Mold Remediation in Westmoreland, TN

About Westmoreland

Westmoreland is a city of 2,718 (2020 Census) in northern Sumner County, right against the Kentucky border and about 40 miles from Nashville. It has a town square, and its best-known landmark is the Little Tunnel, a railway tunnel built in 1887. The former elementary school is now the Westmoreland Dream Center.

Where the moisture comes from

Hot, humid summers and wet winters and springs are the baseline across Middle Tennessee, and this far north is no exception. The most common trouble spots are under the house and over it. Vented crawl spaces pull in humid air all summer, which condenses on ductwork and floor joists. Attics get wet when flashing fails or ice and wind damage the roof. Inside, look at bathrooms without a working exhaust fan, the area around the water heater, and closets on outside walls.

Westmoreland is one of the incorporated communities covered by Sumner County's Flood Insurance Study and FEMA flood maps. Check those maps before you buy or rebuild, especially near low ground or drainage paths.

EPA's guidance holds everywhere: dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent, and don't paint or caulk over mold.

Permits and renter questions

Westmoreland issues its own building permits, and applications are approved by the city's Building Inspector. Mold removal on its own isn't permitted work, but reframing or structural repairs afterward may need a permit, so ask the city first. Renters with a leak or moisture problem the landlord won't fix should check with the town or county codes office to find out who takes housing complaints for their address.

Health

The Sumner County Health Department has its main office in Gallatin, plus clinics in Hendersonville and Portland. The Tennessee Department of Health's Healthy Homes page covers mold and moisture. EPA says mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas. A health professional is the right person to ask about symptoms.

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent mold company serving Sumner County. Tennessee requires a contractor's license for projects of $25,000 or more, and mold remediation is its own S-F classification. Sumner isn't one of the counties where TDCI requires a Home Improvement license for smaller residential jobs. Look up the company on TDCI's Verify a License search, and use a separate inspector for the final check if you can.