Life...Fun and Kentucky Real Estate

As most of us are aware, there is an increased number of short-sale, repos (and the like) on the market right now. When I am called in to do an inspection on one of these types of homes, I am always leary of what I might, or might not, find--that is, some folks can get pretty dang malicious before moving out of a house. I have seen complete kitchens and bathrooms (cabinets and all) ripped out of the house; all the light fixtures and door hardware removed; all the appliances (including the generator and wood stove) taken; all the heat ducts disconnected in the crawlspace; and the list goes on...

I think the nastiest thing I have found so far has been the two full-sized fish that were tossed up into the attic space. When I popped open the attic access lid, I almost fell over from the stench!

When I told my clients about the fish they laughed and said that it explained why the windows were wide open in that bedroom the first time they looked at the house.

This and other similar experiences are making me consider wearing a full rain suit when traversing the attic and crawlspaces. Yuck!

---------------------------------------------------------
Jason Aldrich | Owner, Licensed Home Inspector
Aldrich's Home Insepctions, Inc.
Serving the Sequim and Port Angeles Areas
JasonA@Olypen.com
www.AldrichsHomeInspections.com

     Take a look at the following picture. 

     Can you see why as soon as I saw this crawl space vent I knew I was in for ONE HECK OF A NASTY ADVENTURE in the crawl space?  Well take a little closer look. 

   

     The “high-lighted” areas are rodent body-grease marks from YEARS of coming and going through this hole in the vent screen made by the installer of the gas pipe.  The gas pipe was installed when the furnace was converted to gas 18 years ago, so the damage found in this crawl space is what will happen if you allow rats to have free access to your home for 18 years.

     I think the Licensed Contractor that installed this gas pipe should be required to come back and clean the crawl space.

     I see lots of evidence of rats in homes----and I am no prude when it comes to inspecting nasty crawl spaces.  This, however, was one of the worst rodent infestations I have come across.  The furnace was located in the crawl space and there were so much rodent feces on the plastic ground cover in front of the furnace that I had to roll it back to get to the furnace without kneeling in all the feces and urine.  Because the furnace had been installed right on the ground the rats had free and easy access to the furnace openings and there was feces and urine inside the furnace compartment as well as on top of the furnace.  They had found their way through the poorly fitting filter opening into the heating system ductwork as well----thus making a mess of both the inside of the ductwork and the outside of the ductwork.

     This next picture shows the extent of the feces on top of the furnace.  Much of the plastic ground cover throughout the crawl space looked like this.

     If you can “over-look” (look past) the feces on the top of the furnace you will notice the missing insulation on the ductwork in a couple of locations.  This is where the rodents have stolen the insulation and carted it away to make nests under the ground cover at many locations.  These domed shaped configurations feel like little pillows when you push down on them.  The rats probably think the sky is falling.

     As I crawled through the space, I could feel the ground and its maze of tunnels under the plastic, collapse under my weight.

     This next picture is of the long vent to the furnace.

     Can you see the little rodent highway on the top of the pipe?  Again, one can see where they have pilfered all the insulation off the ductwork for their nests.  Can’t you just picture them standing on their little hind legs tearing at the insulation with their cute little fore-paws?

     At one point as I traversed around the crawl space I came to some bright blue specs on the ground-cover that stood out in my flashlight beam like little jewels of blue light.  Many religions give significance to the color blue (not sure how that relates to my experience in this crawl space).

     Of course I knew immediately what it was---- the all too familiar blue color of a plastic electrical junction box.  In this next picture one can see where the critters have been sharpening their teeth on the edges of the box to the point of going right through the corner.  Notice where they have gnawed the wiring as well, exposing some of the copper on the hot conductor.  Makes my saliva tingle just thinking about it, doesn’t it yours?

     One of the most obvious signs of a very long standing rodent infestation (besides the feces----that can be cleaned up) is the presence of “body grease” on the surfaces they traverse frequently.  They love to use wiring and plumbing as their highways through a crawl space.  I like to imagine them negotiating these pipes.  They actually have to be pretty darn good at it to not be falling off the pipes all the time.  Take a look at this long run of pipe.  Can you see their obvious trail to this pipe and along this pipe?

     This next picture shows their body grease “high-lighted.”

     I hope you have enjoyed this little journey through a crawl space----next time I will make sure you have a dust mask and some coveralls.

Charles Buell

Seattle Home Inspectors, ASHI Home Inspector, Structural Pest Inspector, Charles Buell Inspections Inc, Seattle, WA

 

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