It’s no wonder that checking for mold is one of the major steps in a home inspection. When you consider how easily moisture can enter your home through your windows, your roof, your bathroom, or other areas, it makes sense that you may have mold damage. This likelihood increases if your home has just been through a disaster like a storm, flood, or fire that firefighters put out with water.
Obviously, you want to get rid of mold damage as soon as possible so it can’t damage your home’s structural integrity or make you sick, so we have listed a few tips to help you spot mold damage:
- Musty odor– Before you visibly notice mold damage, you will probably smell it. Many people have described the smell of mold as a damp, musty, or earthy odor. If you’re not sure what mold smells like, an unfamiliar odor you can’t quite place may be good enough reason to inspect your home for mold damage.
- Respiratory issues– If someone’s allergies or asthma are flaring up in your home, mold could be causing it. Breathing in mold spores triggers your immune system, causing coughing, difficulty breathing, sneezing, and itchy eyes.
- Peeling wallpaper or paint– If you notice that your wallpaper is peeling, discolored, or warped, there could be mold behind it.
- Dark grout– If the grout between tiles in your shower or on your floor looks abnormally dark, it’s probably mold.
- Carpet discoloration– If you see black or green spots on your carpet, this is almost certainly mold.