CLEARANCE TESTING · TDLR ACO1245
After remediation, Texas law requires a separate licensed assessor to verify the work. Mold Testing Houston doesn’t perform remediation, so when we say the air is clear, you can trust the answer isn’t a sales pitch.
WHY CLEARANCE TESTING MATTERS
Clearance testing (also called post-remediation verification) is the independent test that confirms remediation actually worked. It’s required by Texas law for any project over 25 contiguous square feet, required by most insurance policies before they’ll pay claims, and required by lenders and buyers before a home sale closes. The catch: it has to be done by a TDLR-licensed mold assessor who didn’t perform the remediation. That’s where we come in.
Clearance testing is the final, independent inspection that happens after mold remediation. A TDLR-licensed mold assessor returns to the property, collects air and surface samples in the remediated area, and sends them to an accredited lab for analysis. The result confirms whether indoor spore levels are at or below outdoor levels (the standard Texas threshold for “clear”).
The test isn’t about catching the remediation contractor in a mistake. It’s about giving you, your insurance company, your buyer, or your lender a document that says the work is done and the air is safe to breathe.
Most remediation companies offer to do their own clearance testing. Texas law makes this illegal because of the obvious conflict of interest: a company that gets paid to remove mold has every incentive to confirm the mold is gone, whether it actually is or not. Independent testing protects you.
Under the Texas Mold Assessment and Remediation Rules, a mold remediator cannot also perform the assessment or clearance test on the same project. The roles are intentionally divided to prevent conflicts of interest.
Most homeowners insurance policies and commercial property policies require a third-party clearance certificate before paying mold claims. A test from the remediator usually does not count.
Mold Testing Houston (TDLR ACO1245) is legally prohibited from performing remediation. We do not sell cleanup. So when we say the air is clear, you can trust it is not a setup for another bill.
Our reports are formatted for insurance adjusters, real estate transactions, and legal disputes under Texas Property Code. Lab-certified, TDLR-stamped, defensible.
Licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Texas regulates mold work under the Texas Mold Assessment and Remediation Rules, administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The rule that matters most for clearance testing:
A licensed mold remediation contractor cannot also serve as the licensed mold assessor on the same project. The state separates these roles to prevent the conflict of interest where the company being paid to clean up mold also gets to decide whether the cleanup worked.
Bottom line: If your remediator is offering to do clearance testing themselves, that is not just a bad idea, it is against Texas law. Insurance companies, attorneys, and real estate professionals all know this. The test only counts when an independent licensed assessor performs it.
From the moment your remediation contractor says “we’re done” to the moment you have a signed clearance certificate, here’s exactly what happens.
We review the original remediation protocol, confirm the work area is dry, ventilated, and ready for testing, and verify no new contamination is visible.
We collect calibrated air samples inside the remediated area and one outside as a baseline. Surface swabs go on any spot where the protocol specified verification.
Samples ship overnight to an accredited microbial lab. Spore types and concentrations are identified and compared against the outdoor baseline.
You receive a written clearance report (pass or fail) within 24 hours of lab results, formatted for your insurance company, lender, or buyer.
Every clearance test ends in one of two outcomes. Here is what each means for you.
Indoor spore counts in the remediated area are at or below outdoor levels. The remediation worked. You have a signed clearance certificate to submit to your insurance company, lender, buyer, or attorney.
Next step: The remediated space is safe to reoccupy. Keep the report for your records and any future disclosure requirements.
Indoor spore counts are still elevated or new contamination was found. The remediation did not fully resolve the issue. The report identifies what is still present and where, so the remediator can address it before retesting.
Next step: The remediation contractor returns under their warranty (or yours), addresses the gaps, and we retest. We do not recommend a remediation company, that is still your choice.
No hourly billing, no surprise add-ons. Pricing depends on the size of the remediated area, with most residential projects falling in a predictable range.
Quick Answers
Quick answers to the most common questions from Houston homeowners and agents.
A standard clearance test for a single remediated area starts at $750. Larger projects, multi-room remediations, or complex commercial work are quoted on-site after a brief consultation. The price includes pre-test walkthrough, indoor and outdoor air sampling, accredited lab analysis, and a written clearance report within 24 hours.
Independent TDLR-licensed clearance testing in Houston (ACO1245). Starting at $750, reports in 24 hours, and a result you can trust because we don’t perform the remediation we’re verifying.
