Law Protects Consumers From Mold Removal Cons

Florida’s warm, humid climate is the perfect setup for mold to grow in our homes. Roughly 1,000 strains of household mold, Strachybotrys chartarum, commonly called “black” or “toxic” mold have been identified. Many types of mold cause such health problems as sneezing, itching and wheezing and even trigger asthma attacks.

Toxic or not, mold isn’t healthy to have in your home, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In the past, Florida homeowners were sometimes taken advantage of by so-called mold removal specialists who were nothing more than con artists.

Now Florida consumers have some protection with a new law that requires licensing of mold specialists.

The law also prohibits a company from performing both the mold testing or assessment and the mold remediation or removal on the same house. Previously, a company could do both on the same property.

“What this means now is that if you do an inspection on a job site, you are not allowed to do the remediation,” said Michael Fadell, president of Jupiter-based U.S Mold, licensed to perform both types of service.

The law requiring licenses for mold assessors and mold remediators was enacted in 2010. Enforcement began July 1, according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Qualified companies that submitted their applications by March 1 were grandfathered in if they met certain requirements such as having performed at least 40 mold assessments or remediations.

Fadell welcomes the regulation and said homeowners should always demand to see a company’s license, ask for references and call the references.

To check for a license, go to www.myfloridalicense.com.

“The licensing is a good thing. Nobody can just jump into this business and start doing it,” Fadell said.

Those new to the business must meet requirements such as a two-year degree in microbiology, engineering, architecture, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, or a related field of science from an accredited institution and a minimum of one year of field experience, or a high school diploma or equivalent with four years of documented field experience.

All applicants must demonstrate documented training in water, mold and respiratory protection. Applicants must also submit an application and fee to the department, pass a state approved examination, and submit fingerprints for a criminal background check.

Mold problems in Florida homes accelerated beginning with the hurricanes of 2004, Fadell said.

“We had a lot of fly-by-nights coming in from all over the country and slapping magnetic signs on their trucks saying they were mold specialists,” Fadell said. “A lot of people were taken advantage of.”

In the past few years, the mold problems have been popping up in vacant foreclosed homes.

“As soon as you walk in, you get this ungodly musty, mildewy smell,” Fadell said. “The house is closed up and the banks turn the air conditioners off.”

Lately, Fadell said he has seen houses where someone has left the windows open to air out the house, and failed to close them before it rained, making the situation worse.

Fadell said his company is doing work on such homes, which are treatable 90 percent of the time.

The job involves cleaning the air conditioning coils, cleaning ducts with a high efficiency particulate air vacuum, and fogging with a biodegradeable chemical that kills bacteria and molds.

“It should not scare people from buying a house,” Fadell said.

The cost to treat a 2,000-square-foot house would be $2,000 to $3,000. If drywall and carpets need to be ripped out, the cost would be higher, Fadell said.

Only if the structure is compromised should a potential buyer not purchase the house, he said. If dry rot is present, that indicates the structure has water damage. When looking at the home, check all water sources, under vanities, behind washer and dryers and refrigerators, etc., Fadell advises.

Check under all windows to see if any baseboards are cracked and pulling away from drywall. Look for water stains and ask your Realtor if the home has had water damage.

Also check air-conditioning vents for visible signs of mold, and inspect ceilings for water stains.

 

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About mold and moisture

Molds are living organisms that grow in damp places in your home. Mold, a type of fungi, produces ‘spores,’ tiny specks you can’t see that float through the air. They stain or discolor surfaces and smell musty.

Mold can grow almost anywhere: on walls, ceilings, carpets, or furniture. Humidity or wetness, caused by water leaks, spills from bathtubs or showers, or condensation, can cause mold to grow in your home.

People with allergies to mold may get watery eyes, runny or stuffed noses, itching, headaches or have difficulty breathing.

Some molds produce toxins that may be hazardous if people are exposed to large amounts . Mold spores and related mycotoxins also can pose a serious health threat to individuals who have compromised immune systems.