- Darkness
- food supply
- mildew spores
- Moisture
- Oxygen
- Time (24 -48 hours)
- Warmth
Moisture is admittedly the reason for a mildew growth as all the conditions mentioned above perpetually exist in each structure. Moisture is thus the sole condition which will be controlled.
Moisture intrusion will occur from a variety of sources and may have several causes. Common moisture issues include:
- Indoor vented appliances
- Drain and sewer backing
- Combustion appliances
- Combustion appliances resembling gas clothes dryers ventilated into an attic or a garage etc.
- Constant broken pipes or plumbing leaks
- Damp crawl areas or basement
- Flooding
- Down spouts and gutters that direct water below or into a building
- High moisture – surpasses 60% relative humidify
- Houseplants
- Humidifiers
- Landscaping
- Leaking sprinkler of fire-protection system
- Leaking or compressing water pipes, particularly pipes within pipe chases or wall cavities
- Leaking roof
- Mud or ice dams
- drying lines in Shower/bath or indoor
- Steam released when cooking
A mildew inspector is trained and certified to spot the water intrusion source so as to propose solutions. Whereas the inspector might not perpetually determine the precise location of the intrusion, the goal of the review is to determine the cause. For example, this could involve showing that water leaks through a cold joint within the basement foundation wall. Determining that water intrusion is via cold joint instead of a leaky pipe is vital information for the customer
