Mold Testing in White House, TN

Water got into my house during a flash flood. Should I test right away?

Not right away. White House, about 22 miles north of Nashville along I-65, has seen flash flooding more than once. On September 1, 2017, flooding closed Highway 31W and Highway 76 (Portland Road) in town. On May 8, 2024, floodwater got into part of White House High School, including some of the theater, and most of Tyree Springs Road was underwater for a time. If water came inside your home, dry it and remove soaked materials first. EPA's disaster guide says to assume mold growth when a home couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours. Testing makes more sense afterward, to check that the cleanup worked or that wall cavities aren't still harboring growth.

My house is fairly new. Why would it smell musty?

Newer homes are built tight, which saves energy but also holds in moisture from cooking, showers and humid summer air. Common culprits include a bathroom fan that doesn't vent outdoors, a clogged AC condensate line, a drain pan that overflows, and ducts sweating in the attic. A tester may take air samples near supply vents and in the room where the smell is strongest, along with an outdoor sample. EPA advises against running an HVAC system you suspect is contaminated, so mention it if the smell comes from the vents.

White House is in two counties. Who handles permits?

The city itself does. The City of White House Planning and Codes department reviews building permits and conducts inspections on both sides of the county line, through the city's EnerGov portal, and it enforces the city's adopted property maintenance code. For removal work, the state Home Improvement license for $3,000 to $25,000 residential jobs applies in Robertson County but isn't required on the Sumner County side. Projects of $25,000 or more need a Tennessee contractor's license, with the S-F classification for mold remediation.

A local note

The Robertson County Health Department on South Brown Street in Springfield is a resource for health questions, along with the state's Healthy Homes page. Keep any lab report with your home records; it can be useful for a buyer or insurer later.