Basement Mold Removal in Kingston Springs, TN

The river and the hills

Kingston Springs started as a mineral-springs resort on the Harpeth River and filled in with homes after sewer service arrived in 1989. The Harpeth and its wooded floodplain run along Burns Park and Harpeth River State Park. In May 2010 the river at Kingston Springs crested far above its 1946 record and carried off the river gauge, which had data going back to the early 1920s. Floodwater flattened most of the floodplain woods along Burns Park, and volunteers cleared debris from three destroyed houses. Homes that took water that spring, and any lower level sitting on low or sloping ground today, are where hidden moisture is most likely.

Clean it or replace it

Signs to watch for

• A musty smell that is stronger on the lower floor or after rain.
• Baseboards that swell, peel or show dark spotting.
• Paint bubbling on block walls, or a white crust near the floor.
• Rust on the water heater base or furnace cabinet.
• Stored cardboard boxes that feel soft or smell sour.

Timing and seasons

Spring is when runoff and high river levels push water toward foundations, and EPA's rule of thumb is to dry anything wet within 24 to 48 hours. Summer brings the opposite problem: hot, sticky air seeping in and condensing on cool walls, so a dehumidifier earns its keep from June through September. Fall is a good time to schedule removal, since the space dries faster and rebuilding can finish before the heating season. Structural rebuilding after remediation goes through the Town of Kingston Springs Building and Codes office on Spring Street, which takes permits online. Renters with an unrepaired leak can use the town's online property maintenance complaint form. For health questions, the Cheatham County Health Department in Ashland City is the local office.