Inspectors need to be very careful finding mold in the house. No matter where the inspection takes place, whether it be in the Bronx or anywhere else in New York, including Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, Yonkers, Manhattan or Westchester, finding mold in the house and particularly black mold, can be a very dangerous occurrence. This has become a health issue that's risen to the forefront of the resale home market across the country and this type of problem is currently on the minds of many home inspectors that work in the field.
While most inspectors are good at spotting evidence of basement leaks, there have been examples of severe mold found in basements where there was no evidence of leaking. This makes the problem especially dangerous as some of these molds are adept at hiding in walls and even under carpets in the basement. It's a serious issue that home inspectors across the United States have taken great pains to learn about. In some cases, real estate deals have even fallen through because of mold.
The importance of detecting this cannot be overstated, as there are certain health risks to both the people who live in the house and the inspectors who look at them. There has been at least one documented case where an inspector had mold fall right onto his face and was subsequently sick for two weeks with a lung infection. Had that person been a baby or elderly individual, the outcome could have been much more serious.
The number one piece of advice for building inspectors and homeowners is do not disturb the mold. It is recommended that inspectors wear a respirator in seriously moldy areas, because repeated exposure to certain kinds can result in a heightened sensitivity to allergies. Almost any experienced inspector can identify conditions that tell of water entry or high water levels in a house. As well, an inspector should never assume there was never a flood or leak just because he or she cannot see the water stains. One of the first places the inspectors should look is the HVAC system for any larger buildings. If any kind of moisture is present inside the ductwork, a serious problem may have developed.
While it is not the inspector's job to look specifically for mold, it is their duty to report what they do find to the client. Because of recent environmental scares, several testing devices are on the market now that home inspectors can use to look for mold at their client's locations. Some of these are not of the best quality and some even give a clean vindication of the air quality although that is not the case.
More than 10 square feet of mold is generally considered an area big enough that it would need a professional to clean it. Inspectors should also be on the lookout for mold that speaks of a more serious problem that could even be more harmful to those in the home, such as regular basement flooding from sewer backups.
Give inspector Dennis Kanakis a call for more expert advise (866) 476-2056!
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