HVAC & Air Duct Mold Removal in Lebanon, TN

My house is near Spencer Creek. What should I check after high water?

Homes along Spencer Creek near Lebanon flood repeatedly, and neighbors have built berms to protect their houses and point to debris piling up under a bridge on Northern Road near Highway 109. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began a Wilson County watershed study starting with Spencer Creek, and county officials said the county has seen flood events since 2010 it had not experienced before. If water reached the crawl space, look at the air handler cabinet, the bottom of the duct trunk and the insulation wrap. EPA says materials not dried within 24 to 48 hours should be assumed to have mold, and soaked insulated duct is generally replaced, not cleaned. Leave the system off until it's checked.

Why does the AC smell musty when there's been no flood?

Usually because something in the system stays wet. The coil collects water every time it cools, and a slow drain keeps the pan damp. Ducts in a vented crawl space or a hot attic sweat when warm, humid air meets cold metal through torn wrap or loose joints. Once growth starts, the blower spreads the odor through the house. A company should open the cabinet, check the coil, pan and blower, and follow the ducts it can reach before quoting anything.

Do I need a permit or inspection for new equipment?

Cleaning moldy ducts isn't normally permitted work, but replacing ductwork or the air handler inside city limits can be. The City of Lebanon Building Inspection Department takes building permit applications and performs mechanical inspections, while electrical inspections are done by State of Tennessee deputy inspectors. Ask the company whether its scope triggers either one. Angi reports national ranges of about $600 to $2,000 for duct mold cleaning and $3,000 to $10,000 for HVAC system mold work, and Wilson County prices vary.

A local note

Renters whose landlord won't fix a leak or moisture problem can file through the City of Lebanon's online Codes Complaint form. The Wilson County Health Department on East Baddour Parkway can help with health questions. Jobs of $25,000 or more need a Tennessee contractor's license, and mold remediation is the S-F classification.