April Showers Bring May Flowers and Home Inspection Month

April is Home Inspection Month. Though most people only think about home inspections when they are buying a home, a professional home inspection educates homeowners on the current condition of their home. Spring’s rainy season can not only cause disastrous home floods, but can also increase the moisture in your home, which can lead to hazardous mold growth. Mold removal can be an unpleasant – and potentially costly – imposition. Here are a few things you can do to help prevent the threat of mold.

1. Clear debris. Clear gutters and downspouts of debris like leaves and birds’ nests to ensure that water will flow away from the roof and your home.
2. Check for obvious structural issues. Look for damaged roof shingles, warped windowpanes or cracked foundation mortar. These are easy entry points where moisture could seep into your home.
3. Ensure the soil is graded to slope away from the house. Soil that slopes toward the house traps water by the foundation, and flat ground doesn't channel water away.
4. Check for signs of water leakage in the ceilings and walls. Stains on the ceiling or walls, and bubbling or peeling paint or wallpaper, indicate a leak somewhere. A leaking roof or a leak in the nearby pipes could be the cause of the water damage. If you think there are any pipes leaking in your home you should fix them without delay. Give our sister company, Mr. Rooter Plumbing, a call to get those leaks under control.
5. Get your home inspected. A home inspection can identify any less obvious areas in your home that could pose a mold threat. Homeowners should schedule a routine inspection every three to five years to stay ahead of maintenance. A home inspector will help you identify issues before they become a serious – and expensive - problem.

Prevention is more affordable than treatment. These tips are the first line of defense against the development of mold in your home. Following these steps – and reducing the amount of indoor moisture – will help safeguard against the threat of mold. Sources:

• https://finance.yahoo.com/news/april-national-home-inspection-month-182400894.html
• https://premierinspectiontn.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/april-national-home-inspection-month-spring-issues/
• http://moldpedia.com/how-to-prevent-mold