Musty smell in your Vero Beach home? Where to look for mold, and what you can clean yourself

The rainy months are winding down in Vero Beach, and the cooler, drier air is a good time to look around the house. Water that got in over the summer, from a roof leak, a sweating duct or a clogged AC drain, can leave mold behind in places you do not walk past every day.

Mold is not a reason to panic. It is a reason to find the water. Here is what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Health say about checking for it, cleaning it, and knowing when the job is too big to do yourself.

Why mold shows up in Florida homes

Mold spores are everywhere, indoors and out. They only grow when they land on something damp. That is why the EPA's whole message comes down to one line: the key to mold control is moisture control.

The EPA says to keep indoor relative humidity below 60 percent, and ideally between 30 and 50 percent. The Florida Department of Health gives the same "below 60%" target and points to air conditioners, dehumidifiers and good ventilation as the tools to get there. A small humidity meter from a hardware store will tell you where your house stands.

Mold can matter for your health, too. The Florida Department of Health lists sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rashes as common allergic reactions, along with coughing, wheezing and worse asthma. The EPA says to talk to a health professional if you have concerns.

A 20-minute mold check: where to look

Look for three things everywhere you go: spots or stains, a musty smell, and dampness. The Florida Department of Health names attics and bathrooms as high-risk places to check regularly.

• The AC closet or air handler. The EPA says to keep the drip pan clean and the drain line clear and flowing. A pan holding standing water, or rust and stains around it, is a sign the drain needs attention.
• The attic. With a flashlight, look at the underside of the roof deck and around vents and plumbing pipes for dark stains, damp insulation or a musty smell.
• Ceilings below the attic. Brown rings or soft spots can mean a slow roof or duct leak above.
• Under kitchen and bathroom sinks. Feel for damp cabinet floors and look at the pipes.
• Windows and cold pipes. The EPA says condensation on windows, walls or pipes is a sign of high humidity. Wipe it dry and deal with the moisture source.
• Bathrooms and the laundry area. Run the exhaust fans, and check behind the washer for slow leaks.

What you can clean yourself

The EPA's rule of thumb: if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3-foot by 3-foot patch, most people can handle it themselves. Fix the leak first, or the mold will come back.

On hard surfaces, the EPA and the Florida Department of Health both say to scrub with water and detergent, then dry the area completely. Wear gloves, eye protection and a mask. Things that soak up water, such as drywall, insulation and carpet, may need to be removed and replaced if they are moldy.

What about bleach? The EPA does not recommend it as a routine way to clean up mold, and the Florida Department of Health says to avoid it. If you do use any cleaner, open the windows, and never mix bleach with ammonia. The fumes are toxic.

Do you need a mold test? Usually not. The EPA says that when you can see mold, testing is usually unnecessary, and there are no federal limits for mold to test against. You already know the answer: there is mold, and there is moisture to fix.

When it is bigger than 10 square feet: Florida's mold license law

Florida regulates mold work in Chapter 468 of the state statutes. The law defines mold assessment and mold remediation as work on mold growth "greater than 10 square feet." People who do that work for hire must hold a state mold assessor or mold remediator license.

There is also a rule that protects homeowners. A mold assessor cannot do the remediation on a home where the assessor did the assessment within the last 12 months. A remediator cannot turn around and do the assessment on a home the remediator cleaned in the last 12 months. In plain words: the person who tells you how bad it is should not usually be the same person who gets paid to fix it.

The state licensing agency, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, runs its license search at myfloridalicense.com, the same site used for checking contractors.

What to do this weekend

1. Check your indoor humidity. If it stays above 60 percent, look at the AC settings, run bath and kitchen fans, and consider a dehumidifier.
2. Open the AC closet. Look at the drip pan and make sure the drain line is clear and water flows out where it should.
3. Take a flashlight into the attic. Look for stains, damp insulation and that musty smell.
4. Walk the house: ceilings, under sinks, behind the washer and around windows.
5. Dry anything wet within 24 to 48 hours. The EPA says mold usually will not grow if you do.
6. Clean small patches with detergent and water, with gloves and a mask on. Skip the bleach.
7. If the area is bigger than about 10 square feet, or keeps coming back, look up a licensed mold assessor or remediator on myfloridalicense.com before you hire anyone.