Water damage and mould remediation in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires anyone who offers or performs home improvements in the state to register with the Office of Attorney General. The only exceptions are contractors with less than $5,000 of work in a calendar year and large retailers with a net worth of more than $50 million.

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (source, opens in a new tab)

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department says damage from flooding is not covered in a homeowners insurance policy. NFIP flood insurance does not cover seepage or sewer backup damage unless the flood directly caused it, and there is generally a 30-day waiting period before a flood policy takes effect.

Pennsylvania Insurance Department (source, opens in a new tab)

The EPA says that if the mouldy area is less than about 10 square feet (roughly a 3 ft by 3 ft patch), in most cases you can handle the cleanup yourself. If there has been a lot of water damage or mould covers more than 10 square feet, it points readers to its guide Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (source, opens in a new tab)

Under Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, contractors who perform at least $5,000 worth of home improvements per year must register with the Attorney General's Office. The registration fee is $100 every two years, and the Attorney General says registration is not an endorsement of a contractor's competency or skill.

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (source, opens in a new tab)