Common Areas to Look For Mold When Purchasing A Home

1/5/2018 (Permalink)

Mold in homes starts to grow when you least expect it. Not only is it unsightly, it’s potentially dangerous, and simply cleaning it up without remedying the source will only result in the mold re-growing.

Mold in homes has many causes, including undetected water leaks in your walls, leaks from your roof, plumbing problems, and even from outside environmental sources, such as bringing in plants with mold issues, or tracking in spores on shoes. Unsurprisingly, mold is more likely to grow in homes after floods or severe water damage, and in humid climates. However home mold is most often caused by leaks in plumbing, leaky foundations, and roof leaks.

 Mold can impact the value or sale of your home, sometimes even for the long-term. Depending on the extent of mold damage, the value of your home can be significantly lost. Just as you would not want to buy a home with mold damage, understandably buyers on the market are also weary.

If you’re buying a house or inspecting your own, know what to look for. As you inspect, take note of areas where the accumulation of moisture is probable. Pay special attention to signs of water damage in areas where water intrusion is likely. In our experience, these are the top 5 of the most common areas to find mold in a home:

A damaged gutter that is leaking and diverting water near the home foundation.

1. Near gutter downspouts that are not properly diverted away from the foundation or damaged gutters that are not carrying water and snow melt to a downspout and away from the foundation.

Mold growth on framing that is revealed by removing batt insulation.

2. Behind insulation along rim joists in crawl spaces. These spots are prone to mold as moist air can get behind the insulation and then condensate on the cool joist surface. The insulation should be discarded and replaced with a spray foam product to prevent future mold growth.

Improper venting has resulted in significant mold growth.

3. In attics near improperly vented exhaust fans. Don’t look only at bathroom fans, kitchen exhaust hoods can be culprits as well. Also, another common attic issue is related to insulation being blown into the eaves without installation of baffles, a home inspector can check for this.

Long term leaks under this sink have resulted in major problems.

4. Under sinks inside vanities and cabinets. Because these areas are often out-of-sight, out-of-mind, they are often neglected. Leaking shut-off valves and drain lines that have bad gaskets or seals can result in slow leaks that cause long-term problems.

Moisture from vents and leaking plumbing has resulted in a big problem.

5. Behind washing machines and dryer appliances where either pipes have leaked, or are not properly connected. Again, this area is often out of sight and can be neglected, but the moisture sources, if leaking, can ultimately result in mold growth.

If you have concerns about one of these areas as you inspect, be sure to bring it to the attention of the company that you hire for your home inspection prior to purchasing the home. A qualified and experienced home inspector is a very important decision when it comes to your home purchase. A good home inspector will have the experience to identify other problems beyond these common issues that you may need to be aware of.

If you suspect more serious problems, feel free to call one of our experts who can help you with further identification and clean-up solutions. If a home has mold issues, they can typically be resolved and cleaned prior to taking possession of the home.

Contact our remediation professionals here at SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby County today. 502.241.6861

SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby also serves Spencer, Henry and Trimble Counties.