Black Mold Removal in Port Ludlow, WA

We're away part of the year. Why does mold appear while we're gone?

Port Ludlow is a resort and master-planned community on Port Ludlow Bay off Admiralty Inlet, built up after the Hood Canal Bridge opened in 1960. If you split your time between here and somewhere else, a house left with the heat turned way down and the windows shut through a wet Jefferson County winter loses the warmth and air movement that keep surfaces dry. Moisture condenses on cold walls and windows, and dark mold appears on closet walls, behind furniture, on window frames and sometimes on mattresses and upholstery. Keeping some heat on, leaving interior doors open and running a dehumidifier while you're away all help.

Does homeowners insurance cover mold from flood water?

Usually not through a standard policy. Jefferson County notes that many of its waterbodies are mapped as floodplain by FEMA, that standard homeowners policies don't cover flood damage, and that because the county participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, residents can buy separate flood insurance. Mold from a sudden covered event, such as a burst pipe, may be handled differently than mold from long-term leaks. Call your insurer before work starts and keep photos.

Does black mold need special testing before removal?

Usually not. EPA says sampling is generally unnecessary when mold is visible, and there are no federal limits to test against. What matters is the size of the area and the moisture behind it. Under about 10 square feet, EPA and the Washington Department of Health say a homeowner can usually clean it. Larger areas, mold inside walls or growth that keeps returning belong with a professional who contains the space and removes what can't be cleaned. Washington has no state mold license, so check that the company is registered with Washington L&I as a construction contractor.

Local resources

Port Ludlow is unincorporated; building permits and code compliance are handled by Jefferson County's Department of Community Development. Jefferson County Public Health publishes a mold page and points residents to its Environmental Public Health office in Port Townsend and the state's Renters, Landlords and Mold resource.