Tips and Tools for Real Estate Agent or Home Inspector this Spring
Snow melt can be the most water homes could see at one time all year. The more water that is resting next to your customers' homes increases the amount of pressure on foundations, drains, and sump pumps and increases the likelihood that water will flood into a basements or crawl spaces.
Here are some humidity problems caused by snow melt this spring in addition to wet basements and bowing walls.
Dust Mites are tiny parasites that are invisible to the naked eye and love damp areas because they absorb water through the air. Most construction materials are organic and susceptible to mold and its spores as well. If humidity is above 60-70% in the home it is likely dust mites and mold are thriving.
There are humidity sensors that will show if you're in the danger zone. It could be a useful tool for your bag. We use Amprobe (link below).
A dehumidifier can be a great way to combat mold, dust mites, rotting wood, and energy efficiency issues. We use SaniDry dehumidifier and purification air system which can be installed in a basement or crawl space to keep the air dry and circulating below 50% humidity level (link below).
Some other symptoms of humidity problems are peeling or chipping wall paint, shifted doors/doorways, and buckled wood floors. This is caused by wood or concrete absorbing moisture and expanding. A moisture meter will help identify water level in wood, concrete, and identify damage. Some of our inspectors use this model by General Tools (link below).
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About us:
Founded in 1995, Midwest Basement Systems has grown into Iowa's Premier and Largest Basement Waterproofing and Foundation Repair contractor. Over the years we have won a number of awards including the Better Business Bureau "Integrity Award" in 2010 that is only available to be one every ten years.
We are a member of Basement Systems, which is an association of 300 waterproofing contractors in seven countries around the world. This association is a collective brain bank of waterproofing, crawl space repair, and foundation repair techniques.