Don't Be Fooled!!!

Part of being a home inspector is, being a detective. Finding out why the floor is wet or where is this water coming from? I get asked these questions all the time.
With all these possible indicators, calling out wet basements should be easy. It isn’t. Let’s look at some of the common situations that can fool you. There are lots of sources of water in basements that may have nothing to do with leakage from the exterior. These include;
• Sweating Pipes. Cold water pipes can cool the warm, moist air around them and develop condensation that drips constantly. Over time, this can look like a leak.
• Leaking appliances such as dishwashers and water heaters.
• Leaking from hot water heating systems.
• Leaks from central air conditioning or heat recovery ventilator condensate lines.
• Leaks from above-grade walls, windows, and doors. Water often collects on the tops of foundation walls and runs down the inside, looking like a leak from the exterior.
• Sewer backup.
• Condensation and mold in cold rooms
There are lots of things that can look like wet basements but are not. In many houses, you will see the history of a number of events. Some of them may include exterior leakage, and others will be caused by the things we’ve just listed.

Take your time when you evaluate your properties and HAPPY REHABBING!!!!