Pressure washing and water damage prevention

We have covered most of the problem areas of any home. However, as a homeowner, you must ensure you perform regular inspections of these areas. Inevitably, fittings will come lose, appliance parts will fail and start leaking. Bathrooms, kitchens, and sinks generally experience high usage, so the caulking and grout lines need to be inspected and dealt with regularly. Don’t let your ability to run the perfect-looking caulk line stop you from adding caulk. It’s expensive to have others do these things for you, and though you may not possess the skills to make it look perfect, you can address these areas to the best of your ability and do your best to keep your home mold – free. 

For the outside of your home, check window caulking, any color change on your roof or siding, as that may indicate a potential mold growth problem. Ensure you have enough well-positioned gutter downspouts, and that are they carrying water away from your foundation, instead of just dumping it right next to the foundation. Does your yard slope away from your home or toward it? The “loam” of many older homes has built up over the years and moves water back toward the home, which is not good. 

Have the concrete slabs around your home moved, or heaved in a way that pushes water back to the house? If so, repair it.

If you live in the mountain west and you have a swamp cooler, get rid of it. Swamp coolers supercool the air by sucking the air through a water-laden filter. This works in dryer climates, but the result is a home that has a relative humidity between 60% and 80%. As we learned above, mold can grow with a humidity level above 60% when in the presence of warmth and organic material. This isn’t standing water, and will not likely start growing mold on random walls, but if there is a slow drip somewhere, this level of humidity will help those areas grow mold for certain.