Found Mold in Missoula? Your First 48 Hours

You pulled back a box in the basement and there it is. Dark spots, a musty smell, maybe a soft patch of wall. Take a breath. Mold is a problem, but it's rarely an emergency that requires you to rip out walls tonight. What you do in the first two days is mostly about stopping the cause, limiting the spread and gathering information. Here is a practical order of work for homeowners in the Missoula area.

Hour one: stop and look

Don't scrub, sweep or blast it with a fan. Disturbing mold can send spores into the rest of the house. Look first.

• Where is it, and how big is the patch?
• Is the surface hard (tile, concrete, sealed wood) or soft (drywall, carpet, insulation)?
• Is the area wet, damp or dry to the touch?
• Is there a stain, drip or smell somewhere nearby?

Take photos with a ruler or a coin for scale. Note the date.

Hours 1 to 6: find and stop the water

Mold needs moisture. Without fixing the source, cleanup is temporary. Check the usual suspects:

• Plumbing lines, water heater and washing machine hoses
• Window wells and foundation walls after snowmelt or a hard rain
• Roof edges, flashing and gutters that dump water near the foundation
• Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans that vent into an attic instead of outside

If a pipe is leaking, shut off the water to it. If groundwater is coming in, move belongings off the floor and note where it enters. A temporary fix is fine for now. A permanent one can be part of the provider's plan.

Talk to a provider (406) 610-0094

Hours 6 to 24: limit the spread

Close doors to the affected room. If the area is in a basement, keep the door at the top of the stairs shut. If your furnace or air handler draws air from that space, consider turning the system fan off until someone has looked, since ducts can carry spores through the house. Don't run a box fan through the moldy area.

Move porous items that are wet or moldy, such as cardboard boxes, rugs and fabric, into sealed plastic bags if they're clearly ruined. Leave anything you aren't sure about. Items that look fine may need cleaning rather than the trash.

Hours 24 to 36: dry what you can

If the area is wet from a recent leak, drying helps. Open windows if outdoor air is dry, which is often the case in mountain climates. Use a dehumidifier in enclosed spaces. Aim fans so they move air out of the room, not through the house. Wet drywall and insulation that has stayed soaked for a while often can't be saved, but you don't have to decide that alone.

Protect yourself

If you handle anything at all, wear gloves, eye protection and a well-fitted respirator rated for fine particles. Anyone with asthma, a weak immune system or breathing trouble should stay out of the area. If someone in the home has symptoms that seem tied to the space, talk to a doctor.

Know where to stop

A small patch on a hard surface is something many homeowners clean themselves. Stop and bring in a pro when:

• The mold is on drywall, insulation, carpet or ceiling tiles
• The patch is larger than you can easily reach and wipe
• The musty smell is strong but you can't see the source
• The area stayed wet for more than a couple of days
• It keeps coming back after cleaning

What you shouldn't do: paint over it, cover it with new trim, or spray and walk away. Those steps hide the problem without fixing it.

Hours 36 to 48: document and ask for help

Write down what you found, when you found it, and what you did. Keep photos and any receipts. If you plan to contact your insurer, ask them what they need to see. Don't assume anything will be covered.

Then decide whether you want an inspection first, remediation, or both. An inspection can find hidden moisture and tell you how far the problem goes. Sampling is optional and depends on your situation. Call through Missoula Mold Remediation and describe what you found using your notes, and an independent local provider can tell you what comes next.

Talk to a provider (406) 610-0094

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