During a recent Home Inspection, it was observed that there was an ice-maker line that was leaking…and had been doing so for quite some time. This is not such an uncommon occurrence and can go undetected because the plumbing connection is typically located behind the refrigerator in an “out of sight, out of mind” location.
Leaking Ice-Maker Line and Resulting Mold Growth
In this instance, the leakage had maintained the surrounding area in a saturated condition and there was obvious visible mold growth present. Likely, some degree of damage to materials was also present inside the wall; those materials could not be directly observed without some destructive evaluation.
We advised our client that destructive evaluation should be under-taken, to any extent necessary to ensure no damage to hidden materials or components had occurred, and that any damage be repaired. We also advised that any visible fungal/microbial growth should be thoroughly cleaned from all affected areas in accordance with recommendations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Of course, the leakage that caused the issue should be repaired by a licensed plumber.
Don’t let someone else’s problems become your problems. Have your home inspected by a professional Home Inspector before you buy the home because…You just never know what conditions might be present!
