In Smyrna, basement mold grows where cool below-grade walls meet humid summer air, or where rain and runoff seep through the foundation. Getting rid of it means drying the space, removing moldy drywall, carpet and stored items, and fixing the moisture source. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Smyrna.
Basements in Smyrna
Smyrna sits about 19 miles from Nashville, with part of Percy Priest Lake inside town limits and the Stones River and Stewarts Creek nearby. In ZIP 37167, about 19 percent of houses were built before 1980, so much of the housing is newer, and like most of Middle Tennessee many homes sit over crawl spaces. Where a Smyrna house does have a basement or a lower level cut into a slope, the walls stay cool all summer, which is exactly where muggy air drops its moisture. The Tennessee Department of Health notes that basements often sit above 50 percent relative humidity.
What to do now
- Find the water. After the next rain, check whether walls get wet from outside, or whether damp shows up on hot days with no rain at all.
- Dry the room. Run a dehumidifier and fans, and aim for indoor humidity under 60 percent, as EPA recommends.
- Get wet things off the floor: boxes, rugs, stored clothes and anything made of cardboard.
- Don't paint or seal over growth. EPA warns against painting or caulking over mold.
- Size it up. EPA says a homeowner can usually clean a patch under about 10 square feet; beyond that, or inside finished walls, bring in a remediation company.
- Keep dated photos and notes. They help the company, your insurer and, if you rent, your landlord.
Reading the signs
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Dark spots low on drywall along an outside wall | Water wicking up from damp concrete |
| Beads of water on cold pipes and the slab in July | Condensation from humid air |
| A stain spreading in one corner after storms | A gutter or downspout dumping water at the foundation |
| Musty carpet with nothing visible on top | Moisture trapped under the pad |
| Growth on the back of a closet wall or shelving | Stale air against a cool wall |
Cost factors
Angi reports a national range of about $500 to $3,000 for basement mold remediation, and Middle Tennessee pricing varies. The square footage involved, how much finished material comes out, containment and air filtration, and any drainage or foundation work all move the number. Rutherford County requires the state Home Improvement license for residential jobs of $3,000 to under $25,000, and $25,000 and up needs a Tennessee contractor's license; the mold remediation classification is S-F. Rebuilding drywall or framing afterward goes through Town of Smyrna Building Safety for permits.
Basement Mold Removal questions in Smyrna
The basement smells musty but I can't see any mold. What now?
What should I do with boxes and furniture stored in a moldy basement?
I rent my home. Who deals with a damp, moldy basement?
What does basement mold removal usually cost?
More mold services in Smyrna
Basement Mold Removal nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
- Wikipedia: Smyrna, Tennessee
- City-Data: ZIP 37167
- Town of Smyrna Building Safety
- Town of Smyrna: Property Maintenance
- Tennessee Department of Health: Healthy Homes
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
- Angi: How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost? (2026 data)
- TDCI: Bidding and Contractor License Requirements (pdf)
- Tennessee Contractor Classification Outline (TDCI)
- TDCI: Bidding FAQs
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