Home Inspection St. Cloud | Home Inspection 320-433-9489
Mold is everywhere. It’s a type of fungus that grows from tiny spores that float in the air. It can grow almost anywhere that spores land and find moisture and a comfortable temperature, between 40 and 100 degrees F. Typically that includes about every damp place in your home.
The inspector will be able to be able to spot the most visible type of mold, called mildew, which begins as tiny, usually black spots but often grows into larger colonies. The inspector will look for common areas they might find mold like, grout lines in your shower, on damp walls, and outdoors on the surfaces of deck boards and painted siding, especially in damp and shady areas.
If the inspector sees mold near water pipes, waste lines, ice maker lines or plumbing fixtures, chances are the mold is feeding off a nearby leak. The inspector will let the water run while you check the pipes and surrounding area for damp spots to see if there’s mold from water leaking.
If mold is growing on an exterior wall or ceiling, the inspector will first look for a leak in the wall or roof as a test for mold. They will closely inspect nearby vents, roof flashing, decks, window wells and anywhere wood is rotting. The inspector will look for ground sloping toward the house and downspouts emptying next to the wall. If the ground around the house gets too wet, moisture will wick into the foundation or slab and become persistent dampness.
If mold forms on the ceiling under a duct or register and there’s no sign of a roof leak, badly insulated duct work may be the cause. Warm, moist air condenses and forms water on ducts carrying cold air through the attic or crawl space. The condensation is a sign that the duct is not insulated or missing a vapor barrier. Eventually the water saturates the insulation and drywall and mold spores (which are everywhere) take root. In cold weather, the reverse happens. Moisture forms anywhere warm air escapes—for instance, at unsealed joints between duct sections.
If the inspector can visually see mold present in the home, they will recommend a mold test. When the inspector test for mold they will use a air spore sample test. The inspector will take a air sample from outside and a air sample of place of mold. These samples will be sent to a laboratory and the two test will be compared and the type of mold will be identified along with level of mold.
Home Inspection St. Cloud | Home Inspection 320-433-9489