Whenever there is concern of a strange odor or there is evidence of exterior water intrusion or water infiltration from a water supply, than as an extra service a mold test may be necessary. The fact is, it is true that the only way to be absolutely sure that harmful mold isn't in a structure is to test for it. 

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Mold likes to grow in places that are constantly damp. In some areas, especially very warm ones, the climate itself can provide enough moisture to support mold growth.  Mold-supporting moisture levels are also likely to arise from leaky pipes, leaky roofs, or flooding. Often, these sources of water initially saturated part of the house, and it takes so long for the affected areas to dry out that mold gets a chance to start. If a leak is ongoing, it may never have a chance to dry, and this makes mold all but inevitable.

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Because of the connection between mold and leaks, the most cost-effective approach is usually to get a house inspection before going for mold testing. If the general inspection shows that there is no evidence of water infiltration, you can be fairly sure that mold-supporting conditions do not exist. However, if a leak is found – or you already know that something has been leaking – you should go ahead and have the structure checked for mold.

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If you have seen mold with your own eyes, then you should definitely get a mold inspection. By the time you see mold, it has most likely spread much further behind the wall or above the ceiling where you have observed it.

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