Mold Inspection Boca Raton, FL | Moisture and Air Testing

Moisture sources

Where the Water Comes From in a Boca Raton Home

Mold needs a steady source of water. The climate, the ground and the seasonal way many people live here supply it in specific ways.

Local field sheetBoca Raton, FL

Sheet · Mold Inspection

A 1920s Mizner core and 1960s subdivisions near the Intracoastal in the east, condo towers on the barrier island and downtown, then gated club communities running west, some of them beyond the city limits despite a Boca Raton address.

County: Palm Beach County, FL
Building code zone: Outside the HVHZ · region set by design wind speed
From our office: 23.3 miles from 3610 N 65th Ave, Hollywood
Typical homes: 1920s Spanish-style houses, one-story 1960s subdivisions, gated club homes further west
Roofs: Barrel and flat tile on Mediterranean-style homes, plus shingle, metal and flat sections
Condos: Barrier island and downtown towers, plus inland low-rise buildings and club villas
Wind form: Outside the HVHZ. The Region answer depends on the design wind speed at the address
Water and salt: Ocean, Intracoastal, Lake Boca Raton and canals on the east side. Flood zones vary by address
ZIP codes: 33428 · 33431 · 33432 · 33433 · 33434 · 33486 · 33487 · 33496 · 33498

Neighborhoods we cover

Old Floresta
Pearl City
Downtown and Mizner Park
Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club
Camino Gardens
Boca Square
Boca Harbour
The Sanctuary
Marina Del Mar
Rio Del Mar
Via Verde
Royal Palm Polo
Broken Sound
Woodfield Country Club
Boca West

Houses that sit empty part of the year
The 2020 census counted about one in six housing units in the city as vacant, a figure that includes seasonal homes. When a house sits through summer with the A/C set high, humidity climbs. Guest rooms, walk-in closets and rarely used baths are the first places we check.
Plumbing that runs under the slab
The water table here rules out basements, so plumbing and sewer lines run beneath homes. A slow slab leak can feed a damp wall or baseboard with no visible drip. We scan those walls with a thermal camera and meter, and say when a leak detection specialist should follow up.
Worn layers under a tile roof
Water that gets past tired underlayment doesn't always drop straight down. It can run along the deck and show up on a ceiling some distance from the actual leak. On older tile roofs, we follow stains back through the attic instead of stopping at the room with the mark.

Common hiding places

Where Mold Tends to Hide in Boca Raton Homes

Work down the list, or tap a pin, then switch to Thermal and watch damp areas show up as cold spots.

Under sinks & cabinets
Slow drips at shutoffs and supply lines soak cabinet floors. Bar sinks and guest baths that rarely get used can leak for weeks unnoticed.
Moisture reading
Bathrooms
Shower walls, grout and ceilings, plus exhaust fans. A bath that stays shut through the off-season can hold humidity with no one around to notice.
Humidity
A/C air handler & ducts
Pans, drains and ducts sweat in this climate. A system set too high while owners are away may not pull enough moisture from the air.
Condensation
Attic & roof leaks
Water past a worn tile underlayment can travel along the deck before it shows. We trace stains and damp insulation back toward the likely source.
Stains · damp insulation
Windows & exterior walls
Condensation at older windows and wind-driven rain through stucco cracks or tired seals, including big sliders on water-facing walls near the Intracoastal.
Condensation · seals
Water heater & laundry
Leaks from water heaters and washer hoses in garages or closets. A second-floor laundry in a large home can send water a long way down.
Slow leaks

Peeling paint and water damage on a wall found during a mold inspection in South Florida

Moisture · 38%

How we approach it

A Mold Inspection in Boca Raton Goes After the Water First

Visible growth is only part of the question. In a house with a slab leak, a worn roof layer or an A/C closet that has been dripping all summer, the patch on the wall is just where the moisture has shown itself. Treating the patch without finding the source usually means treating it again next season.

We combine three steps: a visual walk-through, moisture mapping with a meter and thermal camera, and air samples collected indoors and out. A laboratory analyzes the samples, and results typically take a few business days. We inspect and test only, so there is no cleanup job behind what we report. If the findings call for remediation, a licensed mold remediator should do that work.

Indoor and outdoor air samples sent to a lab
Thermal camera and meter to follow the moisture
Testing only, with no remediation to sell

Back for the season
A musty smell after months away deserves a look before you unpack. We check the rooms and equipment that sat closed.
Inspection period on a purchase
A smell or a fresh coat of paint at a showing is worth checking while you can still negotiate.
After a leak or storm
Find out whether water reached walls, flooring or the A/C before the damage settles in.
Allergies or asthma
Testing shows how indoor spore levels compare with the air outside. It can't diagnose anything, but it can tell you where to start.

