Mold in the Home

Home buyers have a lot of things to evaluate when looking for a new home. One of the silent things every home buyer needs to be on the lookout for is mold.

Mold can manifest itself in many forms. All types of mold need the same things to grow, moisture and dark spaces. Areas that can harbor mold include attics, crawl spaces, and basements. These areas are prone to moisture problems through the lack of ventilation or leaks from the structure or the plumbing. Mold will not only cause structural problems with the home, but also have health implications to you and your family.

Other sources of problems from mold happen if the interior of the home is flooded and not properly cleaned up afterwards. Broken or leaky pipes or plumbing fixtures in the kitchens and bathrooms as well as wet basements are also big areas of concern.

One method for checking for mold is with a moisture meter or with an infrared camera. These tools help to locate moisture in your home. Moisture levels of 20% or higher are considered extremely high and prime locations for mold to grow.

ou should have your present home checked over by an experienced mold inspector at least annually if there is any worry of mold beginning to grow, or if there has been mold in the past. If you’re looking to buy a home, make sure the home inspector you choose to inspect all aspects of the home is trained to look for mold. If your home inspector is not trained to look for and discover mold, be sure to hire someone who is experienced in mold to take a look at the home before you buy it.

Mold can be an expensive problem to deal with so be proactive about looking for it, it can save you money in the long run.