Looking for a mold inspection near me in Orlando? Book a free inspection with Orlando Mold Works. We find the moisture source, check what’s growing, and send you a written remediation quote. We also tell you plainly when you need an independent, licensed assessment instead.
That second part matters, because a free inspection and a licensed Florida mold assessment are not the same service. Florida law treats them differently. The rest of this page explains how, so you book the right one first time.
What a Free Mold Inspection Near You in Orlando Actually Includes
A free mold inspection from Orlando Mold Works is a visual and moisture-meter walkthrough of your home. We look where Central Florida mold usually starts, take meter readings to find the damp feeding it, and finish with a written remediation quote if cleanup is needed. It does not include air or surface samples, and there is no lab report.
- Visual walkthrough. Bathrooms, AC closets, attics, baseboards, under sinks and around windows. We check the places Florida mold usually starts, not only the stain you called about.
- Moisture check. Meter readings locate damp behind drywall, flooring and ceilings, and point to the source feeding it: a slow leak, AC condensation, or water that came in during a storm.
- Written quote. If cleanup is needed, you get the scope and the price in writing. No obligation and no pressure to book on the spot. Our mold removal and remediation page explains the full service.
- Straight talk. If the growth is small, we say so. The EPA says that for mold covering “less than about 10 square feet… in most cases, you can handle the job yourself.” Fix the moisture first.
This is a free inspection and quote. It is not a lab-tested mold assessment. If you already know you need sampling and a lab report, see our Orlando mold inspection and testing page, or read on for when an independent assessor makes sense.
Free Mold Inspection vs Licensed Mold Assessment: Florida’s Two-License Rule
Free inspection (what we offer). A visual walkthrough and moisture readings. No samples, no lab. The result is a written quote for cleanup, plus a plain answer on whether you need more than that. It costs you nothing and commits you to nothing.
Licensed mold assessment (independent, paid). Carried out by a Florida-licensed mold assessor. It includes physical sampling and detailed evaluation, and usually ends in a written remediation protocol that a separate remediator follows. This is what insurers and buyers tend to ask for.
Florida licenses mold assessors and mold remediators separately under Chapter 468, Part XVI of the Florida Statutes, administered by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Section 468.8411(3) defines a mold assessment as a process “that includes the physical sampling and detailed evaluation of data” about mold growth “of greater than 10 square feet.” Remediation, defined in 468.8411(5), covers removal and cleaning above the same 10 square foot line.
The two jobs are kept apart on purpose. Under s. 468.8419(1)(d), an assessor may not perform or offer to perform remediation on a structure the assessor or their company assessed within the last 12 months, with an exception for certain Division I certified contractors. Section 468.8419(2)(d) stops a remediator from assessing a structure it remediated in the previous 12 months.
Breaking the rule is a second-degree misdemeanor the first time, a first-degree misdemeanor the second time, and a third-degree felony after that (s. 468.8419(3)). The logic is simple: the person who diagnoses the problem should not profit from fixing it.
Where a free inspection fits. On our plain reading of the text, a free walkthrough that takes no samples and ends in a price is a sales estimate, not an assessment. That is our reading, not a DBPR ruling. This is not legal advice. Check with DBPR or consult a licensed professional if your situation depends on it.
When You Need a Paid Mold Assessment (and When You Don’t)
Most homeowners who search for a mold inspection near them don’t need lab work. Some do. Here is how we sort it.
Get an independent assessor
- Insurance claim. Adjusters often want an independent report. Ask your insurer what they need before anyone starts cleaning.
- Buying or selling a home. Buyers and lenders sometimes ask for one. Ask them what they will accept.
- Health concern. If someone in the home has asthma, allergies or a weakened immune system, ask their doctor whether testing would help.
- Clearance after remediation. An independent post-remediation check confirms the job is finished.
You can likely skip it
- A visible patch under about 10 sq ft. The EPA says most people can handle this themselves once the moisture is fixed. It is also where Florida’s licensing definitions begin.
- A fresh leak caught early. The EPA says that if you dry wet areas within 24 to 48 hours, “in most cases mold will not grow.”
- You can already see the mold. In the EPA’s words, “In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary.”
Unsure which side you are on? Call us at (321) 257-9332 and we’ll tell you straight, even if the answer is that you don’t need us. Source: EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home.
