets ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account coverage and discounts, ease of filing a claim, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more.
» MORE:The best homeowners insurance companies
Don’t Miss: How To Remove Mold From Cabinets
What Do I Do If I Find Mold In My Basement
Is Mold A Covered Peril
If the mold was caused by a peril such as a flood, yes, you can claim the damage! This would apply if you have an existing flood policy with your insurance provider, be sure to check this if you live in a flooding area!
Typically, though mold is not considered a covered peril, this is usually because mold can be controlled and prevented in situations .
Each insurance policy is different, though, so it is always worth checking before taking out the policy.
Covered perils are events that the insurance company will cover. Should you file a claim, they often cover fire, lightning, storms, snow and ice, theft, and vandalism.
This is not an exhaustive list, so be sure to check the included covered perils before taking out your insurance policy.
Don’t Miss: How To Detect Black Mold In Home
Who Offers The Best Mold Insurance
Most providers offer some type of mold coverage, but some are better than others when it comes to dealing with this specific threat.
- Lemonade: One of the best new insurers out there, Lemonade offers mold insurance when its caused by a covered event. For more information, you can read our review of Lemonade home insurance.
- State Farm: State Farm is a great option for people looking to protect themselves from all sorts of threats including mold at a reasonable price. It offers up to $10,000 for remediation of mold caused by covered incidents. Check out our State Farm review for more.
- Nationwide: Comprehensive coverage and customer service are two of our favorite things about Nationwide. If youre looking to protect yourself from mold and a host of other perils, its a great option. Read our analysis of Nationwide to learn more.
Lets say you decide on one of these providers and you opt to add additional mold protection to your policy. You want to cover all your bases, and its not too expensive for you. After a particularly rainy month, you discover some mold that looks like it could be threatening, and youre not confident you can take care of it yourself. What then?
What To Do If Your Mold Claim Is Denied
If your homeowners insurance company denies your mold claim, you may want to get a licensed contractor to offer a second opinion on what caused the damage. You could also attempt to appeal the denial with your insurance company if it has a specified appeals process. If not, your state insurance commissioner may be able to offer help on what you can do to get the claim approved or to file a complaint about denial.
Read Also: Can Mold Cause Night Sweats
Can I Sell My House If It Has Mold
Selling a House With Mold Problems You may be surprised to know that yes, it is legal to sell a house with fungi-including toxic black mold. … If and when a seller accepts the buyer’s offer in cash, that means the seller is free of any responsibility regarding any defects in the property, including the mold present.
Coverage Under A Homeowners Policy
Originally, a standard homeowners policy covered only the risk of fire. Today’s homeowners policies provide protection against a number of the “perils” of modern life, in one “package” policy. A typical homeowners policy footnote can provide insurance protection for the following:
- Home: The physical dwelling structure and other structures attached to it.
- Other structures: For example, a detached garage, pool house, guesthouse, green house, or tool shed.
- Personal property: This covers the contents of the home, such as furniture, appliances or clothing. Certain types of property footnote may have specific dollar limits.
- Loss of use or additional living expense: If a home is damaged by a covered peril, loss-of-use coverage helps meet the costs of hotel bills, apartment or rental home, eating out, and other living expenses while the home is being repaired. This policy section can also reimburse a homeowner for lost income if a room in the home were rented out. This is sometimes insured on an actual-loss-sustained basis.
- Personal liability: Provides protection against legal liability for bodily injury or property damage if a third party is accidentally injured.
- Medical payments: Also known as guest-medical payments, this section provides coverage if a third party is accidentally injured and needs medical treatment.
You May Like: How Can You Tell You Have Mold In Your House
Home Insurance Coverage And Mold Damage
The short answer is that mold damage is covered if it occurred as the result of some other incident included in your policy.
For example, if your mold growth is caused by water that the fire department used to extinguish a house fire, it will likely be covered. In this case, it falls under the fire umbrella. Other common scenarios include a burst pipe leaking water and leading to mold growth, or even faulty air conditioners.
Keep in mind that flood insurance is a separate product. Your standard homeowners insurance policy doesnt typically cover water damage caused by a flood. Your separate flood insurance policy will cover the damage caused by floodwater.
On the other hand, if your mold problem is the result of negligent home maintenance, dont count on getting any insurance payout. If you had a leaky pipe in the basement and chose to ignore it, your policy wont pay for the mold removal process.
Like most types of insurance, homeowners insurance is best for covering accidental damage. If youre slacking off on maintaining your home, be aware that you might feel the financial repercussions sooner than later.
Mold Resulting From Negligence
The third category of mold-related damage is associated with negligence on the part of the homeowner. What this means in simple terms is ignoring home maintenance or repairs to the extent that they allow mold to develop. Mold typically isnt covered by your homeowners insurance policy if it forms because of neglect or lack of upkeep, Howard says. If you knowingly could have prevented the mold by fixing leaky pipes or using a dehumidifier, your insurer wont reimburse you for mold removal and remediation.
Say that you notice the seal around the base of your toilet is leaking water. Instead of replacing the seal or the toilet, you let the leak continue, which causes damage to the subflooring. From there, mold sets in and spreads to the baseboards and walls. In that instance your homeowners insurance policy claim may be denied because you were in a position to prevent the mold from happening.
Read Also: How To Keep Mold Out Of Bathroom
