During the home buying process, it might seem like the expenses are constant. This leads us to wonder if adding more home inspection services is worth spending the extra money. We’re here to explain why a mold inspection is worth it, and how it can help determine whether buying the house you’re looking at is a sound investment.
Conditions Mold Needs to Grow
Mold and mildew love moisture and water, so you can almost guarantee if there is excess moisture or a leak anywhere in your home, mold and mildew will find it.
Mold and mildew will cause damage to any surface it reaches and depending on the extent of the mold infestation, it can be expensive to fix. It also has the potential to cause health problems.
The main way to prevent moisture growth is to control the humidity levels inside the house. If a mold problem is discovered, swift action should be taken to prevent further damage. Leaks are notorious for causing mold. However, if a leak goes undetected, then the mold growth is unavoidable. Homeowners or home buyers should especially be wary of hidden mold.
Hidden mold is present in the house when you can smell the moldy odor, but the source is unknown. This is where an experienced professional like HouseMaster home inspectors can perform a professional mold inspection to find it and remedy the problem right away.
Types of Mold
Mold is a type of fungi and can be many different colors, including black, brown, white, and orange.
Mold can cause harm to some humans, or no harm at all to others. Understanding the type of mold in your home can better help determine a plan to remove it. The term ‘mold’ encompasses a broad range of categories, and some are more harmful than others. The three main categories of mold include:
- Allergenic Mold
- Pathogenic Mold
- Toxigenic Mold
Allergenic molds can impact those with asthma or allergies, while pathogenic molds can cause an infection to those with compromised immune systems. Toxigenic molds are poisonous because they produce mycotoxins.
Over 100,000 mold species exist, and the untrained homeowner wouldn’t be able to identify the microspecies. However, some mold terms to get familiar with include mold that is the most prevalent in our homes. Acremonium, Alternaria, Chaetomium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys, or black mold, are just a handful of mold varieties commonly found in homes.
Is a Mold Inspection Worth It?
While some strains of mold are more toxic than others, all mold that is discovered indoors needs to be removed. That in itself is enough for a mold inspection to be worth it, because there could be hidden mold in the house you aren’t aware of.
Now that we know what conditions mold needs to grow and some common types of molds, let’s explore some of the reasons getting a professional mold inspection done is worth it.
Minimize Risk of Health Issues
If mold is found inside the home, it can cause short-term or long-term health problems depending on the type of mold it is. Getting a mold inspection and uncovering any amount of mold can minimize your family’s risk of health issues.
Protects Against Structural Damage
Large mold outbreaks can do a lot of damage. They can even cause structural damage to houses. Structural damage is very pricey to fix. The sooner mold is found, the better your chances are at catching a mold problem early and avoiding structural damage to your house.
Uncovers High Moisture Areas
A mold inspection can uncover areas of the home that are unknowingly breeding mold. This includes areas with high moisture, which mold loves. Mold can’t form without dampness, moisture, or water, so knowing these areas and fixing the moisture problem gets to the root of your mold problem to ensure it doesn’t come back.
More Accurate Than DIY Mold Tests
Don’t waste your time performing an inaccurate mold test yourself. HouseMaster Serving Harrisburg and Lebanon home inspectors will provide accurate mold testing, processed by a qualified lab to determine results.
Improves Air Quality
Mold that becomes airborne can impact your home’s air quality in a negative way. Poor air quality that contains mold spores in it can lead to eye irritation, itchy throat, or an allergic reaction. Part of your local Harrisburg and Lebanon home inspectors’ mold inspection includes air sampling for mold.
Saves Money in Further Damage
The sooner you can uncover a mold outbreak in your home, the sooner you can get the mold removed, find the source of the mold and make sure it doesn’t come back. This will save money in further damage caused by the mold spreading.
Learn How to Prevent Mold
This entire process of getting mold testing done will teach your family how to prevent mold in the future. Becoming more educated on the conditions mold needs to grow will ensure that you eliminate these conditions and keep your home mold-free.
Protects Value of Home
As home sellers, detecting and removing mold is in your best interest. Mold can plummet the value of your home once the home buyers become aware of it. Get a mold inspection done before putting your house on the market to protect the value of your home.
How HouseMaster Serving Harrisburg and Lebanon Home Inspectors Can Help
HouseMaster Serving Harrisburg and Lebanon home inspectors can perform a mold inspection and assist in the home buying or home selling process. If you’ve been dealing with frequent leaks, smell a mildewy odor, or you’re buying or selling an older home, a mold inspection is the right move.
We will thoroughly inspect your home for mold in places out of reach or not previously considered to ensure you have the best home buying or home selling experience possible.
Harrisburg home inspectors Dan Ayers and Scott Ayers, like all HouseMaster home inspectors, have extensive training and certifications and are tested annually to meet the industry standards of continuing education, inspection, reporting, and customer service. As part of the oldest and most trusted nationwide home inspection business, Dan and Scott have been able to put their decade long experience in fire and water property restoration and their passion for customer service to good use in the professional home inspection process. Request an inspection today!
