Oahu Home Sales

Here are a few “Red Flags” that suggest mold testing is needed for your home:

1. Moisture:
Mold grows where there is a moist environment. The first indication that you may need to test for mold is the discovery of any water related structural or design problem such as:

a. Evidence of water penetrating the home (stains, moist areas).
b. Evidence of a condition that may allow water into the home (poor grading, bad flashing or gutters).
c. Actual construction defect or deterioration that might allow water in (roof, decks, windows, concrete slab, vapor barriers).
d. Plumbing defects (leaky drains, pipes or toilet seals, missing caulking on sinks or tubs)
e. HVAC problems (dirty, moist filters, poor condensation drainage)
f. Dryer vented indoors; inadequate ventilation for a bath or spa.

2. Sensitivity:
Human senses are a valuable tool for mold detection…..

a. If you or an occupant thinks that there is a musty odor, there is potentially a mold problem
b. If you or an occupant feel a room has a damp atmosphere, there may be conditions for mold to grow.
c. If anyone in the home complains of allergy-like symptoms, which seem to increase while in the home, it is possibly caused by mold.

3. Visible Mold:
(Various colors are possible)

a. Tiny spots
b. “Hairy” covering on the surface. Such as white or green molds seen on fruit or bread.
c. Slimy surface.

Here is an excellent web resource and free PDF regarding mold…… www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 at 11:51 pm and is filed under For Buyers, For Sellers, Oahu Information, Updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.