Moisture source identification is exactly what it sounds like – finding where the water is actually coming from, not just treating the mold it's causing. This is the step a lot of companies skip, and it's why homeowners end up paying for the same mold removal two or three times.
We get called for this specifically when a homeowner in Chicago, IL has already had mold treated once, sometimes more than once, and it keeps coming back. That's almost always a sign the actual water source was never fixed – a slow plumbing leak, poor grading outside that sends rainwater toward the foundation, a missing or damaged vapor barrier, condensation from HVAC ductwork, or humid outside air getting into an unsealed crawl space or attic.
We check moisture levels throughout the affected area with a meter, look at plumbing lines for slow leaks, check exterior grading and gutter drainage, and inspect vapor barriers and vents for gaps. In a lot of cases the source is obvious once you know where to look – a downspout dumping water right next to the foundation, or a bathroom vent that was never actually connected to anything.
Once we find it, we'll tell you exactly what's causing it and what it takes to fix – sometimes that's a plumbing repair, sometimes it's regrading soil outside, sometimes it's as simple as sealing a vent. We'd rather tell you the real fix than sell you another round of mold treatment that won't hold.
If mold keeps showing back up in your Chicago, IL home, the source hasn't been found yet. Call (213) 871-1085 and we'll track it down.
