Inspection of evaporator coils and pan because the previous owner had a wild “adaptation” of PVC piping to drain the primary and secondary drains which appeared to cause to run up-hill. Water was in-deed noted in the evaporator primary pans. This is a conducive condition for mold growth in the HVAC system, not good!
The attached picture was taken at an general home inspection and it’s a picture of a second floor bedroom window frame. There were no signs of moisture on the drywall or window sill but there were signs of staining in the top right corner of the header. Since no other signs of moisture were present (including the use of a moisture meter) this was added to the report and the client was informed to have the area tested for biological growth.
Regarding the article “Mold, Moisture and Your Home” the key to mold is moisture control within the home. If moisture is present within the home it should be cleaned and dried within 48 hours. It’s important to consult with a remediation manager when it comes to medium projects (10 to 100 sq ft) and large projects (100 sq ft or more).
This a photo of apparent microbial growth near a window. There are various ways to test to see if it is in fact mold growth, most notably either a swab or tape, then send the samples to a lab for testing. This is an indication of water damage and/or a high relative humidity within the home.
Mold, Moisture and Your Home
This is general article about mold, how to prevent it, remediation, health risks, and other mold related topics. The health risks associated with mold exposure are minimal but have the potential to cause allergic reactions to sensitive individuals. If the client has concerns they should contact a health care professional to find out the potential side effects of mold and mold spore exposure.
The attached photo is of a crawlspace of a 7,000 sq ft home built in 1987. On the other side of this wall, there is a significant leak at a hose bib. The current owners had just put down a try to help move water away from the foundation. Obviously, that was not doing the job and a more permanent fix is needed here. The wall is visibly wet and there is a pool of water in the crawlspace. There is also no visible ventilation in this crawlspace. At a minimum, the crawlspace needed dried out and ventilation needs added to prevent possible mold growth and other damage to the structure.
This is a picture of some of the floor joists in the crawl space of a home. This is a solid example of apparent mold growth. There were signs of moisture intrusion throughout the crawl space block work and there was no vapor barrier. Testing and remediation is certainly recommended in this situation.
I read an article entitled “Moisture Intrusion”. This was an interesting read on how moisture can affect the home causing defects in the building and also affecting the health of occupants as well. Moisture can enter the home through the air or by leaks in the roof or the plumbing. This can corrode metal and/or cause wood decay. Some health problems that can occur are allergies or asthma attacks.
Water heater inspected was a Bradford White 50 gallon capacity . Natural gas . Water shut off valve (blue) positioned close to the water heater . No visible signs of any leakage or corrosion.TPR discharge pipe not present . Gas supply lines
Are galvanized steel and need to be replaced by a qualified technician .
Inspecting garage doors . Garage doors should be inspected with care personal injury is a risk .tracks and links should be thoroughly inspected checking for loose or missing bolts.
Doors should be operated manually first to ensure smooth uninterrupted operation . Doors should then be engaged and operated with control buttons .
I have owned a drywall business for the past 40 years and I often do mold remediation while doing a repair for leaks and or flooding. The photos I have included were in a house with a roof defect which allowed water to enter the attic affecting the ceiling, wall and beneath the floor. The mold is apparent and required no testing as it affected the one room and the area below consisting of the floor joists
I have owned a drywall business for the past 40 years and I often do mold remediation while doing a repair for leaks and or flooding. The photos I have included were in a house with a roof defect which allowed water to enter the attic affecting the ceiling, wall and beneath the floor. The mold is apparent and required no testing as it affected the one room and the area below consisting of the floor joists
I have owned a drywall business for the past 40 years and I often do mold remediation while doing a repair for leaks and or flooding. The photos I have included were in a house with a roof defect which allowed water to enter the attic affecting the ceiling, wall and beneath the floor. The mold is apparent and required no testing as it affected the one room and the area below consisting of the floor joists
For my essay research exercise for ‘how to perform mold inspection course’ I read the library article about “attic pull down ladders”. Attic pull down ladders can and often do have defects usually due to improper installation practices. Most are installed by home owners and they often use incorrect mounting by using improper nails and or screws which leave the ladder with low shear strength. Some even cut through structural members to fit the ladder, weakening the structure. Cracked steps are a common defect found on wooden ladders. When inspecting check for proper mounting and use caution when opening as they can slide down quickly.
I learned the mold inspection contains air sampling and requires a lab to determine the results of the inspection testing. Not only visual inspections are used but specialized equipment as well. Mold inspections are important to quality of life and safety for the home buyer and occupants.
I learned the mold inspection contains air sampling and requires a lab to determine the results of the inspection testing. Not only visual inspections are used but specialized equipment as well. Mold inspections are important to quality of life and safety for the home buyer and occupants.
During a recent inspection I found a leaking sink drain that had a catch pan under it that was holding water. The main thing that quickly let me to this area was the moldy/musty smell that was coming from the kitchen area. The homeowner stated that the leak had been an issue for the last few weeks and they try to empty the water every day but a situation like this is ideal for mold growth to quickly form.
The article I researched was “Abrasive Blasting for Mold Remediation” by Nick Gromicko and Ethan Ward. In the article it talked about some of the benefits of abrasive blasting such as using this method in hard to reach or irregular areas where normal remediation techniques would be very difficult (think crawlspace areas). In addition to talking about the benefits of each type of abrasive blasting, it also went over how HEPA vacuuming must be used after the process for complete mold removal.
During a home inspection I observed standing water in the crawlspace. The grading at the exterior was level and water was entering through the vent screens that were at ground level. I recommended that my client install window wells as the grading can’t be fixed. I also recommended that the water be extracted out of the crawlspace where possible and a vapor barrier be placed over exposed soil to help reduce excessive moisture so mold doesn’t have a chance to grow.
Article: Moisture Intrusion.
This article explains the many ways moisture can intrude a home including showers, plumbing leaks, roof penetration and so on. The article also talks about ways to fix these issues such as an exterior vented bathroom fan and reducing roof penetration where possible.
