This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have health concerns, please consult a medical professional.
What is a mold inspection?
A mold inspection is a visual and instrument-based check of the home. The inspector looks for staining, water damage and growth, and uses moisture meters, hygrometers and often thermal imaging to find damp areas.
The goal is to find where moisture is and where mold could be growing.
Inspection vs testing
Inspection
- Visual, room by room
- Moisture meter + thermal camera
- Finds likely sources
- Answers: where and why?
Testing
- Air or surface samples
- Independent lab analysis
- Compares indoor vs outdoor
- Answers: what's in the air?
What is mold testing?
Mold testing means collecting samples — usually air samples, sometimes surface swabs or tape lifts — and sending them to a laboratory. Results show spore types and counts, typically compared with an outdoor control sample.
Testing without an inspection gives numbers without context; an inspection without testing gives observations without lab data.
Inspection answers where and why. Testing answers what's in the air.
AirCare 365 · Bay Area
Want real numbers for your home?
Inspection, lab-analyzed air samples and a digital report. $520 online, $0 today.
Which one do you need?
If you see obvious growth from a known leak, an inspection that maps moisture is often the priority. If you smell mustiness, are buying a home, or want documentation, combining both gives the clearest picture.
Every AirCare 365 AirCheck combines both: visual inspection, moisture, humidity and thermal readings, included air sampling and independent lab analysis.
Five steps from question to answer
- 1
Inspect
Room-by-room visual check
- 2
Measure
Moisture, humidity, thermal
- 3
Sample
Indoor + outdoor air
- 4
Lab
Independent analysis
- 5
Report
Clear next steps
Frequently asked questions
How much does a combined inspection and test cost?+
An AirCare 365 AirCheck, which includes both, is $595 in the Bay Area.
Want measured information about your home?
AirCare 365 provides mold inspection and mold and indoor air quality testing across the Bay Area.
Sources
Serving San Francisco, San Mateo, Menlo Park, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Oakland, Fremont and the rest of the Bay Area.