Messages posted by: FolkInspections

Mold is always caused by moisture and a substance it can breakdown "eat" likely dust or other organic material combined with sweating in the basement is causing this issue. The copper staining appears to be from condensation or a slow leak on the water line. I would assume condensation given the staining that has set in on the floor and the mold/mildew on the tank. If it is a water tank any time the temperature of the water drops below the dew point the potential for condensation can occur.

I would recommend taking an online class about inspections and look up your state requirements if any. By the end of the training you will likely get an idea of if you want to do it and how much work you want to do. It is a great field to work in however it isn't as simple as it looks. Understanding the liability of inspections and what you need to do is really important. It doesn't necessarily take a construction or architectural background but having an understanding of the components and what is involved will definitely help. nachi.org costs about 500 a year but they have a month to month option with a bunch of training. I would recommend starting there.