Mold Inspection in Lebanon, TN

We live near Spencer Creek. Should we get an inspection after every flood?

If water reached the crawl space, the lower walls or the floors, yes. Homes along Spencer Creek near Lebanon have flooded repeatedly, enough that some residents have built berms to protect their houses, and neighbors point to debris piling up under the Northern Road bridge near Highway 109. Repeated wetting is exactly what mold needs: framing and insulation that never fully dry between events. An inspection after each significant flood, with moisture readings in the same spots, shows whether materials are recovering or staying damp. EPA's rule of thumb is that anything not dried within 24 to 48 hours should be assumed to have mold.

Is flooding getting worse around Lebanon?

Wilson County officials have said the county has seen flood events since 2010 that it hadn't experienced before, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began a watershed study starting with Spencer Creek, with possible later work on Barton's Creek, Sinking Creek, Spring Creek, Hurricane Creek and the karst region of the Stones River. In February 2019, several roads were under water, including Bluebird Road east of Lebanon off I-40. Whether or not your street floods, karst ground and creeks mean water can show up in places that seem high and dry, which is why an inspector looks at foundation drainage as closely as the rooms.

I rent near Cumberland University. What can I do about a leak?

Report it to your landlord in writing and keep a copy. If it isn't fixed, the City of Lebanon's Codes Enforcement accepts complaints through an online Codes Complaint form or by phone. For health questions, the Wilson County Health Department is on East Baddour Parkway. EPA notes mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and that people with asthma should stay away from moldy areas.

One local note

Repairs inside city limits that need a permit go through the City of Lebanon Building Inspection Department on North Castle Heights Avenue; electrical inspections are handled by State of Tennessee deputy inspectors. Angi's national range for a mold inspection is $303 to $1,075, and prices in Wilson County vary.