Two methods

Visual Mold Inspection or Air Testing: Which Fits Your Boca Raton Home?

Most clients use both: a visual search that hunts for the source and air samples that measure what is in the room.

Visual & moisture inspection

Walls, ceilings, cabinets, closets and the A/C system
Moisture meter readings on suspect areas
Thermal imaging to spot cold, damp areas
Finds the moisture source behind the mold
Photos of every finding

Air quality sampling

Indoor air samples from the areas of concern
An outdoor sample as a baseline for comparison
Laboratory analysis of spore types and counts
Shows whether indoor levels are elevated
Useful to confirm results after remediation

We identify and document mold and moisture problems. Removal should be performed by a licensed mold remediator.

Simple from start to finish

How We Run a Mold Inspection in Boca Raton

Tell us the history
How long has the house been closed? Any leaks or roof work? That shapes where we start.
Walk and scan
Peter checks walls, ceilings, cabinets and A/C equipment with a moisture meter and thermal camera.
Collect air samples
Samples taken inside are compared with one taken outdoors at your property the same day.
Plain-English findings
Photos, readings and next steps, including when a licensed remediator or leak specialist should step in.

Peter Lemos, certified home inspector in South Florida

Your inspector

Peter Lemos, Certified Master Inspector®

Locally owned in Hollywood, FL and serving South Florida since 2008. Peter holds InterNACHI certifications in wind mitigation, 4-point and mold inspection, and clients rate Global Home Inspectors 5 stars on Google.

Meet Peter

2008Since

4.9★Google

3Counties

24hReports

Client notes · Google reviews

What South Florida Homeowners Say

4.9 Based on 82 Google reviews

“I called Global Home Inspectors to conduct a 4 point inspection and wind mitigation inspection. Peter arrived on time and was very professional. He started the inspection process immediately and took pictures. I received my report the same day and I am very pleased with the service. …”

Monique M.4-point & wind mitigation

“From start to finish, Peter was prompt, professional, and incredibly thorough. He took the time to explain every detail, answer our questions, and provide a clear and comprehensive report.”

Kendry A.Home inspection

“He was able to come out and complete the inspection within 24 hours and send me the report the same day. Most companies would have taken a week to come out and another week to send the report.”

R. Mast4-point inspection

“After a few upgrades to our home, we needed to provide our insurance company with an updated 4 point & wind mitigation inspection. I’m so glad I went with Peter because he was fantastic! He arrived on time, was a great communicator, and sent the reports very quickly. …”

Mari H.4-point & wind mitigation

“Peter visited my place as scheduled and came prepared with a good understanding of my house's historical record. … I received the report 20 minutes right after his leave. Super fast! … p.s. the drone is really cool; used to take a full view of the roof.”

NeilInsurance inspection

“Mr. Lemos is very responsive, attentive, customer friendly. Working with him and mutual customer was an absolute breath of fresh air. …”

Angela C.Insurance agent, State Farm

Read all 82 reviews on Google Leave a review See all client reviews

Good questions

Mold Questions From Boca Raton Homeowners

Straight answers for owners, buyers and condo residents. Call (954) 297-0317 if yours isn't here.

I leave my Boca Raton home every summer. What should I watch for?

Humidity is the main concern, so ask your A/C contractor about settings for an empty house and have someone check on it. If you come back to a musty smell, a moisture scan and air samples can show whether something changed while you were gone.

Is a slab leak likely to cause mold here?

It can. Boca Raton plumbing commonly runs under the slab, so a slow leak can dampen walls, baseboards or flooring from below. We map moisture along those areas and tell you if a plumber or leak detection company should confirm it.

Can you test a condo on the barrier island?

Yes. We check A/C closets, bathrooms and walls shared with neighbors. If water seems to come from another unit or the building, we note it so you can bring it to the association. Our Boca Raton condo inspection covers the unit in more depth.

I can see mold. Why test the air?

The visible growth needs attention either way. Air samples add information about the rest of the home, and they give a reference point for checking the house after remediation.

Does every house have mold spores?

Yes. Spores come in from outdoors, so a count of zero isn't realistic in South Florida. What matters is how the indoor samples compare with the outdoor sample from the same visit.

How long until I have the lab results?

A laboratory reads the air samples, which usually takes a few business days. Peter then goes over what the numbers mean for your home.

Will you remove the mold if you find it?

No. We only inspect and test, so the report doesn't depend on a cleanup job. A licensed mold remediator should handle removal, and a plumber or a roof inspection may be needed to deal with the source.

Often booked together