Standalone Mold Inspection & Air Quality Testing in Cleveland, OH
Independent, Non-Destructive Mold & Moisture Assessment for Northeast Ohio Properties
This is a focused mold and moisture assessment, not a general home inspection.
Concerned about mold or moisture?
A musty smell, a damp basement, a past water leak or visible staining often raises the question of mold. Our standalone mold inspection is a focused visual and diagnostic mold assessment for current homeowners, landlords and property managers who want mold and moisture testing without a full home inspection.
We offer it in Greater Cleveland, including Cuyahoga, Lorain and Medina counties, and surrounding Northeast Ohio counties.
What’s included
- A visual, non-invasive mold and moisture assessment of accessible areas
- 3 spore-trap air samples analyzed by a laboratory: one basement sample, one above-grade living-area sample and one outdoor control sample
- The laboratory’s results, comparing indoor airborne spore concentrations with the outdoor control sample
Visual and moisture assessment
The inspector looks for visible mold-like growth and staining, and for conditions that commonly lead to mold growth, such as signs of water intrusion, plumbing leaks, condensation and dampness in accessible areas.
The assessment is non-destructive. We don’t open walls, ceilings or floors, so growth hidden inside wall cavities or behind finished surfaces can be missed.
Three-sample air-testing protocol
- Basement sample. Basements are below ground and tend to be damper than the rest of the home.
- Above-grade living-area sample. One sample from a living area above the basement level.
- Outdoor control sample. Taken outside for comparison.
Each sample is collected on a spore trap and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Air sampling measures the airborne spore concentrations present when the samples were taken. The indoor results are compared with the outdoor control sample to help show whether indoor levels are elevated compared with outdoor air.
There is no EPA or federal standard for an acceptable indoor mold spore level, so results are read against the outdoor sample rather than a fixed number. Airborne spores vary from day to day and season to season, and results reflect conditions at the time of sampling.
Air sampling is one part of the assessment, not a final answer on its own. Results are considered together with what the inspector observes, and results that aren’t elevated don’t rule out hidden mold or future growth.
What is not included
- A general home inspection. The roof, structure, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems and other components aren’t evaluated.
- Attics
- Destructive testing, such as opening walls, ceilings or floors
- Mold remediation or cleanup
- Medical or health advice
Buying a home? Mold testing is also available as an add-on to a home inspection.
Optional additional testing
Additional air samples are available for $100 each, and surface swab tests are available for $100 each. These optional tests are not selected in the online scheduler. They can be added after your appointment is scheduled based on the areas or conditions you would like evaluated. To add them, text 440-724-3198.
Why Detailed Home Inspections
- We don’t do remediation. Detailed Home Inspections is independent and doesn’t perform mold remediation.
- Licensed inspectors. The standalone mold inspection is performed by one of our three Ohio-licensed home inspectors. License numbers are listed on Meet the team.
- Laboratory analysis. Spore trap air samples are analyzed by a laboratory and compared with an outdoor control sample.
- Consultation on findings. Pete Mizeres holds an active Florida Mold Assessor license and brings decades of property-inspection experience. His experience is available for consultation regarding mold and moisture findings when needed.
If mold-like growth or significant moisture conditions are identified, we may recommend consultation with an appropriate remediation professional.
Standalone mold inspection questions
What is included in a standalone mold inspection?
A visual, non-invasive mold and moisture assessment plus three laboratory-analyzed spore-trap air samples: one in the basement, one in an above-grade living area and one outdoor control sample. The price is $495.
How many air samples are included?
Three: a basement sample, an above-grade living-area sample and an outdoor control sample. Additional air samples are $100 each.
Do you perform mold remediation?
No. Detailed Home Inspections doesn’t perform mold remediation. If mold-like growth or significant moisture conditions are identified, we may recommend consultation with an appropriate remediation professional.
Do you inspect attics during the standalone mold service?
No. Attics aren’t included in the standalone mold inspection.
Can I purchase additional air or surface samples?
Yes. Additional air samples are $100 each, and surface swab tests are $100 each. They aren’t selected during online booking; they can be added after your appointment is scheduled.
Does a normal air sample result mean there’s no mold?
No. Airborne spores vary from day to day and season to season, and air sampling can miss mold hidden behind finished surfaces. Results are one part of the assessment, along with what the inspector observes.
Is this the same as a home inspection?
No. The standalone mold inspection is a focused mold and moisture assessment and doesn’t evaluate the home’s structure or systems. If you’re buying a home, mold testing is also available as an add-on to a home inspection.
Schedule your standalone mold inspection
In the scheduler below, choose Stand Alone Mold Test, then your property address, date and time. Questions first? Text 440-724-3198.
Need help scheduling? Text 440-724-3198 for the fastest response. Calls go to voicemail.
Having trouble scheduling? Open the scheduler directly.