Ian Niquette

Most of us know that mold can be bad for your health. Don't get me wrong, there are also good molds. But, in general, the type that can be growing in your home may have adverse effects on your health.

The first step we should be taking in controlling mold is to control moisture. This can be done in several different ways. Homeowners need to focus on preventing moisture intrusion first of all. This is the number and maybe most important step in fighting mold and moisture.

To prevent moisture intrusion into your home, we need to look at a few items a little closer. First we need to determine if the grading around the home is sufficient. Your grading should slope at least 6" away from the foundation within the first 10'. If this grade is not sufficient water has more likelihood of penetrating the foundation. Make sure you have the right grade around your foundation to prevent water and moisture intrusion.

The next process will be checking your gutter and downspouts. We need to make sure that out gutters are sloped properly to carry the water to the downspouts. If they are too level, the water will not flow, and will remain in the gutter. If they are sloped away from the downspouts, you will create a puddle at one end, and can end up with more problems.

Another issue are cracks and gaps in the foundation or shell of the home. Have all cracks or gaps in the foundation and siding evaluated and repaired by a qualified contractor. This will include foundation cracks, missing corner pieces on siding, damaged window flashings, etc. All these items play a large role in prevent water intrusion into your home.

The next issue we want to look at is vegetation around the home. Make sure that you have trees and shrubs trimmed back at least 12" from the home. Think of the early morning dew on those plants, and what it will do if it is in contact with your home. If there are gaps or possible entry points water will find it.

Once water is in the home, some conditions can be very conducive to the growth of mold. Temperature, humidity and a food source are the ingredients for mold. That food source is your home. By controlling the humidity in your home, you can control the growth of mold. You cannot eliminate mold spores, they are everywhere, but you can control the growth and spread of mold. Mold can grow on any surface, so control of the humidity levels in your home is key. These levels can by controlled by humidifiers and dehumidifiers, which control the moisture levels in your house air. Some homes have these units built in, and others go with a portable, plug in style system for local control.

Controlling humidity is a huge issue in kitchens and bathrooms. Because of the humidity reached in these rooms, exhaust fans should be installed. These fans will remove steam and vapors and vent them to the exterior of the home. Without these fans, moisture will build up in the room and possibly promote mold growth.

The basement is another area of the home that needs to be taken into consideration. This area of the home is usually cooler than the rest of the house. It is also usually a little more damp. A dehumidifier can help aid in humidity control in the basement.

The humidity levels in our homes should be between 30 and 60% on average. If the levels get too high you may be helping promote the growth of mold in the home. If you notice water droplets on windows or walls, have the humidity levels checked. Sometimes, it may be poor seals on windows, but in the case of newer windows, the humidity levels may be too high. Also, have pipes insulated, to limit the ‘sweating' of water pipes. The moisture that builds up on these pipes can find its' way into wall cavities, subfloors, and other small crannies in your home.

Using these precautions can be a great start in preventing moisture intrusion and the possibility of mold growth in your home. If you have discovered mold in your home, it needs to be repaired. Small patches of mold can be cleaned by the homeowner. A small patch is usually considered 10 square feet or less. If the area is larger than that, hire a professional for the mold clean up.

If it is a small area, you can clean it yourself. To do this you need to be prepared.

•· The first thing you will need is the proper protection from the mold. Rubber gloves, goggles for eye protection, and a breathing mask with the suitable filters is recommended.

•· Seal the infected area off from the rest of the home by covering heat registers and return ducts. If there is a window nearby, open this for ventilation.

•· Clear the area of personal items and furniture.

•· If personal items such as clothing, small rugs, etc. have been infected bag them in a tieable trash bag and dispose of them.

•· Now is time to wash the infected area. First, wash the area with a mild detergent and warm water. Let the area dry.

•· Now wash the area with a bleach and water solution. The solution should be ¼ cup bleach to one quart of water. Wait 20 minutes and repeat this process, and wait another 20 minutes.

