When Mold Shows Up in Home Inspections

8/1/2021 (Permalink)

Home Buying

Home buying is a roller coaster; from new emotions and experiences to all the hoops you need to jump through. You spend countless hours viewing homes, finding neighborhoods you love and features you hate, and trying to work with lenders. Another hoop to jump through is a home inspection to ensure there are no issues with the home you want to buy. Home inspectors are trained to spot issues inside and outside the home that could cause potential issues in the future, including mold growth.

When a home inspector finds mold in a pending purchase it becomes a not so pleasant hiccup that can cause a lot of issues and can cost a bit of money if not treated appropriately. Mold loves a variety of different environments, and depending on the environment you can find different types of mold. These environments can be found in many different locations including:

• Crawl spaces & attics.
• Bathrooms where there could be an issue of improper ventilation.
• Basement where groundwater finds its way into the foundation.
• Underneath or behind refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines.
• Around any windows that could be failing or already leaking.
• Underneath, around, and behind sinks.
• Under carpeting that has unusual staining spots on the top layer of flooring.  

There are many other places mold can start to spore, but a good indicator is any location that has high moisture or has had water damage in the past. Bathrooms and attics commonly have poor ventilation creating condensation; basements and crawlspaces collect ground water and fluids from broken pipes; refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers commonly have supply lines that are not connected correctly, become kinked, or clogged causing leaks; window seals deteriorate with time which can cause condensation on the inside and leaks from the outside; sinks are connected to a variety of pipes and connections that can deteriorate with age, clog, and break; carpeting tends to hide evidence of water damage. When these issues go unnoticed they all have the potential to create the perfect environment for mold growth, and the common denominator here is moisture.

When mold is in your home it can cause unfriendly odors, damage to walls and floors, and even create certain health effects for you and your family. The initial move to make in removing mold to recognize the most common areas for mold to grow.  

Household mold primarily thrives in damp, humid areas such as basements, showers, and around heating and cooling appliances. Mold in homes can also occur in carpets, ventilation ducts,  and crawlspaces. The best way to guard against mold in your house is to ensure there are no active leaks or areas where moisture is collecting regularly, and that your home has proper ventilation.

If you see mold in your home currently, or are even in the process of dealing with a home inspection today, our SERVPRO of Centreville, Marion, and Selma family is a call away. We are ready to help make that house into a home. 

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