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If you live in Seattle, WA, and you have a household mold problem, you can just call a specialist to eradicate it. If you live in Costa Rica and you have a household mold problem, you’re in trouble. The reason is that there are no household mold specialists in Costa Rica. Does that mean that household mold doesn’t exist in Costa Rica? Ha… with our rainy season? You must be joking.
Mold is bad for your health. In Costa Rica, household mold is called moho. Depending on where you live, you’ll have very little moho or lots of it. We receive a nationwide average of 100 inches of rainfall per year, with some regions receiving up to 25 feet. That’s a bucket full. And with this rainfall, you get a lot of it.
Mold Exposure
When exposed to mold, this can trigger:
- Asthma attacks
- Chronic sinus infections
- Persistent cough
- Wheezing/shortness of breath
- Headaches/fatigue
Watch out for mold
When shopping for a house in Costa Rica, make sure you work with a GoDutch Realty agent because we care! If you don’t want to pay for a home inspection, watch out for:
- Most houses built before 1990 don’t have soil replacement beneath the foundation. Watch for household mold in the lower part of the walls
- Watch out for household mold in houses built into a mountain
- Areas with water damage are typically places where you find mold.
You should take mold seriously if you notice:
- Musty smell in the house
- Black/green spots are spreading
- Symptoms improve when you leave home
- Condensation on windows/walls
- Damp closets or bathrooms
- AC smells musty
Quick risk guide
- Tiny spot in bathroom → 😐 low risk
- Mold on ceiling/walls → ⚠️ moderate risk
- Mold in bedroom → 🚨 higher risk
- Mold in AC ducts → 🚨 higher risk
- After flood/water leak → ❗ fix quickly
What helps immediately
- Ventilate (open windows)
- Use a dehumidifier (keep humidity < 50%)
- Fix leaks
- Clean small spots with vinegar or diluted bleach
- Avoid sleeping near mold
An expert?
As you all know, I’m a real estate broker and not a mold expert. I do think that if you live in Costa Rica, you should know how damaging mold is to your health and how to reduce the risk of mold issues. Before you purchase a home, ask a home inspector to check for mold. Whether mold is acceptable when buying or not is your decision. If you want to sell your house, you will need to deliver the house broom clean. That means, of course, that you will have to deliver without mold.
So I asked Mold Solutions in North Bend, WA, for permission to use their fantastic infographic to help you prevent mold as much as possible. And while you’re here, have also a look at their great blogs. They have an amazing amount of warnings and tips on how to attack household mold when it affects your health.
Feel free to comment on this blog and share this article on your social media. Would you like to learn more about buying property in Costa Rica? Then request a Zoom meeting with me now.
