How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost?

Mold may sound like a minor issue. Moldy leftovers and musty dish sponges get thrown in the garbage. Problem solved.
But when mold becomes an infestation in your home, it’s a much bigger deal. It can damage your walls, cause health problems, and pose challenges for removal.
It can also be very expensive.
We spoke to Josh Nelson, owner and president of PuroClean of South Reno in Nevada. He walked us through the costs and considerations of mold removal in your home.
Rule one: Don’t panic. “A lot of times, people are freaked out about it, but mold’s around us all the time,” Nelson says. “Every building you go into, and even if you’re outdoors, mold is just part of the natural landscape.”
That said, take a balanced and educated approach. “We get people all across the spectrum. Some people freak out over the tiniest little sighting, and others have a major mess in their house and they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s no big deal. We’ll just live with it.’”

$5,000-100,000
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660
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How much does mold remediation cost?
The price can vary wildly, depending on the severity of the infestation, the rooms affected, and your geographical location.
Nelson’s company has done thousands of mold removal jobs. He estimates that “a rough average is somewhere around $3,500 for a mold remediation. But we’ve done very inexpensive ones, like $800 or $900, up to ones that are $70,000 or $80,000. It can vary greatly.”
What rooms are the most expensive to treat?
“The biggest factor is access,” Nelson says. More difficult access can mean more time spent, which can raise the cost. Here’s what to expect with a few common areas where mold can form.
Attics and crawl spaces: “For workers to get into a crawl space or an attic and have to walk around carefully, that carries additional costs,” Nelson says. Especially if the mold is the result of storm damage to a roof, the attic might be a place the workers have to tread more carefully.
Bathrooms: These tend to be the least expensive rooms to treat. For one thing, they’re generally pretty small rooms compared to the rest of the house. They’re also designed to withstand moisture. Ceramic or porcelain tiles are less susceptible to mold and relatively easy to clean if mold does occur.
HVAC systems: These can be tricky. “They’re complex systems that need to be handled correctly,” Nelson says. “If there’s a breach in one of the lines going to a diffuser, it’s really easy to get mold spores in there. And then once it’s in, it can spread through the house really quick.”
Here’s a rough range on the cost per room to remove mold:
Room/Infestation Area | Estimated Cost |
---|---|
HVAC system | $2,600 – $9,000 |
Crawl space | $1,100 – $7,000 |
Attic | $1,000 – $5,000 |
Basement | $1,000 – $3,300 |
Bathroom | $500 – $1,500 |
After a remediation, PuroClean sends in a partner company with National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) certification to clean the ducts. This generally costs around $500 to $700. “There’s an aspect of prevention. You don’t want to re-infect everything.”
Why can mold removal get expensive?
Mold is stubborn and opportunistic. You don’t want to approach it with half-measures. Nelson explains that mold can lie dormant for years in a dry room, “but when moisture shows up one way or another, it’s going to start growing again.” A thorough treatment from a professional is one way to make sure the mold isn’t still lurking out of sight.
Mold is also a health threat. While mold generally isn’t a sinister, deadly poison, people with asthma or mold allergies can be afflicted with sneezing, congestion, red eyes, and shortness of breath. It’s best not to cut corners.
Does climate matter?
Nelson is located in the desert climate of Reno, Nevada. Since mold thrives in moisture, does that make Reno less susceptible?
“You know, people assume, ‘Oh, it’s a dry climate, it’ll just dry out if I give it a couple of days.’” But, Nelson cautions, “That’s just not true.”
Mold’s superpower is lying in wait until circumstances are favorable. Once moisture shows up again, the mold can return. “So as long as there’s a water source and a food source, the mold will continue to grow.”
Does the type of mold matter?
The species of mold doesn’t impact how expensive the treatment is, Nelson says. “There’s no one particular mold that I would say that’s harder to deal with than another. In that sense, mold is mold.”
What is black mold?
“There really isn’t a ‘black mold,’ but there are molds that will turn black, given enough time,” Nelson explains. The term refers to several molds that can trigger symptoms in people with sensitivities to it.
“Here in our area,” Nelson says, “the primary molds of concern are penicillium, which grows very quickly and gets airborne very easily. People ingest it by breathing, and they get a lot of allergy-type symptoms from those spores. Then Stachybotrys is really the one that is commonly black. It’s a heavier mold, so if it gets airborne, that means there’s a lot of it around. You touch it, and then you rub your eye or your nose, and you get it into your system.”
Can you remove mold yourself?
It is possible to treat mold yourself, but it takes more than just a few squirts of bleach and a washcloth. Doing it right involves a lot of preparation and equipment. DIY guides recommend that you gather N-95 respirators, safety glasses, plastic sheeting, and more. This is a project for serious home-repair experts.
“If you’re not afraid of it, and you use the appropriate precautions, then it’s fine to do it yourself,” Nelson says. “But if there are health concerns of any type, it’s well worth getting a professional involved.”
Nelson continues: “Pros have meters, we have infrared cameras, we have all these different tools that give us the ability to see what’s going on, rather than just guessing at it and doing the DIY project.” His company offers free inspections to determine the severity of each case upfront.
“Having a professional do it correctly means you’re going to be ahead of the curve on it.”
How to pay for mold remediation
Once you’ve banished the mold from your home, you’ll need a way to pay for the services. You have options.
Does insurance cover mold removal costs?
Homeowners insurance generally doesn’t cover mold remediation unless it’s the result of a covered “peril,” like a flood or a burst pipe.
“The insurance thing is a little bit of a can of worms,” Nelson says. He mentions that policies usually have coverage for “sudden and accidental” water damage, but there’s a bit of a catch-22. “What is ‘sudden’? What is ‘accidental’? A lot of the insurance carriers will say that once there’s mold growth, it’s no longer sudden. It’s something that’s been there long term.”
Every policy is different, but it’s always a good idea to get water damage and mold taken care of quickly.
Luckily, you have other financing options.
Home equity options
If you own at least 20% worth of equity in your home, you can usually borrow around 80% of that dollar amount in the form of a new mortgage.
All these equity options involve credit checks, an approval process that can take a month or so, and putting your home up as collateral (meaning you could lose it if you don’t keep up with payments). Collateral makes these options “secured loans,” and they reduce the risk to the lender, allowing them to offer you lower interest rates.
Home equity loan: This results in a lump-sum loan that you pay off as a second mortgage alongside your current one.
Home equity line of credit (HELOC): This option is also a second mortgage, but instead of a lump sum, you can borrow as much or as little as you need from your available cash.
Cash-out refinance: Instead of a second mortgage, this is a new mortgage that replaces your existing one. The new loan is enough to pay off your current mortgage plus any additional cash you need.
Since mold remediation is time-sensitive, these might take a prohibitively long time.
Personal loan
Personal loans are quicker, and you don’t put up your home as collateral. This means your interest rate will probably be a bit higher, but you won’t be in danger of losing your home.
You can apply for personal loans through banks, credit unions, or sites like Acorn Finance. They’re unsecured loans, so you won’t lose your home if you fall short on payments.
Acorn Finance can help you pay for mold remediation
Personal loans through Acorn Finance can be as high as $100,000, which should cover most mold remediation jobs. Even better, you can select from a list of loans you’re already pre-qualified for.
Enter your budget needs and select the terms that work best for you. Once you’re approved, you can have the cash in your bank account within days, and start getting your mold-damaged home cleaner and healthier.
Comparing options on Acorn Finance? See if you prequalify for a personal loan without impacting your credit score.
Just answer a few questions to get personalized rate estimates from multiple lenders.