When you purchase a home, there are a few inspections that you cannot afford to skip conducting. One of these is a mold inspection. The small cost of bringing in a professional to look for a mold problem is well worth it considering the risks of mold and the difficulty in locating it.

A Guide to Pre-Purchase Mold Inspections

Why Mold Is a Problem for Buyers

Some types of mold can be harmful to your health; the spores release into the air, and when breathed in, can cause toxic exposure. Common problems include respiratory issues, such as exacerbating asthma or allergies.

Large-scale mold issues will require remediation. All of the affected material will need to be safely removed and replaced. The source behind the mold problem—such as a water leak that’s giving the mold the moisture it needs to grow—will need to be repaired, so the problem doesn’t return. Before you commit to the house, you need to know whether it requires this type of work. You can then decide whether you don’t want the house or want to use your inspection results to give you more negotiating power against the seller.

The Importance of Hiring a Professional

Mold is not easy to find. It can grow in inaccessible places such as inside the walls, under the floors, and above the ceiling. Because you cannot test how many spores are in the home, you cannot know the extent of an infestation on your own. For example, there may be a small harmless amount of mold visibly growing near the bathroom shower, but a large problematic growth hidden behind the walls in the kitchen.

What an Inspection Includes

The home inspector will begin with a visual inspection of the house. They concentrate their efforts on areas where mold is most common: dark and damp locations such as the bathroom, basement, laundry room, and kitchen. They use specialized tools such as an infrared camera or a moisture meter to locate hidden issues behind walls or under the floorboards. Where there is moisture, there is likely mold.

The inspector can also conduct mold testing, which includes taking air or building material samples. They take these samples back to the laboratory for testing, which tells them the concentration of mold spores in the home and whether there’s a concerning amount.

The certified environmental specialists at Rainbow Environmental Services offer affordable and thorough mold inspections in Cincinnati, OH. If they find anything, they will recommend a course of action and conduct mold removal for you using their state-of-the-art equipment. Learn more on their website, and call (513) 624-6470 to schedule your inspection.