Mold Even In Arizona’s Dry Climate
Retirees Buying a New Home Should Look Out For Mold, Even In Arizona’s Dry Climate
Arizona has long been a popular destination for retirees in part because the hot dry climate is thought to be conducive to health. This is hardly a new phenomenon; in fact, Phoenix’s original population boom of the late 1800’s can be directly attributed to patients desperately seeking a healthier climate. But, retirees and other people on a fixed income obviously have to consider a number of factors when buying a home in a new area. One particularly important criterion is that the home in question not have any hidden problems that will be costly to fix, such as toxic mold growth.
Humidity Can Result In Household Mold And Health Problems
Indeed, mold is one of the more common problems homeowners are often faced with after purchasing a home. One readily apparent benefit of living in a hot, dry climate is the relatively small likelihood that one will have to deal with mold damaging their homes or mold-related health problems. Not all mold directly causes health problems, of course. But for the elderly or those with compromised immune systems due to HIV or cancer treatment, mold can have serious effects and exacerbate existing health concerns.
Even healthy individuals can be affected by living in a home affected by black mold. Obviously, residents new to Phoenix, particularly retirees, would do well to avoid mold if possible. But what is a new resident to do when the home that they just purchased turns out to have mold problems?
Buyer Beware: Look Out For Mold Before Purchasing
Unfortunately, homeowners insurance will not always pay for mold damage or the sometimes quite pricey cleanup necessary to remove mold from a home. Whether or not it will be covered is answered only by taking several factors regarding the cause of the mold growth into consideration. Only when the mold growth is caused by a sudden accident that is itself covered will insurance also cover the cleanup of said mold and any damage caused by it.
Given the uncertainty of whether home insurance will be of any help, potential buyers looking for a home to purchase are advised to be on the lookout for signs that a house may have mold problems, such as water damage from past leaks. Another warning sign that may signal chronic mold endemic to the building is a lack of proper ventilation, either from fans or windows, in bathrooms and other places where moisture is likely to collect. A home with dripping pipes in the basement or rooms that are often damp may very well have mold problems, even if they are not readily visible, and might be best avoided.
Fortunately Arizona’s hot, dry climate means that mold is less likely to grow on its own. Mold problems can still result from flooding and water leaks of course, but provided bathrooms and kitchens have adequate ventilation and there are no other sources of moisture in the home, it is far less likely for mold to grow inside the home in the absence of such an incident. Indeed, these is one reason retirees might do well to purchase a home in Arizona; the warm dry climate removes some of the financial uncertainty and potential health risks that a hidden black mold problem in a property can cause.
Sent in by Karoline Gore
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