•· Now apply a borate based detergent solution to the area. This can be found in the supermarket. On the bottle of detergent it will have borate listed s an ingredient. This step will aid in preventing the mold from growing again. DO NOT DRY.

•· Clean and vacuum all floors in the infected area. Clean all linens that were in the room.

•· As always, monitor the area for new growth.

I hope this has helped and educated you on moisture and mold growth control. Remember, inside mold growth starts on the exterior of the home.

Ian A Niquette

WI Home Inspector
Square One Home Inspection proudly serves Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Dodge, Marquette, Columbia, Winnebago, and Waushara Counties. Complete home inspections and Radon testing available. Call today for a free price quote. Available 7 days a week.
Markesan WI 53946

The weather in this area has been unseasonably warm for the last week or so. With this great weather can come alot of water realted problems in your home. Lets take a look at some of the issues I have noticed this past week.

One huge problem is misplaced downspout extensions. These sometimes become unattached during winter months, whether it be kids playing in the snow, or just loosening up. It is very important to check these and make sure they are in place. These extensions direct the water away from your foundation.

Another issue are the puddles on the service walks leading to the front porch. The warm weather has created some real lakes around here. If you have ponds on the walks, you may have to move some snow that has yet to melt. the snowbanks will act as a dam and keep the water from running away. Now, next week when it freezes again, you will have a skating rink right outside the front door. This can lead to some very dangerous slips and falls.

Right now, water in basements is also an issue. If you have shoveled your snow up against the home, you have trapped this melting snow, and it has nowhere else to go. When removing snow, shovel it away from the foundation, you will thank me when it starts to melt.

I think if you look at these three issues and make any necessary changes you will eliminate your water issues. I hope you have enjoyed the warm weather, and bundle up next week.

Can you come up with 5 reasons why a potential client should use your service, rather than someone else? If you cannot, off the top of your head, answer this question, they will use someone else.

We are basically asked this question every day, when that price shopper, or technical speaking guy calls, or the one who is not quite sure if she needs you or somebody else.

At a time like this you have to think on your feet. But you also need to be honest with these people. Don't try to snowball them with a bunch of garbage. People will see right through it, and go with someone else.


Here are some of the items I use to close and set that inspection appointment.

• My ONLY business is doing home inspections. I am not a contractor, or guy that does inspections after work to make extra money. I am completely focused on home inspections, to better serve your needs.
• I work for you, not a realtor(sorry folks). I am not in business with any realtor, so there is no conflict of interest for me.
  
• I have an extensive background in construction and home repair. That's right, I use to build and fix them for a living. I know what I'm looking for.
• I am fully insured to protect the best interests of my business and my clients. Shop around, not all inspectors are insured.
• You will be issued your inspection report the same day as the inspection. I achieve this by not over scheduling.

I hope you can come up with 5 reasons for a potential customer to use your service. They don't come right out and ask, but they are all thinking about whether or not to go with you the minute you answer the phone.

Why should they pass you the mustard?

Ian Niquette

WI Home Inspector
Square One Home Inspection proudly serves Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Dodge, Marquette, Columbia, Winnebago, and Waushara Counties. Complete home inspections and Radon testing available. Call today for a free price quote. Available 7 days a week.
Markesan WI 53946

When you are in the inspection phase of your home buying transaction, there are several items that need to be done before the inspection.In this article I will list and explain these items for a seller, buyer, and a realtor. With this information, you will be more prepared for your home inspection, thereby helping the inspector perform a more thorough and complete home inspection.

Let's start off with the sellers' inspection. Many homeowners today are having their homes inspected before they are put on the market. This a very savvy marketing tool to help your home sell quicker and more profitably. For your home inspector to do the best job possible, we will need several things to be done before we arrive for the inspection.

