What an air sample can tell you
EPA notes that air sampling for mold describes only the moment the sample was taken. No EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, so your partner reads a result by comparing samples, not against a legal limit.
Ask for an outdoor sample
An outdoor sample taken during the same visit gives the indoor results a baseline. EPA lists leaving out outdoor control samples among the common problems with mold sampling.
Air, surface, or bulk
EPA describes three kinds of mold samples: air samples, surface samples, and bulk samples such as a piece of carpet or wallboard. Your partner picks the kind that fits your question.
When air testing is worth it
When mold is visible, EPA says sampling usually isn't needed, and the California Department of Public Health says fixing the moisture source matters most. Samples are more useful when moisture or growth may be hidden inside a wall, ceiling, or duct.
Who takes the samples
Each mold partner holds a recognized mold certification; the state doesn't license mold testers. EPA advises that mold sampling be done by people with experience in sampling and in reading the results.
How Request a tester works
Describe the room and what you've noticed, a smell or a stain, then add your ZIP. A partner serving that ZIP receives it, where one is available. They reach out, give you a quote, and send their own 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
Are mold air tests reliable?
They capture only the moment the sample ran, and EPA says the results take experience to read. Your partner explains what they mean for your home.
Is a swab or an air test better?
They answer different questions. A swab or tape lift shows what is on one surface, and an air sample shows what was in the air. Your partner may use one or both.
Do I have to use the tester you match me with?
No obligation. You never have to use the tester we match you with.