Do I Have Mold? Risk Checker
Eight questions covering the indicators that actually correlate with active mold — smell, visible signs, water history, humidity, and how people in the house feel. No email, nothing stored, and it will tell you if the answer is probably nothing.
This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis and not medical advice. Only an inspection can confirm whether you have mold, and only a physician can evaluate symptoms. If you have severe or worsening respiratory symptoms, contact a doctor.
What the questions are weighted on
Not every indicator carries equal weight. Visible growth and a recent water event are the heaviest, because one is direct evidence and the other creates the condition mold needs. Musty smell and the symptom pattern come next — smell in particular, since it typically appears long before anything is visible. Humidity, material distortion, and the type and age of the space are lighter contributing factors rather than answers on their own.
Answering "not sure" counts as half. That is deliberate: on questions like whether there has been a leak in the past year, uncertainty is itself mildly informative, and forcing a yes or no would distort the result in both directions.
If you want to check it yourself first
A twenty-minute self-check will get you further than most people expect. Our guide to how to tell if you have mold walks through resetting your nose, the four places mold almost always starts in this region, and the $15 hygrometer that settles whether humidity alone is your problem. For the full catalogue of what to look for, see the signs of mold in a house.
And if you are not certain what you are looking at is even mold, the mold vs. mildew comparison includes a two-minute wipe test that distinguishes them.
What happens if you do call
An on-site assessment across Rochester + Monroe County, NY is free. We inspect, map the moisture with meters and thermal imaging, identify the water source, and give you a written scope and price before anything is removed. If it turns out you do not need remediation, we will tell you that — see what a mold inspection covers.
Not sure what you are dealing with?
A free on-site assessment across Rochester + Monroe County, NY answers it properly. No obligation.
Answers
Quiz questions
How accurate is this mold quiz?
It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. It weighs the indicators that reliably correlate with active mold — moisture history, physical signs, smell, and symptom patterns — and tells you whether the combination you have is worth investigating. Only an inspection with moisture meters and thermal imaging can confirm what is actually there.
I scored low but I can smell something musty. What now?
Trust the smell. A musty odour is microbial volatile organic compounds from actively growing mold, and it is the single most reliable early indicator — often appearing well before anything visible. A low score with a persistent musty smell is worth an inspection regardless of what this quiz says.
Does the quiz store my answers?
No. It runs entirely in your browser, nothing is submitted anywhere, and nothing is saved. Reloading the page clears it.
Can mold cause my symptoms?
Mold exposure is associated with congestion, coughing, itchy eyes, headaches, and worsened asthma, and the telling pattern is symptoms that ease when you leave the building. But that pattern indicates something in the building, not necessarily mold — and no quiz can diagnose anyone. If symptoms are significant, see a doctor.
I scored high. What should I do first?
Do not disturb the growth — scrubbing, sanding, or fanning it releases spores through the rest of the house and makes the job larger. Close off the area if you can, turn off HVAC serving that space, and get it assessed so the water source can be found before anything is removed.