Inspection or testing?
People often ask for a “mold test” when what they need is an inspection. The two overlap, but they answer different questions.
An inspection answers where the mold is and why it’s there. The inspector walks the house, looks in the attic, crawl space and basement, checks under sinks and around windows, and takes moisture readings. The result is a picture of the problem and its cause.
Testing answers what’s in the air or on a surface. Air samples compare indoor spore levels with an outdoor sample. Swab or tape samples identify what’s growing on a specific spot. Both go to a lab.
If there’s a black patch spreading across the drywall behind your toilet, the inspection matters more than the lab report. The mold needs to come out and the leak needs fixing whatever kind it turns out to be. Our inspection vs testing guide goes deeper on when a test is worth paying for.
When testing earns its place
- You smell mold but can’t see it, and you suspect it’s inside a wall or duct.
- You’re selling, buying or renting and someone wants documentation.
- You want clearance testing after remediation, before the walls get closed up.
- Someone in the home has allergies or asthma and you want more information to share with their doctor.
What to put on the form
Say where you’ve seen mold or smelled it, whether there’s been a leak, and whether you need a written report. If this is for a real estate deal, give the deadline. It changes how fast the company needs to move.