Painters, Plumbers, Schmucks and Sorrow

Where the Wild Mold Grows

Mold - when the water source comes from inside the wall

Ran across a beauty today. It used to be a castle - not any longer.

As is often the case during my inspections, I struck up a conversation during the inspection. He said his former realtor had told him "you don't need a professional inspection on this home -  I have a brother in law who is a painter - we should have him do it". 

Now, there are no words for such a - well - genius. At best, he should have his licensed burned in front of him. Perhaps dousing him in lighter fluid and playing with matches might be useful. Perhaps the "enhanced interrogation" techniques used at Guantanamo may change is ways. Thank goodness my client recognized him for the true pillar that he is, and found another realtor. The new guy recommended me.

Mold - when the water source comes through the wall on the floor

A Gold Star for a Good Realtor

So as we went around this home, I wondered what Mister painter might have found. Turns out that the home was a great candidate for meth. We took a sample, but I don't want to go there in this blog - there are other blogs to read that outline what I look for. 

Mold - notice the water line goes higher than the mold line

We got in the basement and noticed that the carpet had been pulled up. Was there water entry from somewhere? I put on my mold sleuth hat, and we went looking. 

Is there a Schmuck's Anonymous? 

After some searching and a little use of gravity, we found that a recently installed tub had some problems. The first? It didn't drain. The second? It did drain, but from a leaking sewer line. The entire contents of the tub had repeatedly ended up in the family room, as evidenced by the mold history.

Conserve Water?

The carpet was so wet it shows the soggy carpet footprints

Now I've heard someone say "Conserve water; shower with a friend". It's an interesting thought, but has some drawbacks. Same with donating your bath tub water to the people in the family room. This carpet was wet enough to show the footprints we had just made! It was swamp time, and there were millions of creatures in that swamp - and growing. 

We've Only Just Begun

Then we find that the water heater was leaking and had caused its own mold problems. It was hidden because the owner had hooked up a hose to the drain - of course he could have fixed the leak, but no. He ran the leak to a drain. Maybe the dude was a painter. I don't know.

Don't use electrical tape to fix plumbing leaks

 Electrician? 

Or maybe he was an electrician, as evidenced by the electrician's tape he used to attempt a leak seal on another ceiling. 

The Good Ol Moral

I guess the moral of this one ain't hard. Get a pro. Whether it's a plumber you need, or an inspector. Otherwise, guys like me will call you a schmuck on the internet - and you'll deserve it.