Mold Testing in Old Hickory, TN

Local conditions in Old Hickory

Old Hickory occupies Hadley Bend in eastern Davidson County, about 10 miles from downtown Nashville and inside Metro. The Cumberland River wraps around the north and west sides, Old Hickory Lake lies to the east, and Old Hickory Lock and Dam sits just to the north. During the May 2010 flood, the National Weather Service recorded high water at the dam, on the lake and at a bridge over Langford Cove.

The community began as a DuPont company town, and the Village of Old Hickory historic district still holds worker bungalows and larger management houses, many on the National Register. In the Old Hickory (North Hermitage) area, about half of homes were built before 1980, and roughly 68 percent of units are detached houses. Century-old framing, plaster walls, additions and lakeside humidity all give moisture places to settle.

Visual check compared with lab testing

EPA notes there are no federal limits for mold spores, so a test is read by comparison, not against a fixed number. Ask the tester which comparisons they're making.

Signs worth a test or a closer look

• A musty smell in a bungalow with plaster walls and no visible stains
• Mildew on stored items in a basement or lower level near the lake
• Stains around an old chimney or where an addition meets the original roof
• Dust with a stale odor blowing from older ductwork

Timing and seasons

Lake and river air keeps humidity high through summer, so August is when hidden growth often makes itself known by smell. Testing in that stretch, with the AC running and the house closed, gives a fair picture of everyday conditions. Hold off on sampling right after heavy rain or a cleaning session. If rebuilding is needed after removal, Metro Codes issues permits, and Metro Water Services' flood maps show whether a lot sits in a mapped flood area.