Mold Inspection vs. Mold Testing: What You Actually Need

Two different questions

A mold inspection asks where moisture and growth are and why. Mold testing asks what's in a sample of air or a surface. A test alone tells you a number, not where the water is coming from.

Why moisture comes first

Mold needs water. In South Florida the usual sources are AC condensate problems, roof and window leaks, plumbing leaks and high indoor humidity. Finding and fixing the moisture is what actually solves the problem.

When lab samples help

Samples are useful when there's a musty smell with no visible source, after a water event, for documentation in a sale or claim, or when someone in the home has symptoms. An indoor air sample should always be compared with an outdoor sample taken the same day.

Be careful with free inspections

A company that inspects and also sells removal has a reason to find a problem. An independent inspection with no cleanup to sell gives you an unbiased answer.