Mold Remediation in Arrington, TN

Arrington is a small historic community in Williamson County near Franklin, about 21 miles from downtown Nashville. It started out as a settlement called Petersburg and took its current name from a nearby creek. Wilson Pike, Murfreesboro Road and Cox Road run through the area, and a gated subdivision of more than 420 homes sits beside historic Kings' Chapel.

What drives moisture here

Newer subdivision homes and older farmhouses have different weak points. In newer houses, mold calls tend to come from plumbing leaks, failed shower pans, attic condensation or an AC drain line that backs up. Older homes are more likely to have damp crawl spaces, aging roofs and gaps around windows. Middle Tennessee humidity in summer feeds all of these.

Flooding is part of the picture too. Williamson County says the Harpeth River and its creeks are the main flood sources countywide and that flash floods can strike with little warning. The May 2010 flood showed that 20 inches or more of rain can fall in two days. Most streams and creeks on private land are the property owner's job to maintain, and a blocked culvert, ditch or drain can send water toward a house just as surely. Check FEMA's Flood Map Service Center for your lot. Flood damage isn't covered by a standard homeowner's policy; that coverage is sold through the NFIP.

The Tennessee Department of Health warns that mold can begin growing within 48 hours of flooding, so start drying immediately.

Who to call at the county

Arrington is unincorporated, so building codes run through the Williamson County Building Codes Division in Franklin, while electrical permits come from the State of Tennessee. Mold removal alone doesn't need a permit, but structural repairs afterward might. Williamson County Codes Compliance handles code enforcement, mainly zoning; a renter dealing with an unfixed leak can call and ask whether it applies. For health questions, the Williamson County Health Department is in Franklin. EPA says mold can irritate eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and anyone with asthma or a weakened immune system should keep clear of the work.

Calling and checking the company

Your call is routed to an independent company working in Williamson County. Tennessee requires a contractor's license, with the S-F mold remediation classification, for any project of $25,000 or more. Williamson isn't on TDCI's list for the separate Home Improvement license on smaller jobs. Run the company through TDCI's Verify a License search, and consider a different company for post-remediation testing.