Why I No Longer OFfer Mould Testing

​Some homeowners are surprised when I tell them that I no longer offer mould testing as part of my home inspection services. At first glance, that might sound counterintuitive, especially since mould is something people naturally worry about when buying or selling a home. But after 5 years in the the home inspection industry (and working in Nova Scotia since 1999) I made the decision to stop offering mould testing because, in most situations, it provides very limited useful information and often creates more confusion than clarity. Does that mean that I think mould is harmless or overblown? Not at all!
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The reality is that mould spores are everywhere. They exist naturally in both indoor and outdoor environments, and virtually every home will have some level of airborne mould present at any given time. A single sample taken during a short inspection window only captures conditions at that exact moment in one specific location. Open a window, run the HVAC system, cook dinner, clean the floor, or change the weather outside, and the results can vary dramatically.

You don't need a test to know this needs to be cleaned.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about mould testing: people often assume the results will tell them whether a house is “safe” or “unsafe.” In reality, even thorough testing cannot make that determination. Air sampling may identify spore types and concentrations, but it does not reliably tell you:

• where the mould is coming from
• how long moisture has been present
• whether hidden growth exists behind walls
• whether the detected levels are actually affecting occupants

In many cases, the most important part of evaluating mould concerns has little to do with laboratory testing at all. A thorough visual inspection and moisture investigation are usually far more valuable. As inspectors, as part of our procedure we already look for the conditions that allow mould growth to occur:

• water intrusion
• elevated humidity
• plumbing leaks
• condensation issues
• poor ventilation
• past moisture damage

If those conditions exist, mold growth is possible regardless of what an air sample says on a particular day.

There are also situations where specialized environmental testing may still make sense, particularly in cases involving significant water damage, medical sensitivities, legal disputes, or post-remediation verification. In those situations, I recommend working directly with an independent environmental consultant or industrial hygienist whose practice is dedicated specifically to indoor air quality assessment and can provide more valuable information.

As a home inspector, my goal is to provide clients with practical, reliable information that helps them make informed decisions about a property. Over time, I found that routine mould testing often failed to meet that standard. By focusing instead on identifying moisture issues, building defects, and conditions conducive to mould growth, I believe I can provide more meaningful value to my clients and help them address the root causes rather than simply generating lab results.

​Put another way, I only offer services that offer better value than what I charge and mould testing does not pass that test.