Mold Testing in Bethpage, TN

Our house is out in the country. Do we need a test or an inspection?

In most cases, start with an inspection. Bethpage is a small unincorporated community on U.S. 31E northeast of Gallatin, and like much of Middle Tennessee, many homes in the area sit over crawl spaces where plumbing drips and ground moisture go unnoticed. An inspector who checks the crawl space, attic and plumbing with a moisture meter usually finds the cause faster than a lab can. Sampling is the follow-up step when the walk-through finds an odor but no source, or when you need a written record of conditions before or after a repair.

A creek came up during a spring storm. Should we sample before cleaning?

No need to wait on a lab. Sumner County's Flood Insurance Study notes that headwater streams rise quickly in intense local rain and that major floods tend to come in late winter and early spring. If water reached the crawl space or living area and couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours, EPA says to assume mold is growing and plan the cleanup. A test is more useful afterward, as proof the affected area came back clean.

Who should take the samples, and what does it run?

Ideally someone who isn't bidding on the removal. Tennessee doesn't require separate companies, but Angi recommends them so the person reading the results has no stake in the size of the job. Angi's national range for a mold test is about $250 to $500, with more for added samples, and prices in Sumner County vary. A rural drive and a tight crawl space entrance can add time, so ask for the full price up front, including the outdoor comparison sample.

A local note

Because Bethpage is unincorporated, repair permits for rebuilding after mold work, such as new subfloor or framing, go through the Sumner County Building & Codes Department in Gallatin, which also takes property maintenance complaints through an online form. For health questions, the Sumner County Health Department has its main office in Gallatin; EPA notes that mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and anyone with health concerns should talk with a health professional.