Mold & Mildew Cleanup in Atascocita, TX

What keeps Atascocita homes damp

Atascocita is a large unincorporated community in northeast Harris County, about 21 miles from downtown Houston, with Lake Houston along its eastern side. Building started in the 1970s, so lake-area houses from that era sit near newer sections such as Eagle Springs, Summerwood and Walden on Lake Houston. Lake and creek humidity, months of air conditioning, and attic air handlers that can sweat or overflow keep plenty of moisture inside these homes. Harvey also left its mark: tributaries of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River flooded parts of the area, and in Belleau Wood, off FM 1960, 36 of 40 homes were damaged. A room that flooded once and was never fully dried is a common spot for mildew that refuses to stay gone.

Weekend scrub or professional cleanup?

EPA's rule of thumb is that a homeowner can usually handle a moldy area smaller than about 10 square feet. Texas lets you clean your own home at any size, but anyone you hire to do mold work needs a TDLR license.

Signs it is more than surface mildew

• The same spot comes back within a few weeks of a thorough cleaning.
• A musty odor lingers after the visible film is gone.
• Paint is bubbling, baseboards are swelling, or drywall feels soft.
• Spotting shows up around supply vents in more than one room.

Timing in a lake-area home

Mildew tends to surge in late spring and summer, when the air outside is wettest and the AC runs hardest. EPA advises keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent, and keeping AC drip pans clean and drain lines flowing. After any leak or storm water, dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours. If you plan to replace drywall after a larger cleanup, unincorporated Harris County development permits come from the Office of the County Engineer.