Mold inspection and remediation after water damage
Mold after water damage is a moisture problem first, and EPA puts it plainly when it says the key to mold control is moisture control.
Start with the water
EPA says to dry water damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. When that window was missed, or a slow leak ran unseen, mold can follow. Removing growth without fixing the moisture brings it back, so the first step is always the source and the readings.
Small area or crew job
EPA says a moldy area of less than about 10 square feet is usually something a homeowner can handle. Larger areas, growth inside walls or ceilings, or mold after sewage or flood water are crew jobs. We measure the area and tell you which one you have.
Where we look in Las Vegas homes
The places that stay wet. Under sinks, behind toilets and washers, around water heaters, under AC drip pans and along the bottom of walls that took water. EPA's guide also points to keeping AC drip pans clean and drain lines flowing, which matters in a city with 79 days a year at 100F or above.
The first hour
| Clock | Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 0 min | Get people out of the water | Do not walk or drive through moving water. Ready.gov says six inches of moving water can knock you down and one foot can sweep a car away. |
| 2 min | Stop the source if you safely can | For a pipe, close the main shutoff. LVVWD says it is usually in the front yard near the sewer riser cap, in the garage or at the home's manifold. |
| 5 min | Keep away from wet power | Ready.gov says not to touch electrical equipment that is wet or while you stand in water. Leave the breaker panel alone if the floor around it is wet. |
| 10 min | Call or text (702) 602-9420 | Tell us where the water came from, which rooms are wet and whether it came in from outside. That decides the crew and the gear. |
| 15 min | Photograph everything before it moves | Wide shots of each room, close shots of the water line on walls, and the source. Your insurer will ask for these. |
| 30 min | Lift and separate | Move rugs, boxes and furniture off wet floors. Put foil or wood blocks under furniture legs that must stay. |
| 45 min | Treat flood water as dirty | Floodwater can be contaminated, per Ready.gov. Wear gloves and boots. Keep children and pets out. |
| 60 min | Start the 48 hour clock | EPA says to dry water damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Extraction and drying should start inside that window. |
Local numbers behind this page
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| EPA drying window | 24 to 48 hr | U.S. EPA |
| EPA homeowner mold limit | about 10 sq ft | U.S. EPA |
| Days at 100F or above | 79 | NOAA NCEI 1991 to 2020 annual normals |