Air Quality & Mold Testing

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Concerned about Mold in your Home?

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Let us take a look!

- Concerned about Mold in your Home? - Let us take a look!

The 5 Steps to Air Quality Testing

1) Identify Areas of Concern
2) Collect Multiple Samples
3) Process Samples at the Lab
4) Review Results & Levels Detected
5) Make an Action / Remediation Plan

Testing Options

Our “Air (Only)” testing package is our cheapest testing option and great for those looking to determine what types of spores are in the air.
First, we perform a visual inspection of the home to identify areas that may be allowing moisture to enter the home, or where there are signs of active (or previous) water leakage or intrusion that may be creating a mold rich environment.
Next, we collect air samples using our state-of-the-art self-calibrating air pump. The first sample is taken on the exterior of the home creating a baseline for the environment in and around the home.
Then, additional samples are taken inside the home (the number of samples depends on the square footage & layout of the home) to determine if elevated levels of airborne mold spores are present.
The samples are shipped to our partner lab for analysis and results are returned in 2-4 days.

Upgrade you Air Quality testing to include ‘Particle ID’ - the gold standard in air quality testing.
In addition to the airborne spores that are being captured during air quality testing, a host of other particles and allergens are also being collected as well. That’s where Particle ID comes in!
Testing includes over 40 different particulates (see list below) that can be found inside your home. It can also help to determine whether the home’s ventilation and filtration systems are working properly or if additional systems may need to be installed.
No additional processing time is required (compared to air quality testing) and results are ready within the same 2-4 day window.
List of Particle ID Items

Surface sampling is available and includes taking physical tape or swab samples of visual microbial growth in and around the home in order to determine the specific type of growth present.
Generally, this is performed on an as-needed basis (with approval from the client) when visual microbial growth is found during a home inspection in areas such as the attic, basement, bathroom, kitchen, etc.
If you have a specific area of concern and would like this testing completed, please advice your home inspector (if on-site during an inspection), or reach out to our office to arrange a scheduled visit and discuss pricing.
Depending on the number of samples that need to be taken, pricing varies from $75-$95 per sample.

Frequently Asked Questions:

It depends.
If your home is located in Maine or Massachusetts, the way that the contracts are written, you are allowed to get any type of home inspection or testing services completed during your inspection period.
If you're in New Hampshire, as long as the air quality inspection has been written onto your purchase and sale agreement, you are all set. If your purchase and sale agreement does not include air quality, the request will need to be run through both the buyer agent and sellers agent in order to ensure that it will be an allowed inspection.
Testing is recommended if you notice musty odors, water damage, visible mold, or have specific mold related health issues.
If you answer YES to any of the following, testing is for you:"
- Does your home have a finished basement?
- Do you see mold or smell a musty odor anywhere in your home?
- Has the home had any water damage or previous leaking (from the roof, plumbing, bathroom, etc.)?
- Has the home been vacant or “closed up” for an extended period?
- Do you have health issues that relate to air quality or sensitivity to mold & allergens?
Our testing will help identify mold, allergens, and other contaminants that can affect your health and the indoor air quality that you breathe everyday.
We offer a wide range of testing options to fit your needs. From ‘Basic Air Quality’ testing, to ‘Particle ID’ testing as well as ‘Air & Surface' testing to help you learn more about your home’s health.
Learn more about our different services below.
The major distinction is that air quality is looking more for over 100 microbes that are currently in the air, while Particle ID is looking for a specific subset of over 40 particulates that fall outside the realm of microbes but are common causes of allergies or respiratory sensitivity.
The short answer is no.
Air quality testing is non-invasive starting point for investigation into the levels of microbial growth that a home has. If elevated airborne spore levels are present, it is then recommended that further (more destructive) investigation be conducted to determine the extent and cause.
As a home inspection company regulated by several states and standards of practice, we are not allowed to use ‘destructive methods’ during our investigation of a home.
Non-invasive air quality testing is our way to provide the most amount of information to our clients to alert them of potential issues inside a home.
The cost is based on the type of testing selected and home itself.
Each air sample taken covers approximately 1000 square feet of living space, so depending on the size and configuration (multiple floors of living, presence of a basement) of the home you may need more (or less) samples.
Particle ID requires an additional lab fee which is why it is more expensive than the basic air quality testing.
The price for surface sampling depends on the number of samples taken which can vary greatly depending on the amount of growth found throughout a home.