How Much a Mold Inspection Costs in Orlando
The price depends mostly on whether anyone takes samples. As a guide for the Orlando metro, from our cost research:
- Free visual inspection (our offer): $0
- Paid visual-only inspection: $150 to $250
- Full lab-tested assessment: $400 to $600
If lab testing is genuinely needed, we say so and explain why. See the full price breakdown and sources, or call (321) 257-9332.
Why Mold Keeps Coming Back in Orlando
- 85% to 91%. Orlando’s average morning relative humidity, month by month across the year. NCEI averages as tabulated by the Florida Climate Center, period of record generally through 2018.
- About 264,000. Mold-related home insurance claims in Florida in 2022, over 20% of the state’s home insurance claims, per Noble Public Adjusting Group, a policyholder claim advocate, as reported by WUSF (25 January 2026).
- 24 to 48 hours. The EPA’s window to dry water-damaged areas and materials. Do it in time and in most cases mold will not grow.
In Orlando the air rarely dries out. Your AC pulls water out of that air all day, so a clogged condensate line, a sweating duct or a slow leak behind a vanity can keep a wall damp for weeks. Storm water does the same thing faster.
Scrub the mold without fixing the source and it comes back. That’s why our free inspection starts with the water, not the stain.
How to Check a Mold Company Near You Before You Book
Whether you call mold remediation specialists, a removal company or an independent assessor, run these four checks first.
- Check the license type. Search the company at myfloridalicense.com. Confirm whether it holds a mold assessor or a mold remediator license, and that the status is active.
- Get the scope in writing. A written scope and quote shows what will be removed, how the area will be contained and what it costs. A verbal price is hard to hold anyone to.
- Ask who wrote the protocol. If an assessor wrote a remediation protocol, ask who is doing the cleanup. Be wary of one company assessing and remediating the same home within 12 months.
- Ask about insurance. Florida Statutes s. 468.8421 sets the floor. Assessors carry at least $1 million of general liability plus errors and omissions cover, and remediators at least $1 million of general liability including mold coverage. Ask to see it.
We welcome the same scrutiny of any quote, ours included. For more on comparing quotes, read our guide to choosing a mold remediation company.
Areas we cover around Orlando: Orlando, Winter Park, Lake Mary, Kissimmee, Sanford and Oviedo. Not sure you’re in range? Put your ZIP code in the form at the top of this page and we’ll tell you.
Mold Inspection Near Me: FAQs for Orlando Homeowners
Where can I get a free mold inspection in Orlando? Call (321) 257-9332 or use the form on this page. We offer a free visual inspection across Orlando, Winter Park, Lake Mary, Kissimmee, Sanford and Oviedo, followed by a written remediation quote. It is a free inspection and quote, not a lab-tested mold assessment.
How much does a mold inspection cost in Orlando? Our visual inspection is free. Paid inspections vary by scope: a paid visual-only inspection runs about $150 to $250, and a full lab-tested assessment about $400 to $600, per our mold inspection cost guide. Lab testing is only worth paying for in specific situations, such as an insurance claim or a home sale.
Is a free mold inspection the same as a licensed mold assessment? No. Florida licenses mold assessors and mold remediators separately under Chapter 468, Part XVI, and section 468.8411(3) defines a mold assessment as involving physical sampling and detailed evaluation. A free walkthrough with a quote is a different service. This is not legal advice. You can check any company’s license at myfloridalicense.com.
Is getting a mold inspection worth it? If you can see mold or smell damp, finding the moisture source is worth doing, and a free inspection does that at no cost. A paid assessor is worth it for insurance claims, home purchases, health concerns or post-remediation clearance. For a visible patch under about 10 square feet, the EPA says most people can handle it themselves after fixing the moisture.
Can the same company inspect and remove my mold? For a free inspection and quote, yes. For a licensed assessment, Florida bars an assessor from performing or offering remediation on a structure their company assessed within the last 12 months (s. 468.8419(1)(d)), with an exception for certain Division I certified contractors. Ask any company which service it is providing.
Do I need mold testing, or is a visual inspection enough? The EPA says that if visible mold growth is present, sampling is usually unnecessary, and no federal limits exist for mold spores to compare results against. Testing is most useful for health questions, an insurance claim, a property sale, or confirming a clean result after remediation.