Article by Joshua Kent
Moisture Master Pros Owner
When a mold colony is disturbed, it releases toxins into the air that can spread to other parts of the home undetected. This usually isn’t a problem until it goes unnoticed for too long and begins wreaking havoc. Over the long run, mold spores and accompanying toxins may spread extensively enough inside the body, resulting in a variety of serious long-term health issues.
A mold outbreak needs immediate attention. That’s when it’s time to call in for a mold inspection with mold remediation experts. However, can you stay at home during mold remediation? What are the health risks posed by mold remediation?
In this guide, we’ll look at the health risks associated with a mold remediation project. We’ll show you when you can possibly stay and when you need to leave. Although highly recommended, it’s up to your mold remediation professional to determine whether you can stay or not after thoroughly examining the mold growth and the extent of remediation work to be done.
How Long Can You Stay in a House With Mold?
Mold growth is usually a product of moisture build up and water damage – pipe leaks, sink leaks, leaky roofs, flooding, or foundation water. Once a surface is dampened, it begins attracting mold spores, and within 24–48 hours, a mold colony starts to form.
Mold grows at around 1 square foot per day. A mold colony can quickly spread several square feet across multiple rooms within days. Oftentimes, especially in the case of hidden water damage, it becomes noticeable only after it has spread in wet areas unabated for weeks on end.
Mold exposure becomes dangerous to your health the moment it starts to build as it releases toxins and airborne mold spores in the air; however, it may not cause immediate health problems when it’s just a couple feet wide. But when it builds out several feet, the danger becomes more potent and widespread. The air around the house becomes intoxicated with significant levels of allergens and airborne spores. These risks may become present after day two of the infestation.
Some warning signs of mold intoxication in the body include sneezing, skin irritation, skin rashes, allergic responses like hay fever and red eyes, compromised immune systems, etc. Over the long run, more serious health issues and permanent damage may emerge, including chronic respiratory conditions and mental health issues.
Should I Leave My House if There is Mold?
The level of danger depends on how much mold has amassed and the location of the affected areas. For instance, if it’s a small colony in the basement, the rooms upstairs may be relatively safe if the mold is taken care of right away and doesn’t grow further and spread through mold spores. But if it grows out in your kitchen or bathroom – even a few feet wide – you might need to evacuate the house for remediation work.
In general, it’s always advisable to leave your home for restoration services to remove mold, regardless of the location or size. Mold removal and the remediation process may create lots of hazards around the house, and it’s safer if you’re away until the work is completed.
However, you can prevent mold and all of the problems that accompany it by spotting and cleaning mold early on. Always stay on the lookout for moisture issues or water damage, and when spotted, don’t underrate it. By fixing it immediately, you may have prevented many unnecessary problems, including structural damage to your home, avoidable health problems especially to the elderly and younger members of the household, and the inconvenience of leaving your home during mold remediation.
If mold grows significantly, it’s highly recommended to call in a mold remediation service. An experienced mold remediation team not only removes mold but also gets down to the root cause of the mold buildup, plugging the water damage, and ensuring cleaning the air around the house to protect you from possible future mold growth.
Is Mold Remediation Safe? How Long Does it Take?

Unfortunately, there can be many hazards associated with mold remediation. The remediation experts themselves always put on head-to-toe gear while working. You never can really tell the extent of the affected area and materials until mold removal is complete, so you can’t really bet on safety levels in the house.
Plus, it could take days or weeks before your home is finally declared mold free. Removal and remediation work for a small patch of mold can be completed quickly within a few days, but if the visible mold colony is quite extensive, it could take weeks to fix.
For starters, you home is already unsafe by the time you notice the infestation. And when you call in remediation professionals, they’ll stir up the mold colonies, making them release even more toxins into the air before they’re removed. There are also many processes that could inconvenience you.
First, the remediation experts will address the water damage that caused the mold buildup, then take out every removable item that has been infested for cleaning and possible repairs. In the course of all of this, your home could literally be turned on its head.
Here’s a rundown of some of the hazards commonly associated with the mold removal process:
How Long Does It Take for Dry Mold to Cause Problems?
Dry mold becomes active once there’s moisture around. Keep your windows open less often to reduce humidity. Humid climates provides oxygen and warm air necessary for mold to thrive.
Molds need varying moisture levels, but a little water goes a long way. Some mold species even endure harsh desert conditions, so it’s usually only a matter of time before mold is able to cause problems for humans and household objects.
Now, is dry mold dangerous? Some can harm humans when they come in contact with bare hands or are ingested. Mold transmission is easier when you’re asleep, and the microscopic nature of mold spores makes it easy for them to penetrate the nostrils and affect the lungs if they reach them.
Allergens and pollutants
In addition to the dust and debris from various processes, more allergens and toxins will be pumped into the air by the mold colony once it’s disturbed by the mold remediation professionals. The elderly, the sick, the young, and people with sensitivity and allergy issues could be seriously affected by this.
Noise
From negative air machines to dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, concrete drills, and other professional equipment, your home will be buzzing with noise from machinery all through the remediation process. They could be turned off at night at the homeowners’ request, but they’re usually kept running all through the cleaning process.
Obstruction from machinery
Also, you’ll have pieces of equipment strewn everywhere, obstructing freedom of movement around the house. The remediation professionals will also have to work with all of these obstructions around, which will make it even more difficult for them if you and your family members get in the way.
Uncomfortable temperatures
Besides the dehumidifiers and air filtration systems that will alter temperatures and humidity levels in the home abruptly, other pieces of equipment and chemicals used can make the home really uncomfortable for you and your family. Even worse, the HVAC system might need to turned off for prolonged periods.
Having your HVACs cleaned
Speaking of the HVAC system, it’ll most likely be turned off and cleaned even if it’s not been infested.
Clouds of dust
Another major inconvenience is dust and debris. Your home will probably be covered in a cloud of dust from all of the upheaval, especially if the servicemen have to break through drywall and concrete floors.
Chemical reactions
In some instances, the mold remediation team can use some really strong chemicals that can further fill your home during mold remediation, making your home unsafe during the process.
Reconstruction
If the mold has caused extensive structural damage, some serious reconstruction work might be needed. This could fill your home with even more dust, debris, and noise from machinery.
How Can You Prevent Future Mold?
As we’ve said earlier, the best response for mold growth is an early response. If you’re able to spot water damage and fix it immediately, you’ll most likely keep mold problems at bay in your home. Always be on the lookout for signs of water damage in places that usually hold water – your shower, bathroom faucets, kitchen sink, ceiling, etc.
Foundation water, storm damage, and flooding are also another major source of water damage and mold growth. Check for cracks on your foundation and basement walls – the usual entry point for underground water, and fix them immediately.
Use mold prevention measures like waterproofing your basement and grading your foundation to keep underground water out of your home. Grading work ensures that water flows out from your foundation at all times, and foundation waterproofing ensures that water remains locked out of your home even when it’s trapped underground, preserving your foundation and brickwork from water damage.
Mold infestation can begin posing health risks within just a few days or once a few square feet of mold grows. Once it does, it’s always advisable to leave your home to professional mold remediation services. Besides the mold itself, the remediation process could also introduce a host of other health hazards in your home, making it even more dangerous to stay behind.
Remediation specialists at Moisture Masters Pros not only strive to eliminate mold completely from your home, but they also prioritize your safety and convenience. After a mold inspection, we’ll use state-of-the-art tools and techniques to fix the source of the water damage, and then clear out every ounce of mold wherever it’s hiding. We’ll also ensure that environmental conditions around your home are safe enough for you and every member of your household.
Call us today and let’s create and execute a streamlined mold remediation process for your home!