Mold & Mildew Cleanup in New Caney, TX

Water came in during the May 2024 flooding. Should I worry about the mildew now?

Take it seriously. In May 2024, heavy rain upstream flooded the Lake Houston area, and New Caney residents were directed to the Montgomery County Disaster Recovery hotline for help. The community grew up along Caney Creek, and houses that took water can keep moisture inside walls, under flooring and behind cabinets long after the surface looks dry. EPA's disaster guidance is blunt: if a home could not be dried within 24 to 48 hours, assume mold has grown. Mildew appearing along baseboards or on the backs of lower cabinets in a home with that history usually means the wet material behind it has to come out, not just get wiped.

Which spots can I handle without help?

Hard, non-porous surfaces in small areas. That means tile, tubs, sinks, metal vent grilles, window frames and sealed trim. Use detergent and water, scrub, then dry thoroughly. EPA puts the practical limit for homeowners at about 10 square feet. Wear gloves, goggles and an N-95 respirator, and keep children and anyone with asthma out of the room. Carpet pad, ceiling tiles and soaked drywall are porous; EPA notes they may have to be thrown out.

Why does it keep coming back in a house that never flooded?

Usually because the air stays humid. Shaded lots, long AC seasons and bathroom fans that are too small all leave surfaces damp. Get a hygrometer and keep indoor humidity under 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50. If spots ring the supply vents, the AC may be cooling without drying; have the drain pan and duct insulation checked. If the growth sits low on an outside wall, look at gutters, grading and any gap at the slab edge.

A New Caney note

New Caney is unincorporated, so building permits come from the Montgomery County Permit Department in Conroe, which keeps a separate East Montgomery County phone line. Its rules require a Development Permit for substantially damaged structures in the floodplain, which can apply when a flooded house is gutted and rebuilt. The Montgomery County Public Health District doesn't list mold among the complaints it takes, so cleanup is a private job; check any remediation company on TDLR's license search.