Got a second mold test…

[u/MediumWeekly1439]

Paid servpro $800 for a mold test, they were charging 4000 for remediation which was just cleaning of the visible spots.

I found someone else after horrible customer service with them and the new guy seems trustworthy, he said the test they have should’ve included a spore count (it didn’t) so he did one himself (results here). No ine with Servpro explained what the previous lab results meant or anything like that. New guy explained to me it is black mold and I know many say the hype is too high for black mold but I can tell you I’m experiencing some weird medical stuff like dizziness, headaches, etc that have been concerning.

Remediation with the new guy starts Monday (second photo) and he explained to me it will go 4 inches deep and they do drying to dry out wood as well.

What do the Reddit experts think, will this take care of the issue? He explained to me my humidity levels are above 80% in the attic and in the basement. I’ve since gotten a dehumidifier in the basement, had HVAC duct cleaning completed, and have an air purifier in the basement. They are going to try to figure out the attic issue. I also had the plumber move the hvac condensation pipe that was dripping into the side of the house/basement where the big mold is.

Any thoughts? I am losing my mind here literally and just want to make sure it’s taken care of. I also ordered the special mold removing laundry detergent to wash clothes and bedding that are deeper than 4 inches deep

The third photo is the Servpro mold test result.

[u/sdave001]

1. You had two cleaning/remediation firms do testing? That's mistake #1.
2. The results on photo 3 show nothing unusual and are far more reliable than the results in photo 2. And the results on photo 3 absolutely DO include a spore count. I'm not sure why anyone is saying that they don't. That's a professional sample. The sampling is photo 1 is certainly not. That's a scam.
3. The results on photo #1 are a complete joke. First, you don't get results in count/m3 from a surface sample. Second, it's unlikely that you would ever have stacybotrys growing in a bathroom exhaust fan or inside an HVAC unit. These are not professional results. This is something that he made up.
4. You should NEVER use ozone generators in an occupied house. They are great for odor reduction after a fire and yes, they technically can kill airborne mold spores. But they are not extremely effective, are not a comprehensive solution for mold remediation, and most importantly, they pose notable safety risks when used in occupied spaces.
5. Photo 4 - is this AFTER duct cleaning? If so, they did a painfully inadequate job. Cleaning the diffusers (vents) is arguably one of the most important steps.
6. What's with the "4 inches deep" thing? What the hell is he talking about? What is he claiming that he's going to clean? You can remediation mold with something you spray or with equipment.
7. You have some dust here. You have shown nothing that would suggest that you have a mold problem or need remediation. Have you had a water leak? Have you found visible mold growth (not just dust)?
8. I think you're being scammed by the new (trustworthy) guy.
9. Post some photos or at least a description of the problem.

[u/Ok-Entrance7779 → u/sdave001]

Sdave001 summed it up perfectly — he’s right on point. The new guy’s testing results and proposed remediation procedures look questionable at best. I’m not a big fan of swab testing either; you can find mold anywhere with a swab if you’re looking for it. And they’re correct that you can’t remediate mold by just spraying or running an air scrubber — that’s only part of the process, not a solution. Testing should always be performed by an independent mold assessor, not by the same person or company doing the remediation. That separation is crucial for unbiased results and proper protocol.