Unusual Red Flags for Mold Inspections – 11-07-10

Tennessee Home Inspections – Unusual Red Flags for Mold Inspections – 11-07-10

Tennessee Mold Assessments/Inspections completed by HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, involve first a mold survey or inspection where we look for “red flags” that are indicative of conditions conducive to mold growth.  Common red flags include a musty odor in the building, growth of foreign material on a wall, water leaks, and so forth.  Sometimes the red flags can include non-standard, unusual, issues unlike those common issues mentioned before.   Look at the two pics below.  Why would a home owner have these components as part of there air conditioning system?

HINT:  Sometimes homeowners try everything under the sun that they can think of to deal with mold issues.

In the pic above you are looking at a UV cleanser that is bolted onto the HVAC ductwork near the interior unit of a split system.  Now look at the pic below.  This cannister of Bad Air Sponge was found near the same unit as is in the pic above.  Hmmm!  What do you think this is for?

ANSWER:  The Eclipse UV Cleanser is available as an air purfication system for controlling mold, mildew, bacteria, germs, viruses, etc.  UV stands for ultra violet, like rays from the sun.  Get it, the sun? 

The can of Bart Simpson Bad Air Sponge (get it?) is available, apparantly at Bed Bath and Beyond, to aid as an air freshener and odor removal. 

So these two components have some common ground.  They are used to mitigate air quality issues like those caused by mold.  Hmmm.  Someone better check the disclosure statement regarding mold issues in this home.  If not there, maybe someone should ask the owner why these components are needed.  Both of these components will qualify as red flags for mold growth in this home.

Thank you,

Richard Acree

Comments in this blog posting are the copyrighted intellectual property of Richard Acree, President, HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC,  and are intended to educate and otherwise assist home owners, sellers and buyers, building owners, sellers and buyers, realtors, real estate investors, property managers, and lenders in the process of owning, buying or selling homes or commercial buildings.  HABITEC is a residential (home) and commercial building inspection company serving Middle Tennessee including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Dickson, Belle Meade, Columbia, Spring Hill, Lebanon, Gallatin and more!  In addition to building inspections HABITEC offers Environmental Services for mold assessments, radon testing and water quality analysis.  Additional information about HABITEC can be found on our website at http://habitecinspections.com, or call 615-376-2753. 

Richard Acree is the author of  the HABITEC Home and Building Inspections blog at ActiveRain, WordPress, and Blogger, and Founder of the ActiveRain Group Tennessee Home and Building Inspectors.  All are welcome to join and comment on those blogs and group.   You can also follow HABITEC on Facebook and Richard on Linked.  Thank you!