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Posted By nyjojo on 09 Oct 2009 10:02 PM

The tenant noticed a little bit of water every day but assumed...

The key is to politely interview him and NAIL DOWN WHEN SOMETHING CHANGED in terms of becoming aware of more water there than typical.

That is the only way you are going to find an answer for that house, that baseboard.  People tend to avoid specifics, but if you persist and vary what you are asking a bit and keep them talking, the truth will come out.

You will read from the "mold is gold" crowd that "killer mold" can start within 48 hours or whatever, but there are so many variables in terms of temperature, the food source (wood, paper, it needs food, it doesn't grow on glass for example).

Another large clue in these type of issues would be if it is:

1) a pressure line, constant leak 24/7 and tends to get noticed before too long

2) drain line leak that only occurs when water has been flushed, shower taken, dishwasher ran, etc.  Some slab leaks are like that, a slow death that only happens when water runs, and when it is discovered the back-side of the carpet looks like burnt toast.  Your tub may be oozing water only when that tub is used, in which case the issue could have been going on for many months.  Best if the resident says when a change was noticed, so they don't crucify you for your presumptions.

I think the time for visible mold to form on the outside of painted baseboard would vary with the circumstances of the loss (how much water is released each time, how long is it released for, how long it stays wet, what is the temperature/humidity in that area, etc). It may take six days, six weeks, or six months for black stains to form. And I say "black stains" because how would anybody know if its mold unless it's tested. And all that just goes to the cause of the black stains. Then you have the size of the stained area to consider, and the insured's and tenants reaction to the stains. Are they greatly upset over the stains, or is it no big deal to them. Then you have the policy language to deal with. And finally a game plan to get it repaired properly. Good luck!

I don,t think I have ever seen mold on base sooner than 10-12 days. I have seen a lot of soft pine base have a black botton around showers and tubs, usally with a shower curtain. An old trick of good billers is selective photos of scope(all close up without any over all or enough determine)

Larry.... my goodness you sound jaded like some of the old adjusters posting on this site. I,m not sure you are accurate and I never give an opinion as my wife has to review my opine's first, but she has been busy doing her own thing for several year..thats why I hasve been kinda quite.

nyjojo, Your username implies that you may be from New York. The New York Department of Health's "Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments" provides all of the information that you need to answer questions about mold. This document, and those by the EPA are generally held to be the most reliable by AIHA and ELLAP accredited forensics professionals.