Buying a Home? Learn About Mold Inspections for Homes
Whether you’re a homeowner or simply starting to browse the market, it’s always important to keep an eye out for potential issues with mold and moisture. If left unchecked, mold can be hazardous to your health and potentially wreak havoc on the structure of a building.
Therefore, it’s important as a home buyer to make sure you get a home mold inspection in Erie County as part of the inspection process before you move forward with the purchase. Here’s an overview of what you should know.
Why mold inspections are important
As noted above, certain types of mold can be hazardous to your health and the health of your family. Professional mold inspections will allow you to conduct a thorough analysis of your home and uncover any potential issues with mold before they would begin to impact your health.
These inspections usually involve air testing, which determines whether there is any hidden mold in the house. Spores from mold will float in the air until they find an area where they can grow. If you have a moist surface, mold spores will take hold and grow in those areas, and this typically happens in out-of-the-way areas that are dark and damp, like attics, crawl spaces, basements and inside walls.
The more mold spreads, the more potential damage it could cause to the surface on which it grows. In addition, more mold spread means more spores in the air, which means greater effects on people’s respiratory health. People who already have asthma, allergies or other respiratory conditions or immune disorders will have an elevated risk of worsened symptoms in the presence of mold, and new health issues may even arise as a result of long-term mold exposure.
When to get mold inspections done
The most obvious circumstance in which you’ll want to schedule home mold testing in Erie County as a prospective buyer is if you actually see mold while walking through a home. But any signs of water damage or moisture should also be warning signs, and should trigger an inspection, as should a strong musty smell in certain parts of the home, especially in dark areas, attics or basements.
But in general, any time you’re purchasing a home, even if you don’t see these issues immediately while walking through the property, it’s a good idea to get an inspection done. Consider how much of an investment you’re placing in the property. For most people, their home is the largest investment they’ll ever make, so it’s in your best interest to take every step you can to protect that investment and ensure you’re making a good financial decision.
During the inspection, the inspector will examine any areas that appear susceptible to mold, and perform a visual inspection of the whole house. They might use moisture meters, infrared cameras or other tools to find mold in inaccessible areas. Upon completion of the inspection, the inspector will then recommend the best remediation practices, if necessary.
For more information about home mold inspection and testing in Erie County, contact the experienced mold removal specialists at Ahold of Mold Environmental today.
Categorised in: Mold Prevention
