Why to Get a Mold Inspection

Most people recognize their home as a prime financial investment and try to protect it accordingly. They fork over thousands of dollars toward their general homeowners’ insurance policy. They invest fist fulls of cash in top of the line fire and security alert systems. When the exterior paint starts to peel, they invest in a contractor to apply a new coat. And, when the plumbing starts to go bad, they spare no cost when a professional plumber tells them they need new, modern piping.

However, many homeowners are blindsided when they discover that one of nature’s most simple organisms has launched an assault on their house. The fact is that one of a home’s most destructive enemies is also one of its most discreet. This enemy is mold, an often toxic pest that can not only impact a home’s overall value, but can also adversely affect the health of those living within.

What Is Mold Inspection?

Professional mold inspectors test for mold in several ways. First, the professionals visually inspect each area of the house for obvious signs of mold growth. Inspectors also test moisture levels in the air to determine if the home is a likely environment for mold. Professional mold inspectors then take air quality readings outside the home and compare those to readings taken from inside. Lastly, inspectors swab potential areas of concern for lab testing.

Who Needs Mold Inspection?

Anyone who owns a home should have their home inspected for mold every few years. However, if you notice the following, you should contact a professional inspector as soon as you can:

• Water stains or brown-colored ceilings, walls or floors usually indicate that moisture is collecting behind sheetrock. Since mold thrives in moist environments, any area where moisture has collected can by a prime spot for mold growth.
• Stale, moldy or mildew-like odors emanating from basements, attics and beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks are generally bad signs. Unfortunately, by the time you can smell mold, it has usually developed quite a foothold in your home. If your nose tells you something may be wrong, you should definitely pay attention.

The Benefits of Mold Inspection

Mold removal and prevention can be an expensive process. The entire cost of professional eradication can often soar into the thousands. Furthermore, many homeowners are forced to flee their home while the work is being done. A professional mold inspector can alert you of potential dangers breeding behind your walls and can often catch the problem before it becomes critical. Also, since some types of mold can potentially lead to health issues, early intervention can be a real lifesaver.

The Risks Associated With Mold

Over time, many types of mold can cause structural damage to a home. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that some types of invasive mold can also cause neurological and respiratory problems in otherwise healthy individuals. These types of mold give off toxic by-products that allegedly cause health issues, including tremors, memory loss, severe allergies and serious breathing difficulties in infants and the elderly. Even non-toxic mold can contribute to poor air quality in a home and can cause structural damage to wood studs and joists within ceilings and walls.

The Bottom Line

Although most homes are tested for mold before they go on the market, they still need to be re-tested every few years. Even if your house tested negative at the time you moved in, over time, heavy humidity and leaky pipes, water heaters and roofs can allow an infestation to set in. If you do have a mold infestation in your home, it’s vital that you discover it quickly before it has an opportunity to eat away at the structure and potentially harm you and your family’s health. A qualified professional mold inspector can provide a thorough inspection that can give you peace of mind with a negative result or alert you about potential problems before its too late.