Mr. Mold Featured in Planet Detroit on Metro Detroit's Flooding & Mold Problem

We're honored to be featured in a recent Planet Detroit article examining why so many Metro Detroit basements are developing mold after floods and sewage backups. Reporter Ethan Bakuli spoke with our founder, David Schlum, about what he sees on inspections across Michigan and why the region's flooding problem is turning into a mold problem so quickly.

Why Flooded Basements Turn Into Mold Problems So Fast

David, who founded EnviroHealth Diagnostics and Mr. Mold, explained that the real damage often isn't the flood itself, it's what happens in the days after.

"When the floods happen, they're just not drying it out in a proper amount of time," David told Planet Detroit.

That window matters more than most homeowners realize. Mold doesn't need weeks to take hold in a wet basement, it needs a couple of days.

"So you would need commercial dehumidifiers. You would need to extract the water, remove the carpet, and then you would want to dry it completely within three days, because typically after about 48 to 72 hours, mold can start."

That's why, on every inspection, David is working to pin down exactly where moisture is coming from before recommending a course of action.

"I just want to find out how the mold got there, where it's coming from, stuff like that."

To do that, our team relies on moisture readings, thermal camera scans, swab testing, and air samples, tools that let us confirm what's actually growing and how far it's spread, rather than guessing based on what's visible.

Being Honest About Cost

One thing David was candid about in the article is that remediation costs vary enormously depending on how long water has been sitting and how much of the basement is affected.

"You have to be realistic with this stuff, otherwise, every job is going to be $30,000 or $80,000."

For homeowners working with a limited budget, especially after a flood that's already caused other damage, that means the plan has to fit the reality of the situation.

"If someone only has a couple grand, and then you go into the basement and there's mold growing everywhere, and the flood happened a month or so ago, you're going to do things a lot differently."

What This Means for Metro Detroit Homeowners

Metro Detroit's aging storm infrastructure and increasingly heavy rain events mean flooded basements and sewage backups aren't going away. If your basement has flooded, or you've noticed a musty smell that won't go away, don't wait to have it checked out. The 48-to-72-hour window David described is a real deadline, and the longer it's ignored, the more expensive and invasive remediation becomes.

Read the full article on Planet Detroit for more on the flooding and mold challenges facing our region. And if you're dealing with a flooded basement or suspect mold from a recent water event, contact Mr. Mold for a free inspection.