Crawl Space Mold Removal in Lebanon, TN

Why does my Lebanon crawl space stay wet?

Two different problems show up here. Near Spencer Creek, the cause is water: homes along the creek flood repeatedly, and residents point to debris piling up under the Northern Road bridge near Highway 109. In February 2019 several Wilson County roads went under water, including Bluebird Road east of town off I-40. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began a Wilson County watershed study starting with Spencer Creek, with possible later work on Barton's, Sinking, Spring and Hurricane creeks and the karst region of the Stones River, and county officials said the county has seen flood events since 2010 it hadn't experienced before. Away from the creeks, the cause is usually air: in a vented crawl space, summer humidity condenses on joists and ducts.

After a flood, how fast does mold start?

Quickly. EPA advises drying water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours, and says that if a flooded home couldn't be dried in that window, you should assume mold is growing. In a crawl space that means getting standing water out, pulling soaked insulation, and moving air through the space with fans or dehumidifiers. Wet soil under a torn barrier can keep the space humid for weeks after the surface water is gone, so the barrier usually needs replacing too.

Can a berm or barrier fix the problem for good?

A berm may keep creek water out of the yard, but it doesn't remove moisture already under the house. A lasting repair includes cleaning or replacing moldy materials, drying the framing, and adding moisture control: a sealed ground barrier, drainage changes, or full encapsulation with a dehumidifier. Angi reports national ranges of about $500 to $2,000 for crawl space mold remediation and $1,500 to $15,000 for encapsulation, and Lebanon prices vary with size, access and drainage work.

A local note

Repairs to framing inside city limits go through the City of Lebanon Building Inspection Department on North Castle Heights Avenue. Renters with leaks a landlord won't fix can use City of Lebanon Codes Enforcement's online complaint form. The Wilson County Health Department on East Baddour Parkway can help with health questions.