Moisture
Of all of the defects we look for during a seller or home buyer inspection, moisture is always the one that causes the most concern. It is one of the worst enemies your home can have. Moisture can ruin interior surfaces, reduce the insulating value of your insulation, cause squeaky floors and nail popping, trigger paint peeling and stains on the walls and ceilings, ruin the structural frame of your house through fungus growth and rot, and cause your clothes and furnishings to mildew.
San Diego’s Climate
Moisture in building materials can destroy structural integrity and nurture mold. The first step in moisture remediation is to quickly and accurately locate and remove all sources of moisture. Thermal imaging can reveal what’s wet and what’s dry by highlighting differences in temperature due to thermal mass variations. Infrared cameras can help find the ultimate source with little or no physical disassembly of the premises and minimal disturbance of inhabitants. Mold testing can further pinpoint problem areas.
What can you do to control moisture?
Bathroom vents can remove excess moisture from showers and baths. Often people do not use the bathroom fan because it is noisy, or they don’t want to let it run while they are gone from the house. We recommend using it! If not, leave the door open when the bathroom is not in use. Closing the door traps moisture in your bathroom, which can cause several problems. One easy solution is to install a timer switch to control the fan after you exit the bathroom.Kitchen vents, if vented to the outside, can remove excess moisture from cooking. Range hood fans that vent back into the room can remove smoke and odor by passing the exhaust through a filter, but they do not remove moisture from steam. If your house or condo is small, and you have a recirculating vent (one that blows back into the kitchen), be sure to leave a window open.
Our inspections tell the story of your house.
Dryer Flues Are A Major Cause Of House Fires
Proper ventilation of your garage, crawlspace, and attic are a must. Do not block the vents in your garage. There are several reasons for this. In many houses, the furnace, water heater, and washer and dryer are located in the garage. These all create heat in addition to the heat from parking a car in the garage. If moisture is present, you can create a perfect environment for mold. Be sure you have enough ventilation for your crawlspace and attic. The general rule is that you should have one square foot of ventilation for every 150 square feet of crawlspace or attic space. If you have had a room addition added to your house, be sure proper ventilation was installed.
Drainage Around & Under the Home
All of our inspectors are equipped with both a moisture meter and thermal imaging cameras to search for and test for moisture in a house. Since excessive moisture severely affects the comfort and value of a house, we take this very seriously. It’s so important that we include thermal imaging at every inspection, at no additional cost. Many companies charge additionally for this service. We never have. It’s that important.
