Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau® Serving Greater Cleveland
Severe storms, leaky pipes, and continuous rain can make a home susceptible to flooding and mold. According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), when excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, excessive mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed.
How can you tell if you have mold in your home? The EPA states that if the place smells moldy, but mold cannot be seen, if water stains are present, or if you are aware of water damage, there could be mold present as well. Mold may be hidden in places such as the backside of drywall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, and the underside of carpets and pads. Other possible locations of hidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking or condensing pipes), the surface of walls behind furniture, inside ductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling tiles.
Mold in the home is not only unsightly and damaging but may also affect occupants’ health. According to the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), individuals may suffer chronic allergic reactions and asthma attacks when exposed to certain types of mold. While scientific research on the relationship between mold exposure and resulting health effects is ongoing, it is clear that all molds have the potential to cause health effects according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
To keep your family safe, water damage should be addressed as soon as possible. Water damage restoration can be as simple as vacuuming up water and drying out a room, but it can involve renovating entire rooms. Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and will require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth. When contemplating the cleanup of mold or water damage, verify the extent of the problem and contact a trustworthy water damage restoration company.
Whether a home is rented or owned impacts what steps a resident can take to address mold remediation. Some individuals may need to contact their landlord before remediation or repairs take place. Additionally, Better Business Bureau is offering consumers the following tips.
Before selecting a professional to remediate flood, mold, and water damage consider these points:
● Start with Trust. Check a potential contractor’s history with the Better
Business Bureau. You can review the company's complaint history and details
to determine if they have a track record of responding to and resolving BBB
complaints at BBB.org
● Mitigate Further Damage. Dry out and disinfect impacted areas as soon as
possible to help prevent mold. If you have concerns about wet carpets or rugs,
start running fans and dehumidifiers. Consult an expert to see if carpets, rugs,
and furnishings can be salvaged.
● Call your insurance company. An insurance agent may be able to
recommend a reliable and reputable water damage restoration company.
Contact your insurance company first to determine what your insurance policy
covers and the process for filing a claim. Water damage caused by a flood may
need a separate insurance rider. Contact your insurance company and inquire
about policy coverage and specific filing requirements to initiate the claim
process. If the business or products were damaged, document the damage by
taking pictures or videos if possible.
● Verify the company’s license – Confirm the contractor is properly licensed,
insured, and registered for the scope of work they will be completing. For
example, simply vacuuming up water and drying out a room may not need a
license but that changes once the company starts plumbing or ductwork.
● Obtain at least three bids – Don’t simply hire the first business that contacts
you or one that offers the lowest bid; evaluate the services and offerings of at
least three businesses and then make your decision.
● Check references – Make sure the business has extensive experience in
cleaning up mold. Ask for references from the business and contact these
references for more information.
For more information, check out BBB.com for articles on flooding resources, purchasing flood insurance, and how to floodproof your home and business. Questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216.241.7678 or [email protected]. Have a scam to report? Report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. At BBB.org, consumers can read more about job scams, including online interview swindles at BBB.org.
