Why mold questions come up in Los Angeles
Near the coast, the late-spring marine layer, known as May Gray and June Gloom, brings weeks of cool, damp mornings. Farther inland, a mold question usually starts with water from a leak, a roof, or a plumbing line. About 7 in 10 homes in the city were built before 1980, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, so older roofs, windows, and pipes are part of the picture.
If you rent
Nearly two in three homes in Los Angeles are rented. The California Department of Public Health notes that under the state housing code, dampness or visible mold that endangers the people living in a home makes it substandard, and the owner must fix it. Your local code enforcement agency can inspect for that. Los Angeles County's public health department also publishes a short guide to mold and moisture at home. This is general information, not legal advice.
Inspection or testing?
An inspection by a testing partner looks for moisture and visible growth, often with a moisture meter. Testing adds air or surface samples that a lab analyzes. The California Department of Public Health says that if you can already see or smell mold or dampness, testing usually doesn't add useful information, and finding and fixing the moisture comes first. An inspection can help find moisture you can't see.
The credential
California doesn't issue a state license for mold testers. Mold partners must hold a recognized mold certification. Ask your partner who will do the inspection and which certification that person holds.
How Request a tester works
Tell us the job and your ZIP. We send your request to a testing partner who covers Los Angeles, where one is available. The partner contacts you, quotes the price, and sends the invoice.
Save at least $100 with the Top Test Connect service credit.
Credit applies when you book with the partner testing company we match you with. One credit per request, no cash value.
No obligation. You never have to use the tester we match you with.
Questions
Does Top Test Connect inspect my home?
No. Your testing partner does the inspection and any sampling, then writes the report for you. Our part is matching the request.
Can a renter in Los Angeles request a mold inspection?
Yes. Renters can request an inspection by a testing partner the same way owners do. For a repair problem in a rental, your local code enforcement agency is the place to ask.
Is there a fee to use Top Test Connect?
We don't charge you. Top Test Connect is paid a referral fee by the partner testing company after a completed job, and your partner prices the inspection itself.
Do I have to use the tester you match me with?
No obligation. You never have to use the tester we match you with.