Top Lab Tests for HVAC and Plumbing Professionals
As an HVAC or plumbing professional, your job is to find the source of the problem and fix it fast. But what happens when it’s not just a leak, an odor, or a strange stain — when it might be something in the water, dust, or air?
Whether you’re working on bathrooms, ductwork, basements, crawlspaces, or wells, contamination can delay your work or turn a small job into a major health concern. That’s where lab testing comes in. With SimpleLab, fitting the right lab test into a job has never been easier.
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Why HVAC and Plumbing Pros Are Adding Testing to Their Toolkit
In an industry that prizes speed and efficiency, laboratory testing can seem like an unnecessary snag. But, when done right, lab testing adds value to your workflow, including:
- Justification for repair or replacement decisions
- Strengthening trust with customers
- Enabling upsells to remediation, upgrades, or maintenance plans
You are the first person clients turn to when something seems “off.” So having every tool at your disposal, including an analytical laboratory, can be a significant help — especially for jobs that demand more than visual inspection.
SimpleLab makes it easy to:
- Offer professional-grade testing when issues arise
- Get clear answers fast
- Help your clients resolve health & safety concerns
- Increase your value on-site without adding friction
No lab contracts or scheduling constraints. No equipment. No need to store kits you may never use. Just order what you need, when you need it, and get clear, plain-language results fast.
Recommended Test Kits for Plumbing & HVAC Jobs
We recommend the following tests, trusted most by plumbing and HVAC professionals working in the field:
Mold & Fungus Surface Swab Test
Mold and Fungus Surface Swab Test
$59.00
Why this test?
- Perfect for HVAC return ducts, crawlspaces, under sinks, and ceiling panels
- Simple sampling process, fast results: just collect, mail, and receive a certified lab report
- Ideal for home warranty jobs, real estate walkthroughs, or when clients ask, “Is this black mold?”
Mold Dust Test (ERMI-style Sampling)
Mold Dust Surface Test
$388.00
Why this test?
- Tests accumulated dust in HVAC returns, vents, carpets, or air handlers
- Includes lab analysis of DNA-based mold species from settled dust
- Ideal for confirming long-term mold presence or indoor air quality concerns
Lead Dust Surface Wipe Test
Lead Dust Surface Wipe Test
$59.00
Why this test?
- Ideal for clearance testing, remodel documentation, or client peace of mind
- Critical when working in pre-1978 homes or around older radiators and paint
- EPA-aligned wipe sampling for baseboards, sills, HVAC grilles, etc.
- Includes chain-of-custody documentation for legal defensibility
Lead Paint Chip Test
Lead Paint Chip Test
$75.00
Why this test?
- Best for peeling, flaking, or sanded paint surfaces
- Sample easily from window trim, bathroom walls, kitchen backsplashes
- Results include lead concentration by weight
Asbestos Materials Test
Basic Asbestos Materials Test
$59.00
Why this test?
- Ideal when opening older ceilings, flooring, pipe wrap, or insulation
- Submit small samples from suspicious drywall or ceiling tile before demolition
- Important: Some states require asbestos samples to be collected by certified personnel. (EPA Asbestos Regulations)
Coliform & E. coli Water Test
Coliform and E. coli Water Test
$99.00
Why this test?
- Especially useful after pipe breaks, flooding, or water discoloration
- Tests drinking water for contamination that can cause illness
- Must-have when working with private well systems
Metals & Minerals Water Test
Metals and Minerals Water Test
$88.00
Why this test?
- Screens drinking water for lead, copper, iron, manganese, and other pipe-related metals
- Great for new fixture installations, cloudy/discolored water, or older homes
- Covers metals and mineral balance that might affect taste, safety, or corrosion
When Should HVAC or Plumbing Pros Use Testing?
Lab testing kits are useful when you encounter:
- Odors you can’t trace
- Visible mold or staining near vents, water lines, or ceilings
- Water that smells, tastes, or looks off
- Concerns about lead or asbestos in older materials
Even if you don’t test on every job, having trusted kits on hand (or easy access to them) means you’re ready for anything that comes your way — an edge you’ll gain over the competition.
Built for Fast-Paced Field Work
SimpleLab’s kits were designed for professionals who need:
- Quick turnaround (results available within 3-5 business days)
- No upfront investment (order when you need it, pro pricing available)
- No lab coordination (we handle shipping, scheduling, reporting and paperwork)
- Clear, easy-to-read results (including interpretation for your client)
Whether you're working on behalf of the building occupant, property manager, or owner, we give you access to more answers — without the extra hassle.
What’s the Takeaway?
SimpleLab was designed for the realities of field work. Whether you’re dealing with compliance, diagnostics, or risk management, our professional testing platform handles environmental testing without friction or unexpected complication.
Why Professionals Choose SimpleLab
- Speed: Most kits have RUSH processing available
- Simplicity: Clean instructions, no lab contracts
- Cost Control: Order as needed, bill client directly
- Support: Our team understands remediation workflows
- Trust: Results are from accredited laboratories
Get started today: Browse All Our Kits by Matrix. Questions? We’re here to help!
The SimpleLab Standard
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Proven Reliability: SimpleLab partners with North America's leading analytical institutions—including Eurofins, Pace Analytical, SGS, and Microbac—each with their own rigorous quality control protocols to ensure top-tier accuracy. Our certified labs are located across all 50 states, making logistics a breeze.
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Simplified Sampling: Every kit includes professional-grade materials, clear instructions, automated chain of custody, and free return shipping— making accurate testing effortless.
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Seamless Experience: We combine human support with automated logistics to help make complex lab analyses accessible to all. From our user interface to our lab reports, we ensure a time-saving, frustration-free process.
Johnny Pujol, CEO of SimpleLab, is devoted to advancing environmental laboratory logistics, ensuring each stage—from sample collection to results—is clear, easy, and insightful. Holding a Master's in Engineering from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor's in Economics from Boston University, Johnny brings a unique blend of technical expertise and business insight to his role. Outside of SimpleLab, you can find him training for Pentathlons or writing spy fiction.
About SimpleLab
SimpleLab combines world-class laboratory science with customer service to ensure testing your environment is simple, fast and factual. Everything we do is driven by data and supported by a team of experts ready to answer your questions.
