Does Home Insurance Cover Mold?

Mold damage in your home can cause all sorts of medical issues, so it’s important to root it out quickly if you find it.

But does home insurance cover mold? It depends on the event (or “peril”) that caused it. You’ll likely be covered only if mold damage is caused by a covered peril. Talk to your insurance agent to find out if mold is covered by your home insurance policy.

When is mold not covered by home insurance?

Homeowners insurance does not cover mold growth caused by preventable or ongoing issues, such as:

• Slow, ongoing water leaks
• Neglect or lack of maintenance, such as a leak you’ve known about for some time
• Poor ventilation in a frequently wet part of your home (your bathroom, for example)
• Flooding* 

*While flooding damage (and subsequent mold growth) isn’t covered by most standard home insurance policies, you can purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It’s a separate policy you can add to your home insurance that can cover the structure of your home and the contents within. If you live in a flood-prone area, you should consider flood insurance through the NFIP.

How to detect mold in your home

The first and most obvious way to detect mold is by seeing or smelling it. 

• Appearance: Mold looks like gray or black splotches. Mold growths typically look wet, slimy and sometimes "furry".
• Smell: Sometimes, you might smell mold before you see it. If you notice a persistent musty or "damp" smell, you might have mold.

Here's a list of places in your home to watch for mold:

• On or within walls
• Around your shower or bathtub
• Basements
• Refrigerator door seals
• Near air conditioners
• Anywhere else moisture is common

Mold will keep growing when left unchecked, and when it gets bad enough, it'll start causing health symptoms. It'll feel like allergies that seemingly never go away, and can even cause bronchitis and pneumonia in severe cases.

If you think you have mold in your home but can't see it anywhere, consider hiring a mold-detection professional. They'll take physical samples of the air in your home to check for mold spores. If mold is detected, you'll need to hire a team of experienced mold-remediation contractors.

How to prevent mold in your home

Mold is everywhere, and it can take root in your home for a multitude of reasons. While you can’t prevent sudden and accidental perils, here’s how to prevent mold from other causes:

• Examine, clean and repair gutters: Clogged gutters leave water with nowhere to go but inside your roof. This can cause significant mold growth over time.
• Check for water leaks regularly: Look under your kitchen and bathroom sinks to check for any indication of water leaks.
• Repair leaks and spills immediately: If you find a leak or spill water on your floors, don’t wait to handle it. Consider buying or renting large drying fans and running them on the affected areas for several days.  
• Check for condensation on your walls and windows: Condensation is a sign that something isn’t sealed properly, which provides the perfect medium for mold.
• Run dehumidifiers in moisture-heavy areas: If places like your bathroom, kitchen or basement aren’t ventilated well, buy a dehumidifier to help dry the air.

Final thoughts

Mold growth in your home is an expensive and potentially life-threatening problem. Always prevent an excess buildup of moisture in your home by checking for water leaks and running dehumidifiers in moisture-heavy areas.

If you’d like to know more about mold and your home insurance, talk to your insurance agent today—they can help determine if mold is caused by a covered peril and answer any other questions.

Updated 8-14-25