During the inspection I spotted a small puddle of water in the master bath, right below the water line leading to the toilet. I quickly located the source, a leaking fill valve in the tank. The puddle was small (about 2" by 2”), but I was concerned because it was collecting against the wall. I needed to check to see if water had seeped under the wall and into the adjoining closet. Sure enough, after pulling back the shirts that were tightly-packed on a low-hanging closet bar, I discovered that the wall and carpeting were damp and had very early stages of MOLD growth.
Even though the puddle seemed small and contained, the slope of the floor caused the water to flow away from the toilet and under the baseboard where it was absorbed by the carpet and drywall. The combination of the tightly-packed clothing (restricting air flow), the steady supply of moisture and the warm room temperature, the perfect environment for mold was created. Fortunately for this homeowner, this story had a happy ending. The leak was discovered before causing substantial damage! Another Home Watch success story!
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE DAMAGE IF THE LEAK HAD GONE UNNOTICED
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS OR EVEN MONTHS?
If that were the case, this story, would have had a very different and expensive ending.
That's why hiring a Home Watch Company is such a small price to pay for so much peace of mind.
Here are three quick tips we can take away from this Home Watch success story.
- When leaving your home for an extended period of time, shut off the water to your home. If for some reason you have to leave it on, have someone check your house frequently.
- When storing clothing in your closets, spread your clothing out to permit air ventilation throughout the entire closet. If for any reason there is moisture buildup, this will help prevent mildew or mold from having a more favorable environment to grow.
- And the most important tip, use a Home Watch Service to monitor your home to help prevent expensive repairs and provide peace of mind while you're away.