A Strange Smell
Mold has a unique smell, most commonly characterized as “pungent”. If you notice a persistent, unpleasant odor in a specific area of your home, you may have a mold problem on your hands. The best way to find out if the strange smell is mold or something else is to have an inspector come by to take a look.
Moisture Leaks
Moisture is one of the key requirements for mold to grow. If you know you have a source of moisture in your home — perhaps a leaky pipe or a basement that floods every time it rains — then you need to be extra vigilant in checking for mold. The problem is that many times these moisture leaks occur behind walls or under floorboards where you can’t reach. In cases such as these, an infrared inspection can be quite helpful.
The Home Is Extra Humid
This isn’t a guarantee that you have a mold problem, but high humidity levels paired with mold spores is like pouring gasoline on a fire. A dehumidifier can help remove excess humidity from the air, preventing new mold from growing, but it won’t eliminate mold entirely. If your home is persistently humid, you’ll need to keep an eye out for mold.
You See Mold
This may seem obvious, but do you really know what to look for? It may be easy enough to spot mold in the shower or somewhere else that’s well lit. Mold will stick out like a sore thumb against lightly colored shower tile. What about the darkest corners of your basement or your attic though? Mold likes to hide in these dark, damp corners where it can be difficult to spot.
Catch Mold Before It’s Too Late
Mold is especially problematic when you’re in the process of buying a home. It often hides behind walls, under floorboards, and in deep, dark corners of the basement. What happens when you find out that your new dream home has a mold infestation after you buy it? You may be on the hook for the entire cost of removal and you’re probably going to have to find somewhere else to stay.
Mold can even be an issue with newly constructed homes, as the construction process can easily provide an environment where mold can thrive. Mold is just one of the many reasons why you should always perform an independent home inspection before you make a decision. A home inspection can help you catch a mold problem before it’s too late.
When it comes time to buy a home there is no such thing as a guarantee of quality, not without a quality home inspection anyway. Please, contact us at Super Inspection Pros. today to learn more about our home inspection process or to schedule an inspection of your home. You can find more information about our services on our website.
