Most mold calls in this part of Tennessee start the same way: somebody smells a damp, earthy odor that won't go away, opens a crawl space hatch or a closet, and finds dark speckling on wood or drywall. Others start with a leak from a roof, a water heater or an upstairs bathroom that soaked a ceiling before anyone noticed. Whether the house is in West Knoxville or Fountain City, out in Powell or Corryton, over in Maryville and Alcoa, up in Oak Ridge and Clinton, or down toward Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, this site explains what a proper cleanup looks like and puts you on the phone with a mold remediation company that works your county.
Why the Knoxville area grows so much mold
Knoxville sits in the Great Valley of East Tennessee, which pulls in warm, humid air off the Gulf of Mexico for much of the year. The National Weather Service office in Morristown lists the city's normal rainfall at 51.93 inches a year, and the airport averages 34 days a year at 90 degrees or hotter. Long, muggy summers plus regular rain are exactly what mold needs, and the region's many homes built over vented crawl spaces give it a cool, dark place to settle in. Our humidity and mold guide walks through the local numbers and what to do with them.
What brings people here
| What you're dealing with | Start here |
|---|---|
| Visible growth on walls, ceilings, trim or belongings, and you want it gone properly | Mold remediation |
| A musty smell with nothing visible, a home purchase, or a landlord dispute | Mold inspection and testing |
| Fuzzy joists, wet insulation or sweating ductwork under the house | Crawl space mold |
| Shopping for a dehumidifier and not sure what capacity to buy | Dehumidifier size calculator |
| A burst pipe, appliance leak, roof leak or flooding in the last few days | Water damage and mold |
| Wondering what a fair price looks like before the estimate arrives | Mold removal cost |
| Checking whether a contractor needs a Tennessee license for your job | Hiring a mold contractor in Knox County |
Say what you found and where, and we will hand you to a mold remediation company that covers your end of the valley. (865) 417-9186
When you can clean it yourself
Not every spot of mildew needs a professional. EPA's homeowner guidance says that if the moldy area is smaller than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3-by-3-foot patch, most people can handle it themselves with gloves, eye protection and soap and water, as long as the moisture behind it gets fixed (EPA). Above that size, after a lot of water, when the water was sewage, or when someone in the house has health concerns, EPA points people toward experienced help. Whatever you do, don't paint over it: EPA notes that paint applied over mold tends to peel.
Useful to have ready when you call
- Your town and county, and whether the house sits on a crawl space, a basement or a slab.
- Where the growth is and a rough size: a hand-sized spot, a wall, or the whole underside of the floor.
- What got wet and when, if you know. A slow drip, a single flood, or just humid air make for different jobs.
- Whether you need written results for a sale, a lease or an insurance claim.
The company that takes your call sets its own price. Ask for a written scope of work, and ask how they'll fix the moisture source, before any work begins.
FAQ
Is this site a mold removal company?
No. It is run by an independent referral service. When you call or send the form, your request goes to an independent mold remediation company in your area, and that company does the inspection, quote and work.
Which areas are covered?
Knox, Blount, Anderson and Sevier counties, including Knoxville, Farragut, Powell, Karns, Halls, Maryville, Alcoa, Oak Ridge, Clinton, Norris, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Seymour.
Should I spray bleach on the mold first?
EPA does not recommend bleach or other biocides as a routine part of mold cleanup, and warns never to mix bleach with ammonia-based cleaners. Removing the growth and drying the area matters more than killing it.