Best Mold Test Kits to Check Home Air Quality
Updated: Mar. 23, 2024
If you've got mold in your house, choose one of these test kits to determine what kind of mold you've got so you can effectively get rid of it.
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Choosing a Mold Test Kit
A test kit is a great way to begin the battle against household mold. But not all mold test kits are worth the money. The five mentioned here perform well. If you’re serious about dealing with mold, perform a test and let the results guide your remediation efforts.
DIY Mold Test
The Mold Inspection Network test kit is for surface testing of visible mold only, not airborne spores, and it includes everything you need for three tests. The purpose of this kit is to identify the type and concentration of mold organisms. Collect samples, send them off for testing and then wait for the lab results. Consultation with mold experts is included in the price for all U.S. states except Texas.
First Alert Mold Detection Kit
One of a handful of test kits offered by First Alert, this economical kit detects airborne mold spores. It costs $15 for each sample you send to the lab in one of the preprinted envelopes. Expect results in five to seven days.
My Mold Detective Room Test Kit
This high-end Healthful Home test kit comes with an air sampling pump and the supplies needed to complete three tests. Similar to professional mold kits, the pump draws indoor air into the system for sample collection. At $35 to assess three samples, it’s not cheap, but it is accurate.
Mold Armor DIY Mold Test Kit
Complete with a petri dish and mold-growth medium, this Mold Armor kit is suitable for testing indoor air, ventilation systems and surface areas that show visible mold growth. This kit shows the presence of mold after being exposed to the air, but a $40 test fee is required to find out what kind of mold you’ve got.
Pro-Lab Mold Test Kit
This simple Pro-Lab kit is made for testing airborne, surface and bulk samples. It shows the presence of mold, but you have to pay a $40 lab fee and ship off your sample to find out what kind of mold you’ve got. Sample results are available online in seven days (three if you put a rush on it). The lab analysis service is only available in the U.S. and Canada.
FAQs
Do mold test kits really work?
At-home mold test kits are an inexpensive and fairly simple way to test for mold in your house, but there are a few things to take into consideration before you test because mold isn’t something that should be taken lightly. Yes, mold test kits will be able to detect mold, but they don’t always show the full picture. They typically can only pick up on surface mold and won’t be able to tell you what’s happening behind walls or in areas that aren’t accessible. It can also sometimes be tricky to interpret the test results and there’s always the possibility of false negatives or positives. The bottom line, use a mold test kit to get you started. If you suspect there are larger issues with mold throughout your living space, it’s best to contact a professional mold inspector. They have more tools and expertise that will help you get to the root of the issue.
What do professionals use to detect mold?
Professional mold inspectors will start with a visual assessment of your home. They look for visible mold, water damage, or areas of high humidity to determine what steps or tests they will use next. Inspectors will test the air for mold, moisture, and humidity. They’ll test surfaces where they detect mold growth and will often use tools such as thermal imaging cameras and boroscopes to get a better idea of what is going on behind walls or in HVAC systems. All of this information will help them build a remediation plan to remove the mold if needed.
How do you know if mold is behind your drywall?
Opening up your drywall seems like the only way to see if there’s mold growth. Not only will that create a big mess, but it will also disturb the mold. There are a few things to look for that will indicate mold behind your drywall. The more obvious signs will be visible mold growth, peeling paint or wallpaper and water stains or discoloration. Other signs of mold behind your drywall are a musty odor or persistent respiratory issues. If you’ve noticed any of these, order a mold test kit and take steps toward remediation based on the results.
Originally Published: May 08, 2020
