HVAC & Air Duct Mold Removal in Old Hickory, TN

Local conditions in Old Hickory

Old Hickory began as a DuPont company town on Hadley Bend, about 10 miles from downtown Nashville, and its historic district still has many of the original worker bungalows and larger management homes. Roughly half the homes in the Old Hickory (North Hermitage) area were built before 1980, and about 68 percent are detached houses. The neighborhood is bounded by the Cumberland River on the north and west and Old Hickory Lake on the east. During the May 2010 flood, the National Weather Service documented high water at Old Hickory Dam, on the lake and at the Langford Cove bridge. Older houses often had heating and cooling added well after they were built, with ducts run through crawl spaces or attics wherever they would fit, and those runs sit in damp air through the summer.

Clean it or replace it?

Signs

• An earthy smell that builds after the blower has run a while
• Growth on the inside of the return or behind supply grilles
• Wet or fallen duct wrap under the floor
• Ceiling stains around vents on the top floor

Timing notes

Check the system each spring before the AC season and again after any storm that leaves water under the house. If ducts sat in floodwater, EPA says to assume mold if they couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours. Metro Water Services' flood maps can show whether a lot is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, though Metro notes that being outside one is no guarantee a home stays dry. Keep the drain line clear through the summer, too; a clog in July is a common trigger. Permits for duct or framing replacement go through Metro Codes, and in Davidson County jobs of $3,000 or more need the state Home Improvement license.