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Corkd mold inspection will deliver peace of mind whether your property has been damaged by moisture or if you are just concerned with maintaining a healthy environment. Only by physically gathering samples through a professional mold testing service can you determine whether your home has dangerous mold. Everyone wants the lowest cost mold inspection and Corkd has the tools to make sure you get the best rates. Check out our Ballpark estimator to quickly get an idea of the cost of a mold test for your size of property and extent of damage. Or fill out some details on your mold problem and you can receive more detailed pricing.

Mold serves as a valuable part of the ecosystem when it's found outdoors. However, when mold starts forming inside your home, it can cause serious damage. A mold inspection involves looking for mold in the home. If mold exists, you can remove it to protect your family and your property. Find out when and how to inspect your home, what to do if you find mold, and how much professional mold testing costs in this guide to mold inspection.

Why mold testing is so critical

When a mold inspector finds no evidence of mold you can rest easier knowing the air you breath is healthy. Ignoring a potential mold problem can have disasterous consequences for your health and home. Without mold inspection the problem will get progressively worse, cause more and more damage, and cost much more to fix. A mold inspection serves as the first step toward ridding your house of mold.

When you compare the price of a mold test vs. the potential costs of medical treatment there is really no comparison. For a few hundred dollars and very little time, a mold inspection can stop mold damage from expanding that can lead to worse health issues and the increased expense of getting rid of it. If you think there is any chance of a mold problem in your home get started now.

How do you test for mold?

A mold inspector uses special tools and testing equipment to detect mold in your home. Many companies use thermal imaging cameras, which detect heat. These devices can't tell the inspector whether mold exists, but these cameras can detect moisture and standing water.

Your mold inspector might also use moisture meters to calculate moisture levels in the home. The inspector will complete a visual inspection of the house, often using a flashlight, paying special attention to areas where mold often grows:

  • Under kitchen and vanity sinks
  • In HVAC system coils and drip pans
  • On or behind walls
  • In carpet
  • On exposed fabric or upholstery
  • In the shower or tub
  • Around baseboards
  • In your refrigerator or pantry

If inspectors find mold, they will take a sample for testing. Most companies also take air quality samples with a control sample outside and a second one inside your home. Comparing those two samples will tell the company whether your indoor air quality indicates a potential mold infestation.

You'll receive a report after the mold inspection. The report will tell you the inspector's findings and recommendations.

Professional mold inspectors have years of experience and know exactly where mold likes to grow. They can identify different types of mold during their search. Your inspector can also put you in touch with a mold remediation company if you need one.

DIY Mold Inspection & Testing

Using a flashlight, search your home for evidence of mold. You might find it under the kitchen sink or growing on a wall. If you find mold, you can take a sample for a mold remediation company to analyze or you can clean the mold yourself.

While a DIY inspection can save money, this inspection can also prove less effective than a professional inspection. You probably don't own the equipment that professional inspectors have, so you might miss a mold infestation.

When and why should you inspect your home for mold?

Mold is a fungus that can grow rapidly once a single spore lands in your home. Mold likes a moist environment, which means that it's often found in high humidity areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Some molds prove more dangerous than others, but you don't want any mold species to grow in your house.

Why Does Your Home Need a Mold Inspection?

When allowed to grow freely, mold can penetrate your walls, cabinetry, tile grout, and many other places in your home, ultimately causing damage. You'll want a mold test so you can protect yourself from some of the following various negative impacts mold can have on your house:

Allergen trigger: Mold produces spores that cause allergic reactions in many people. You might find yourself sneezing, coughing, or rubbing your itchy eyes. You might experience an allergic reaction immediately upon coming into contact with mold, but some people have delayed reactions.

Asthma trigger: Similarly, people who suffer from asthma might experience increased attacks or episodes when they live in a mold-invaded environment.

Household damage: Mold can't damage many substances by itself, but cleaning mold from household surfaces can cause damage. For instance, if mold grows on your walls, you might have to remove the drywall and replace the material to ensure complete eradication. Mold can, however, damage soft surfaces, such as furniture, carpet, and bedding.

A mold inspection can help prevent these outcomes. If inspectors detect mold, they can arrange for mold removal so you don't have to live with an unwanted fungus in your home.

Signs You Need a Mold Inspection

A mold inspection is different from other types of household maintenance. You don't need it at specific intervals because many homes survive dozens of years without a mold infestation. However, you can look for some of the following red flags that signal the need for an inspection:

Respiratory symptoms: If you experience allergy or asthma symptoms at home, you might need a mold test, especially if those symptoms disappear when you're outside the house.

Musty smells: Mold has a musty odor. If you notice that your home smells musty or unpleasant, consider an inspection.

Leaks or standing water: If you've allowed water to stand in your home or if you detect an HVAC or plumbing leak, mold could grow.

Buying an older home: When you invest in an older home, consider requesting a mold test before you close the deal.

You can also get a mold inspection if you see visible mold. The inspector can make sure it isn't growing anywhere else in your house in a place that you can't see, such as behind the walls or in the HVAC system ductwork.

What Should Mold Inspection Cost For My Home?

Costs of a Certified Mold Inspection

Professional mold inspections cost between $200 and $400 on average, depending on the factors mentioned below. You might also have to pay for a professional report, especially if you need the report for an insurance claim or to submit to a prospective home buyer.

Mold inspection costs vary widely depending on several factors, including the following:

  • Do it yourself or professional approaches
  • Your home's square footage and number of rooms affected
  • Necessary removal of parts of walls, cabinets or structures
  • Rates that vary from inspector to inspector

Costs of a DIY Mold Inspection

You'll need a few materials to conduct your own mold inspection, including a flashlight, disposable gloves to protect your hands, a face mask to prevent you from breathing in mold spores, and a mold-testing kit. Your costs will probably range between $5 and $25, depending on the materials you already have on hand.

Spotting the Mold Yourself

You can easily find small mold colonies yourself in open exposed areas like your shower. Dig a little deeper to look under your sinks where moisture can accumulate.

For some surfaces, especially on drywall and carpet, identifying mold (and levels of danger) are difficult for the untrained eye. Certified mold inspectors can quickly spot dangerous mold, but more importantly they can verify it with very high accuracy with their tests.

If you think you have mold, it is also critical to identify the source of moisture. For example, if you have a leaky pipe under your kitchen sink, you must then search the entire surrounding area that may be affected. The same goes for leaks behind walls or in your HVAC system.

How To Hire a Good Mold Testing Company

Not all mold testing companies are equal. You need a mold testing company that isn't biased and trying to simply upsell you on their remediation services. In fact, many states strictly prohibit your mold testing company from performing the clean up. From the start, make it clear that you will be hiring a different company for the clean up than for the inspection. From there, follow these steps:

  1. Verify they are certified for mold inspections in your state
  2. Ask who they recommend for clean up if they find mold
  3. Make sure they perform air quality tests in addition to testing mold spores you already know about
  4. Ask for their basic mold inspection cost, but also inquire about additional fees if they need to open up drywall or otherwise dig deeper.

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