Mold
Mold remediation in Iowa
Musty basement, spots after a leak, or growth behind drywall. Small patches can be a weekend job. Larger or hidden growth needs containment and a trained crew.
Local Water & Mold is a referral service. A participating local company answers the call and does the work.
How the work goes
What a professional mold remediation job involves
- 01
Assessment
Find the moisture source and the extent of growth, including inside walls, under floors and in ductwork.
- 02
Containment
Seal the work area with plastic and run negative air machines with HEPA filters so spores don't spread.
- 03
Removal and cleaning
Remove and bag porous materials that can't be cleaned, HEPA-vacuum, and clean remaining surfaces.
- 04
Drying and prevention
Dry the structure, fix the moisture problem, and set humidity control so it doesn't come back.
Signs you need more than a scrub brush
- Growth over more than about 10 square feet, the EPA's threshold for homeowner cleanup.
- Mold after sewage, a toilet overflow or floodwater.
- A musty smell with no visible source, which often means growth inside a wall or under flooring.
- Mold that returns after cleaning.
- Anyone in the home with asthma, allergies or a weakened immune system.
What remediation won't do
No company can make a house mold-free. Mold spores are in all outdoor and indoor air. The goal of remediation is to remove active growth and fix the moisture that fed it. Be wary of anyone who promises permanent results without addressing the water source.
Insurance and mold
Many Iowa homeowners policies limit or exclude mold, especially from long-term leaks or humidity. Mold that results from a covered, sudden water loss is more likely to be covered, often up to a smaller sublimit. That's another reason to start drying within a day or two of any leak.
Questions
Mold remediation FAQ
When should I call a professional for mold?
How much does mold remediation cost?
Do I need a mold test before remediation?
How long does mold remediation take?
Local help
Pick your county
Each county page has local risk data and the call line for that area.
- Adair County Greenfield 30 muggy nights/yr
- Adams County Corning 33 muggy nights/yr
- Allamakee County Waukon 22 muggy nights/yr
- Appanoose County Centerville 37 muggy nights/yr
- Audubon County Audubon 24 muggy nights/yr
- Benton County Vinton 24 muggy nights/yr
- Black Hawk County Waterloo 25 muggy nights/yr
- Boone County Boone 32 muggy nights/yr
- Bremer County Waverly 21 muggy nights/yr
- Buchanan County Independence 21 muggy nights/yr
- Buena Vista County Storm Lake 27 muggy nights/yr
- Butler County Allison 22 muggy nights/yr
- Calhoun County Rockwell City 28 muggy nights/yr
- Carroll County Carroll 27 muggy nights/yr
- Cass County Atlantic 30 muggy nights/yr
- Cedar County Tipton 30 muggy nights/yr
- Cerro Gordo County Mason City 18 muggy nights/yr
- Cherokee County Cherokee 26 muggy nights/yr
- Chickasaw County New Hampton 16 muggy nights/yr
- Clarke County Osceola 40 muggy nights/yr
- Clay County Spencer 22 muggy nights/yr
- Clayton County Elkader 22 muggy nights/yr
- Clinton County Clinton 36 muggy nights/yr
- Crawford County Denison 28 muggy nights/yr
- Dallas County Adel 36 muggy nights/yr
- Davis County Bloomfield 41 muggy nights/yr
- Decatur County Leon 42 muggy nights/yr
- Delaware County Manchester 22 muggy nights/yr
- Des Moines County Burlington 44 muggy nights/yr
- Dickinson County Spirit Lake 20 muggy nights/yr
- Dubuque County Dubuque 25 muggy nights/yr
- Emmet County Estherville 18 muggy nights/yr
- Fayette County West Union 18 muggy nights/yr
- Floyd County Charles City 20 muggy nights/yr
- Franklin County Hampton 21 muggy nights/yr
- Fremont County Sidney 46 muggy nights/yr
- Greene County Jefferson 31 muggy nights/yr
- Grundy County Grundy Center 25 muggy nights/yr
- Guthrie County Guthrie Center 29 muggy nights/yr
- Hamilton County Webster City 22 muggy nights/yr
- Hancock County Garner 16 muggy nights/yr
- Hardin County Eldora 24 muggy nights/yr
- Harrison County Logan 38 muggy nights/yr
- Henry County Mount Pleasant 38 muggy nights/yr
- Howard County Cresco 11 muggy nights/yr
- Humboldt County Dakota City 21 muggy nights/yr
- Ida County Ida Grove 28 muggy nights/yr
- Iowa County Marengo 32 muggy nights/yr
- Jackson County Maquoketa 31 muggy nights/yr
- Jasper County Newton 36 muggy nights/yr
- Jefferson County Fairfield 37 muggy nights/yr
- Johnson County Iowa City 32 muggy nights/yr
- Jones County Anamosa 27 muggy nights/yr
- Keokuk County Sigourney 34 muggy nights/yr
- Kossuth County Algona 20 muggy nights/yr
- Lee County Keokuk 50 muggy nights/yr
- Linn County Cedar Rapids 28 muggy nights/yr
- Louisa County Wapello 40 muggy nights/yr
- Lucas County Chariton 38 muggy nights/yr
- Lyon County Rock Rapids 21 muggy nights/yr
- Madison County Winterset 36 muggy nights/yr
- Mahaska County Oskaloosa 38 muggy nights/yr
- Marion County Knoxville 39 muggy nights/yr
- Marshall County Marshalltown 30 muggy nights/yr
- Mills County Glenwood 43 muggy nights/yr
- Mitchell County Osage 16 muggy nights/yr
- Monona County Onawa 32 muggy nights/yr
- Monroe County Albia 39 muggy nights/yr
- Montgomery County Red Oak 37 muggy nights/yr
- Muscatine County Muscatine 35 muggy nights/yr
- O'Brien County Primghar 22 muggy nights/yr
- Osceola County Sibley 20 muggy nights/yr
- Page County Clarinda 42 muggy nights/yr
- Palo Alto County Emmetsburg 21 muggy nights/yr
- Plymouth County Le Mars 26 muggy nights/yr
- Pocahontas County Pocahontas 22 muggy nights/yr
- Polk County Des Moines 42 muggy nights/yr
- Pottawattamie County Council Bluffs 38 muggy nights/yr
- Poweshiek County Montezuma 31 muggy nights/yr
- Ringgold County Mount Ayr 39 muggy nights/yr
- Sac County Sac City 29 muggy nights/yr
- Scott County Davenport 40 muggy nights/yr
- Shelby County Harlan 29 muggy nights/yr
- Sioux County Orange City 23 muggy nights/yr
- Story County Nevada 32 muggy nights/yr
- Tama County Toledo 26 muggy nights/yr
- Taylor County Bedford 39 muggy nights/yr
- Union County Creston 34 muggy nights/yr
- Van Buren County Keosauqua 42 muggy nights/yr
- Wapello County Ottumwa 40 muggy nights/yr
- Warren County Indianola 42 muggy nights/yr
- Washington County Washington 36 muggy nights/yr
- Wayne County Corydon 36 muggy nights/yr
- Webster County Fort Dodge 24 muggy nights/yr
- Winnebago County Forest City 16 muggy nights/yr
- Winneshiek County Decorah 17 muggy nights/yr
- Woodbury County Sioux City 30 muggy nights/yr
- Worth County Northwood 16 muggy nights/yr
- Wright County Clarion 17 muggy nights/yr