• If it happens to be winter, please make sure the driveway is clear of snow and ice. We cannot see through this stuff, thereby limiting the inspection.
• Please make sure that all utilities to the home are in operation mode. Inspectors do not ignite pilot lights, turn on water mains, or power up electrical service.If these are not in regular operating mode, the inspection will be limited and less beneficial to you.
• The attic. Make sure the access is not obstructed in any way. We will need to get in here to check insulation, roof sheathing,trusses, etc.
• We realize that if you are selling, you will be packing. However, please do not have every packed box crammed into a corner in the basement. we will not be able to see the walls and foundation in this situation.
• If building permits have been required for remodeling please have copies of these. In some areas, the inspectors need these.
  

Now, if you are a buyer, your list will be a little shorter. But, it is still just as important. You are paying for the inspection, so do your homework.

• Once you call the inspector and set a date and time, call your realtor and verify this time. Some inspectors will do this for you and some will not. I call them myself, and they relay this to the buyer.
• If this is a vacant foreclosure or bank owned property, find out who you need to contact in order to get ALL utilities turned on and into normal operation mode. This is very important. Inspectors will NOT turn these items on for you due to insurance reasons, and they will be disclaimed as not inspected.
• If you are having any specialty testing being done by other professionals, and this home is occupied, be courteous to hte owner. Try to schedule this all in one day.Sellers will thank you for not inconveniencing multiple times instead of just one.

Now let's focus on what the realtor needs to do before a home inspection.Most buyers don't realize what these people do for them.

• Hopefully the inspector has verified the inspection the day before. If not, call inspector and verify inspection.
• Call and remind homeowner of the inspection the day before.
• Help the buyer with getting utilities and the like into normal operating mode.This will allow a more thorough inspection and help speed up the sale.If you will not be attend the inspection, please let the inspector know how to gain access.
• If you know there will be items not operating, please let the buyers know before the inspection. They may want to reschedule. Most inspectors do not come back a second time free of charge. The buyer will be liable for this return fee, and probably upset about it.

I hope everyone can take something from this list and use it. I really do feel bad sometimes when an inspection is limited due to a lack of communication or planning between all parties involved. If any of you have items that you feel should be on this list, please let me know. I am alwasy willing to listen and learn how others operate.

Ian Niquette

Wisconsin Home Inspector

Most people don't give any thought to their water heater - they just turn on the faucet and expect hot water to come out. Keep your water heater in peak operating condition by performing some simple routine maintenance.

One step you can take is to drain your tank. How often you need to do this depends upon the sediment buildup you are getting in your tank. Some experts recommend draining once a year. I recommend draining your tank once, and checking sediment buildup. Check it six months or a year later and compare the amount of build up to your previous amount. This will give you an idea on how often you need to drain your tank. If you have more sediment, you would want to drain more often. Less sediment, drain less often. Come up with a good schedule, that will keep your sediment build up to a minimum.

To drain the tank

• Turn off the power source to the water heater. You do not want it to heat while empty. This is very important. Failure to do so may cause damage to the water heater.
• Turn off the water supply to the tank.
• Locate the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Looks like a hose spigot.
• Connect a hose to this and place the hose in a basement drain or sump.
• If this is the first time you are draining, I recommend running the water through a strainer to judge sediment build up. If you already know your level, continue to the next step.
• Open the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater.
• Most experts recommend draining 3/4 of the water from the tank. If this is the first time I recommend a complete flush.
• Close valve and fill tank.
• Once tank is full turn power source to tank back on.

If you are noticing lots of sediment at the end of the draining process, you may have to do this several times to clear out the build up. This is common if this is the first time a unit has been drained in quite a while. Good luck.

If you need to replace your water heater please see Miek Therriault's blog...Michael's Blog

Ian Niquette

WI Home Inspector
Square One Home Inspection proudly serves Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Dodge, Marquette, Columbia, Winnebago, and Waushara Counties. Complete home inspections and Radon testing available. Call today for a free price quote. Available 7 days a week.
Markesan WI 53946