“It can get hazardous pretty quick,” Rodriguez said.
The mold removal process includes containment, securing the area, initiating air scrubbers to clean the air and getting rid of wet areas that contracted mold. After that, the area has to be tested for signs of mold left through a third-party mitigation system, he said.
After the February winter storm, many homes were affected by mold issues, and homeowners were put on waiting lists to receive services, Rodriguez said. However, the longer the wait, the chances of developing a mold issue increases.
“If your house was affected and nobody got to your house in a month, well guess what? That water damage conventionally does turn into mold,” he said. “And now you have to do a water job and a mold job.”
A mold job should be treated by professionals, Rodriguez said. He said volunteers and remodeling companies that patch up houses post-flooding do not do the same job as mold removal professionals. Rodriguez said prospective homebuyers should test the home for mold before buying, especially in flood-prone areas.
Bob Phalen, University of Houston-Clear Lake associate professor and chair of its occupational safety and health program, said mold can come with harmful side effects.
“I’ve done assessments where people got pretty sick, but it was mostly nausea, vomiting,” he said.
Mold typically affects respiratory systems, causing coughing or allergic responses. Those who have asthma can see it worsen due to mold, and mold can sometimes even cause infections in people, Phalen said.
