Mold Testing in Columbia, TN

Columbia and the Duck River

Columbia is the Maury County seat, about 41 miles south of Nashville, and it grew up along the Duck River, the longest river entirely within Tennessee. In May 2010 the Duck at Columbia reached 44.91 feet, its seventh-highest level on record. In February 2019 it crested at 42 feet, the highest since 1991. Fire and police went door to door urging residents of the Riverside area, from 3rd Avenue south to Riverside Drive, to leave, and some buildings near the river had water inside. The Tennessee Department of Health warns that mold can start growing within 48 hours of flooding.

What to do now

1. If water got in, dry the house first and pull out soaked drywall, insulation and carpet that can't be dried. Testing a wet house only confirms what you already know.
2. Check the basement or lower level with a hygrometer. State health guidance notes basements are often above 50 percent relative humidity and need moisture reduction.
3. Decide what you want answered. Whether growth remains behind repaired walls, or whether a cleanup worked, are good testing questions.
4. Ask for an outdoor sample to go with any indoor air samples.
5. Keep a folder of photos, receipts and any lab reports for your insurer or a future buyer.

Signs and their usual causes

Cost factors

Angi reports a national range of about $250 to $500 for a mold test, rising with the number of samples; Columbia prices vary. Wall cavity samples, a full inspection and faster lab results add to the total. Columbia takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program, and its floodplain management page links the city's FEMA flood maps; Development Services handles questions about them. If removal leads to rebuilding, the Development Services Building Inspections office on North Garden Street issues building permits.