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Even though the home building industry itself has been in a slump of late, the ways that homes are being built these days has improved. In the past several years home buyers have become aware of how important it can be for a home to be built with prevention of mold and moisture in mind. Moisture can be one of the biggest causes of serious damage to the structure of a home and making sure it will not be a problem before you buy a home is suddenly a really big issue.

More and more moisture resistant building products are being developed and used to help defend a home against moisture issues. Everything from treated wood and insulation that resist moisture are being used. In the modern homes, mold and moisture has become a greater risk because of the deliberate tightness of the building. In the bid to be more energy efficient, homes newer homes have lesser ability to breathe than in some older ones. So if moisture is trapped because of this home breathing difficulty, new ways have to be implemented to stop moisture in the first place.

Our homes have had to become more energy efficient out of necessity. It helps reduce the bills we pay for energy each month and the less energy we use the better it is for our planet overall. Energy efficiency, however necessary it has become, does not mean that we should live in homes that are not as healthy as they should be. Better moisture resistant building products can help solve the moisture and mold problem.

If you want to make sure the home you are interested in buying is as moisture proof as possible, here are a few questions you should ask:

1. How waterproof are the walls? If ceramic tiles in kitchens and bathrooms are installed on top of paper covered wallboard, this has potential for moisture and mold. Ask if a new product paneled wallboard product was used that is moisture resistant.
2. Ask if building materials that are prone to moisture and mold growth have been treated with anti-microbial additives. This additive can be used in sinks, tubs, countertops, doors, windows, exhaust fans, adhesives, caulks, paints, and other home fixtures.
3. Is the insulation that was used moisture and mold resistant? Some fiberglass insulations are better made to help prevent moisture and another good choice is spray foam insulation. It can seal more tightly against moisture and has several other good attributes to recommend it.
4. Does the home have exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms that are adequate for the space? Exhaust fans must be able to pull all the moisture from these rooms to prevent moisture accumulation and aid in the drying process. Bathrooms also need at least one operable window.

These questions should be answered satisfactorily if you want to purchase a home that will be less likely to have mold and moisture issues.

Rachel Yoshida is a writer of many topics, visit some of her sites, like
Water Damage Miami and Water Damage Orlando .

Water is most definitely a necessity in every home, but where there is water coming into a home, there is also the potential risk for water damage. This is why making sure your plumbing and water using appliances are always well maintained. Keeping plumbing and water using appliances in good repair can help you to avoid any slowly developing or sudden water damage to your house. Many of the precautions can be done by the home owners themselves.

Making sure that all the plumbing in the home is working correctly might seem like a big chore, but actually it could take you just a couple of hours or less, once or twice a year to stay on top of any potential problem areas. A check list that you can design specifically for the water sources in your home is the ideal way to make the inspection go faster and ensure that you do not overlook anything.

You can make your list by starting on the outside or the inside if you prefer. When you make your outside check list, include any spigots that you connect hoses to. Include any outdoor water features you may have like a fish pond, swimming pool, fountains, spa, or hot tub. The crawl space underneath the home may be a place you can inspect yourself, but if you are not crazy about spooky low places, you might consider a plumber for this part of the task. Once you have covered every place on the outside of the home, make sure you have listed any repairs that are needed and get to them promptly. Just because they are outside the home does not mean they do not have the potential to cause damage.

When making your inside check list you will put down the most common places like the plumbing underneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks, toilets, showers, and bathtubs. Behind the walls where there is hidden plumbing needs to have an access panel of some kind to check these areas because if they leak, they can and probably will cause mold. The laundry room, basement, and any water using appliances like the dishwasher refrigerator, and also hot water heaters do not need to be forgotten.

Many times a lot of the plumbing is in the basement of a home and even occasionally there might be some in the attic. Never forget to inspect these places well too. Doing your own home plumbing inspections can end up saving you a lot of money and aggravation just because you spend a little time making inspections and staying caught up with small repairs instead of waiting until they turn into big ones.

Rachel Yoshida is a writer of many topics, visit some of her sites, like
Water Damage Miami and Water Damage Orlando .