Places You Should Check For Mold Before Buying A Home
Living in a home with mold could be detrimental to the health of you, your family, and your pets. If the long list of potential health hazards isn’t enough to convince you that mold in the home is a serious problem, then the tens of thousands of dollars in potential repairs should be. Unchecked mold will continue to spread and cause damage in the home with a constantly rising price tag to fix it. For these reasons, it’s so important to know if a house has mold before you purchase it or move in.
A third-party mold inspection is the most reliable option when you’re thinking about purchasing. DCM Environmental provides unbiased mold testing services throughout Massachusetts, so you’ll never have to buy without knowing what’s really inside the home!
Common Hiding Places For Mold
Looking for obvious signs of mold yourself when you tour a home is fine, but mold is great at hiding. Mold tends to thrive best in places that are dark and damp. Some of the most common hiding places for mold that your mold inspector will check are:
Kitchen – Under the kitchen sink is one of the most common locations for mold in the kitchen. Condensation or a small leak from the sink provides just enough moisture for mold to grow.
Bathroom – Bathrooms tend to be one of the most humid rooms in the home because of the shower. In and around the shower, under the sink, and behind the toilet are the worst offenders for bathroom mold.
Drywall – Drywall that’s been exposed to moisture can hide mold where you can’t see. Walls with wallpaper covering the drywall are especially high risk. Stains on the wall and peeling paint are some of the more obvious warning signs of moldy drywall.
Closets – The corners and floor of your closets are an ideal dark environment for mold to grow. A mold inspector will check every nook and cranny, so you don’t have to worry!
Basement – Basements tend to hold a lot of humidity. Poor drainage on your home’s exterior can also cause cracks in the foundation that let moisture in. When you pair this with the fact that basements aren’t typically cleaned as often as the main level of the home, you can see why basements are at high risk for mold growth.
Attic – Attics are also prone to holding humidity, especially when it’s hot outside. Any roof leaks will let water into the attic, allowing mold to grow. Even if the leak has been repaired, the mold might still be lingering.
Ventilation System – Mold in the ventilation system is especially dangerous because when the HVAC system turns on, those mold spores will be circulated to every room in the home. Checking the vents without the help of a professional is almost impossible.
Contact DCM Environmental Testing!
If you need unbiased, third-party mold testing services for your Massachusetts home, contact DCM Environmental today! Give us a call at (617) 481-5782 or fill out the contact form on our website, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible!
