Building Code Violations Hiding in your Home: Mold, Fire, Water

4/6/2018 (Permalink)

By ignoring water damage you can find yourself in a gross mold situation.

Most local building codes require ventilation fans in bathrooms that lack operable windows. These fans carry steam and humidity outside through a ceiling or wall vent, thus eliminating moisture buildup that can lead to peeling paint or wallpaper, warped cabinetry, and mold growth.

All occupants of a building need a reliable means of escaping a fire, so basement bedrooms must have at least one egress window that measures at minimum 24 inches high and 20 inches wide. Without an egress window, a basement room can’t be labeled as a bedroom in a real estate listing.

Most new homes are required to contain hardwired smoke detectors with battery backups. If your dwelling is more than 15 years old, however, it may not have these important safety features. If you live in an older home, consider installing hardwired smoke detectors during your next remodeling project. In the meantime, make sure you have working battery-operated smoke detectors in every bedroom and in the hallways.

Every home is equipped with a water heater; most homeowners stick it in their garage and can forget about them until they cause a large water problem. For any water, fire, mold remediation you should always call SERVPRO. As the top leader in industry professionals we understand all aspects of home damage and how to get you back to living easier, and quickly.