That Mold or Just Dirt? How Reno Homeowners Can Tell the Difference

In Reno-Tahoe homes, kitchen fires are one of the leading causes of residential fire damage and grease fires are at the top of that list. Whether you’re cooking in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, or Incline Village, a small pan fire can escalate in seconds, putting your family and property at serious risk. Knowing how to safely put out a grease fire can prevent injuries and structural damage. But even when the flames are extinguished quickly, smoke, soot, and heat damage often remain, requiring professional fire damage restoration. This guide explains what to do during a grease fire, what not to do, and when to call Restoration 1 of Reno-Tahoe for expert cleanup and repairs.

Discovering mold in your home is concerning but hearing the words “black mold” can be especially alarming. Many Reno-Tahoe homeowners worry about whether the mold they see is dangerous, how it affects their health, and what they should do next.

Mold can be a silent invader in your home. It often starts in hidden areas, slowly growing and spreading before you even realize an issue

In Part 1 of this series, we discussed what mold is, why it's dangerous, and how professionals handle mold remediation. We also explored the signs of mold infestation and the risks associated with attempting DIY mold removal.

Mold is a type of fungus that thrives in moist environments and reproduces through airborne spores. Mold is often found indoors, particularly in areas prone to high humidity, water damage, or poor ventilation.

When disaster strikes, whether it’s a flood, fire, mold growth, or water damage, the aftermath can be overwhelming.

Water damage isn’t always obvious. In many Reno-Tahoe homes, moisture hides quietly behind walls long before it becomes visible. A small leak, slow pipe drip, or past water intrusion can soak drywall, insulation, and framing without any immediate warning until serious damage or mold appears.

A flooded basement is one of the most stressful problems a homeowner can face. In Reno and surrounding Northern Nevada communities, basement flooding often happens suddenly from heavy rain, snowmelt, burst pipes, or failed sump pumps. What starts as a few inches of water can quickly turn into structural damage, electrical hazards, and mold growth.

In the Reno-Tahoe region, homeowners often assume that dry air means low moisture risk but that’s not always true. Snowmelt, seasonal storms, plumbing leaks, crawl space humidity, and poor ventilation can all create excess moisture inside your home. When moisture goes unnoticed, it becomes the perfect breeding ground for mold and leads to costly water damage.

Water damage can happen fast in Reno homes whether from burst pipes during freezing weather, appliance leaks, heavy rain, or snowmelt. What many homeowners don’t realize is that the first 24–48 hours after water intrusion are critical. Acting quickly can mean the difference between a simple cleanup and major structural repairs or mold remediation.

For many homeowners in the Reno-Tahoe region, the first question after discovering water damage isn’t how bad is it? — it’s “Will insurance cover this?” Whether it’s from a leaking appliance, a burst pipe during winter, or flooding after heavy storms and snowmelt, the cost of water damage repair can add up quickly.

Mold growth is a common problem for homeowners in Reno and Tahoe especially in areas with high moisture, snowmelt, and older home construction. When mold appears, many people reach for household bleach as their first solution. But will bleach actually kill mold, or is it just a temporary fix?

When a pipe bursts, your crawl space floods, or a roof leak drips into drywall, the biggest danger isn’t always the water you can see it’s the mold that can begin forming in as little as 24–48 hours. For Reno-Tahoe homeowners, every minute matters. Our region’s climate dry seasons, mixed humidity, snowmelt, and weather swings allows hidden moisture to linger long enough to create mold inside walls, insulation, and flooring.

Even after the flames are out, the threat isn’t gone. Smoke odor clings to walls, flooring, HVAC systems, furniture and can stay trapped in your home for months if not treated properly. In the Reno-Tahoe region, where wildfires and home fire incidents are common, many homeowners face hidden contamination that looks small but causes big indoor air quality issues. Smoke particles and soot contain toxic chemicals that can irritate lungs and cause long-term damage. If your home in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Gardnerville, Incline Village, Dayton, Minden, Spanish Springs, Virginia City, or Verdi has been exposed to fire or heavy smoke the right cleanup approach matters.

In Reno-Tahoe homes, kitchen fires are one of the leading causes of residential fire damage and grease fires are at the top of that list. Whether you’re cooking in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, or Incline Village, a small pan fire can escalate in seconds, putting your family and property at serious risk. Knowing how to safely put out a grease fire can prevent injuries and structural damage. But even when the flames are extinguished quickly, smoke, soot, and heat damage often remain, requiring professional fire damage restoration. This guide explains what to do during a grease fire, what not to do, and when to call Restoration 1 of Reno-Tahoe for expert cleanup and repairs.