Mold Remediation in Franklin, TN

Living along the Harpeth

Franklin is the county seat and largest city of Williamson County, about 19 miles south of downtown Nashville. The city sits in the Harpeth River Watershed, and its floodplain office says the Harpeth and its tributaries are Franklin's biggest flood risk, made worse by heavy rain falling upstream. The river reaches flood stage at 30 feet at the gauge near Pinkerton Park. Below the city, near Judge Fulton Greer Park, flood stage is 27 feet.

May 1-2, 2010 shows what that means. About 16.1 inches of rain fell in two days. The Harpeth crested above its 1948 record and flooded downtown and subdivisions on every side of town, with small businesses along Hillsboro Road among the worst hit. The fire department's history notes that hundreds of residents were displaced.

Homes and businesses that took water in a flood like that can still have damp framing or mold in wall cavities. EPA's guidance: if a flooded building wasn't dried out within 24 to 48 hours, treat it as though mold is present.

Flood maps and insurance

The City of Franklin takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program, offers flood zone determinations and keeps elevation certificates for many properties. FEMA's AE and A zones mark the Special Flood Hazard Area, and land nearest the river is the most likely to flood. A standard homeowner's policy doesn't cover flooding, which matters when you're sorting out who pays for flood-related mold.

Away from the river

Plenty of Franklin homes are nowhere near the floodplain and still get mold. Middle Tennessee summers are hot and humid, many houses sit over vented crawl spaces, and ductwork running through a crawl space or attic can sweat. Keep indoor humidity under 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50, as EPA recommends, and keep AC drain lines flowing.

Local offices

Building and Neighborhood Services issues Franklin's building permits, runs floodplain management and enforces the property maintenance code. Remediation itself isn't permitted work, but rebuilding walls or structure afterward may be. Renters with an unfixed leak can report a property standards violation to the same department online or by phone. For health questions, the Williamson County Health Department is on West Main Street in Franklin. EPA notes mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs; people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay out of moldy areas.

Calling for help

We'll connect you with an independent local company. Tennessee requires a contractor's license for jobs of $25,000 or more, and mold remediation is the S-F classification. Williamson County isn't on TDCI's list of counties with the extra Home Improvement license for smaller jobs, so ask what the company holds and confirm it on TDCI's Verify a License search.