Basement Mold Removal in Old Hickory, TN

Old Hickory's setting

Old Hickory began as a DuPont company town on Hadley Bend, and its historic district of worker bungalows and larger management homes includes many places on the National Register of Historic Places. About 49.7 percent of homes were built before 1980, and roughly two-thirds are detached houses. The neighborhood is bounded by the Cumberland River on the north and west and by Old Hickory Lake on the east. During the May 2010 flood, the National Weather Service documented high water at Old Hickory Dam, on the lake and at a bridge across Langford Cove.

Older homes often have foundations, drains and gutters that predate modern waterproofing, and a cellar or partial basement under an old house can stay damp for most of the year. Metro Water Services points owners to FEMA flood maps and Metro's Parcel Viewer to check a lot's flood zone, and notes that land outside the mapped zone can still flood.

Cleaning versus removing

Signs to take seriously

• A musty smell that drifts up through floor registers.
• Damp, crumbling mortar or a white crust on foundation walls.
• Mold on the bottoms of stored furniture or on the backs of framed pictures.
• Peeling paint or bubbling plaster near the floor.
• Rusty nails or hardware on basement stairs.

Seasonal notes

Spring rains are when seepage peaks, and the long, humid summer keeps a cool basement damp even without new water; EPA's target is humidity below 60 percent. If water gets in, dry it within 24 to 48 hours. Rebuilding supporting walls or load-bearing framing needs a Metro Codes permit. Renters can report unrepaired leaks to Metro Codes Property Standards through hubNashville, and Metro Public Health's Mold, Moisture, and Your Home handout covers the basics.