Three Ways To Check For Mold Before Moving Into A New House
Mold contamination or mold problems can be one of the biggest nightmares you can face either as a homeowner or as a renter. If you're a homeowner, that means you're responsible for all mold treatment yourself, whereas if you're a renter, you may have difficulty getting the landlord to understand what a serious problem it is. Of course, your results may vary on the landlord situation, but in any case it's always best to check as thoroughly as possible for potential mold problems before moving into the house. Here are three ways to check for mold problems or potential or past mold problems before you move in.
1. Mold testing
It's critical to get professional mold testing if you suspect at all that there may be a mold problem. In some cases, a mold problem could have occurred in the past and then been cleaned up recently without actually cleaning the air. Some people don't realize how important it is to clean the air as well as cleaning the mold itself off of the wall. So if the mold was not professionally remediated, then there could be problems even if there's no mold visible now.
2. Check for water damage and other factors that make mold statistically likely
Once you understand what sort of environment mold likes to grow in, you can analyze your potential new home for these types of situations. For example, mold loves to grow in damp dark areas, so you'll need to thoroughly check dark areas such as the basement or crawlspace for any dampness. If the drainage on the exterior of the home is poor, these areas are likely to be damp often even if they're not damp right now. So check to make sure that the downspouts and gutters are correctly set up to channel wastewater far away from the home, and that the ground around the home's exterior slopes away from the house as well. Inside the home, you should also check for any signs of water damage, such as peeling paint, blistered wallpaper, stains on the ceiling or walls or floor, or warped wood anywhere.
3. Enlist the help of the mold sensitive individual
If you have a friend who's extremely sensitive to mold spores in the air and can sniff them out easily, you may wish to ask this friend to go with you when you're expecting the house. (Be sure it's not somebody who has asthma, a mold allergy, or some other serious health problem; you don't want your friend to actually become ill from the mold.)
Contact a cleaner, like Spotless Carpet Cleaners & Janitorial Services Inc, if you do find mold.
