Radon & mold in Sumner County, Tennessee
Sumner County is EPA radon Zone 2, but local survey data shows plenty of homes testing high. What it means for Gallatin, Hendersonville and Portland, and how to test.
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Is radon a problem in Sumner County?
Yes, for some homes. EPA rates Sumner County Zone 2 (moderate, predicted average 2–4 pCi/L), but 24% of Sumner homes in a late-1980s state screening survey measured above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level. Whether you live in Gallatin, Hendersonville or Portland, a test is the only way to know your level.
Sumner County at a glance
Zone: EPA data file, EPA Tennessee map. County facts: Tennessee Encyclopedia: Sumner County.
Created in 1786, Sumner County includes Gallatin, Hendersonville and Portland, plus historic communities such as Castalian Springs. In the early 1950s the Army Corps of Engineers built Old Hickory Dam on the Cumberland River, and hundreds of miles of new lake shoreline set off a housing boom.[TN Encyclopedia]
Does "moderate" mean you can skip the test?
Sumner is one of 32 Tennessee counties in EPA Zone 2.[EPA] Look at the survey numbers below, though: in the late-1980s screening survey, 24% of Sumner County homes measured above 4 pCi/L, a higher share than the 17% recorded in neighboring Zone 1 Rutherford County.[USGS] That's exactly why EPA says its zone map should not be used to decide whether an individual home needs testing.[EPA]
What did local radon surveys find?
In the late 1980s, Tennessee's health department and EPA ran a statewide screening survey, placing short-term charcoal tests in the lowest level of homes. The USGS published the county results in its 1993 Tennessee radon assessment:[USGS]
| Sumner County (screening survey) | Result |
|---|---|
| Homes measured | 70 |
| Average (mean) | 2.7 pCi/L |
| Median | 1.9 pCi/L |
| Highest reading | 17.0 pCi/L |
| Share above 4 pCi/L | 24% |
Source: USGS Open-File Report 93-292-D, Tennessee chapter (1993), Table 1 (screening data from the EPA/State Residential Radon Survey of Tennessee).
It's a small, decades-old sample, and USGS cautions that such surveys mostly reflect homes in a few population centers, so don't lean on the exact numbers. The takeaway is simple: homes over the action level were found here, and the only way to know about yours is to test.
How do I test a home in Sumner County?
- Order the free state kit from the Tennessee Radon Program (one per household; call 1-800-232-1139).[TDEC]
- Place it in the lowest lived-in level and keep windows and outside doors closed for the test.[EPA] Full steps: radon testing guide.
- At 4 pCi/L or higher, plan a fix; consider one between 2 and 4 pCi/L.[EPA] Typical prices are in the cost guide.
What about mold in Sumner County?
Mold follows water anywhere in the state. EPA's rules of thumb: dry wet materials within 24–48 hours, keep indoor humidity under 60%, and get professional help when growth covers more than about 10 square feet.[EPA] See our mold testing guide.