Mold Removal in Port Orchard, WA

County seat on Sinclair Inlet

Port Orchard is the Kitsap County seat, on the south shore of Sinclair Inlet across from Bremerton, about 16 miles from Seattle in a straight line. Its downtown waterfront runs along Bay Street, and a foot ferry crosses to Bremerton.

When rain meets the tide

The city has seen downtown Bay Street flood when heavy rain running off the hill couldn't drain to the bay because tides were too high. It closed part of Bay Street and the roundabout at Bethel Avenue and Mile Hill Drive until the tide went out. The city also warns that king tides combined with winter weather can raise water enough to threaten shoreline areas and downtown businesses, asks residents to keep catch-basin drains clear, and has made sandbags available downtown.

For a downtown or shoreline building, the steps after water comes in are straightforward:

1. Get standing water out and start drying right away.
2. Pull out wet carpet, pad and insulation that can't be dried quickly.
3. Assume mold if materials stayed wet more than 24 to 48 hours, as EPA advises.
4. Call for help if the wet area is larger than about 10 square feet.

Newer homes still get mold

The median house in Port Orchard was built in 2004, so much of the housing is fairly new. Newer homes are tighter, which holds moisture from cooking, showers and drying laundry inside. Without good ventilation, that shows up as window condensation and spotting in closets and attics through the wet months.

Permits and code enforcement

The City of Port Orchard Department of Community Development's Building and Fire Permit Center issues building and repair permits within city limits. Mold removal isn't permitted work, but rebuilding afterward can be. The same department runs Code Enforcement, which takes reports through its Code Compliance Complaint Form.

Renters

Write to your landlord about any leak. Kitsap Public Health says landlords must repair building problems that let water in, though Washington law doesn't require them to perform mold remediation. State law requires units to be kept weathertight, and written notice starts repair timelines. This is general information, not legal advice.

Health and hiring

Kitsap Public Health District doesn't inspect homes for mold, but its mold page and water-damage guidance line can help. EPA notes mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs. When you call, you'll be connected with an independent local company. Washington has no state mold license, so confirm the company's registration with Washington L&I as a construction contractor on L&I's Verify a Contractor tool.