A picture of a kitchen I inspected. Window open and closed fine and was no sign of condensation or cracks. Ptrap under the sink was installed properly and no signs of leakage. GFCI plugins on both side of the sink and tested working normal. All cupboard doors and drawers functioning normally. Vent fan above venting outside and no abnormal noises. Water pressure from tap was normal and showed no signs of leakage.
Meth Labs
Is an illegal drug-manufacturing site, often a house or apartment, containing equipment and potentially toxic chemicals required to produce meth.
It is a growing problem and inspectors need to be aware of potential signs to keep themselves and client safe. There are several signs to look for when suspecting a meth lab. Here is a list of some signs but not limited too.
-Equipment and tools to make Meth
-ingredients to make Meth
-unusual odor
-blocked windows
-chemical staining
-trapdoors in floors and walls
-disconnected or missing smoke detectors
-unusual plumbing
If you come across a combination of these signs it it recommended to exit premises immediately and report to proper authorities.
I am Norman Jordan and I am writing this essay to complete my Meth Houde Hazards course.
Below is an image of a piece of furniture. Typically, if this sofa were found in a meth house, it should be discarded in such away that it could not be re-used. Fabric of this sort is soft and porous and it would be difficult to de-contaminate. However, if this piece was far removed from the cook site, away from the HVAC circulation and perhaps test shown not not to be contaminated, a micro-vacuum system might be used to clean it."
This is presented as my research essay to satisfy the requirement to complete the Meth House Hazard Course. I have chosen the article “Internachi walk-through agreement” as my article from the library.
“The walk-through is not a home inspection and not a commercial inspection.It does not follow the internachi SOP or any state laws pertaining to home inspections. The walk-through will be only a subjective summary of initial observations from the walk-through.The walk-through is used when a client does not want at this point a full home or commercial inspection. This event is less formal and does not require the generation of a written report. The inspectors observations are communicated orally to the client.”
I read the article “meth labs” in the library of articles. In this article the dangers of residual waste left behind in a home from a meth lab are explained. The scary statistic is that only one in ten meth labs are discovered by authorities. This is leaves a large number of homes with hidden poisons unknown to the new owners and future owners.
In some cases we simply want to know if there is meth residue present. How much residue is present or exactly where it is, is more information than we need. If you are buying a house you probably want to know if there is meth residue present. If meth is present, that’s usually enough information to make a decision. This testing can be be done by individuals using home test kits. I like the Meth-x test kit http://www.meditests.com/meth-test.html
These are my two entries for my essay for the Meth House Hazards and Remediation course:
Chinese Drywall
by Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard
Also good to know in relation to the scams: The Florida Attorney General’s office has warned of several deceptive practices targeted at homeowners, including bogus test kits, home inspection offers, ozone generators and chemical cleaners. The warnings point out that the presence of defective drywall cannot be determined by testing a home’s air, or corrected by chemical sprays or ozone generators
Choosing a Manufactured Home
Florida hurricanes level most of these home that is located near the beach. Whenever you see news footage of a whole neighborhood leveled it’s usually a manufactured homes and trailers
Hi Everyone
I have ran into several homes as of late in very nice areas the have really bad staining on the ceilings and some walls.
No roof leaks found and no repairs have been made. This is what has prompted me to take this course
Collar ties
Inspected a home yesterday and the attic above the garage has been altered for storage.
The collar ties where remover and raised to the top of the rafters , Allowing the rafter to spread and break
Meth Lab remediation is a dangerous job. It is important to do thorough cleaning. This counter top is damaged and may have hazardous waste etched in it. The counter top should be removed.
Meth labs seem to be everywhere, however, statistically speaking they are more prevalent in west. For the inspector a meth lab is more of a Bio-Hazard and not a law enforcement situation. If you are inspecting a house that shows signs of Meth production leave the house immediately.
I know this photo is not actually from a meth house but it is something you could find in a meth house. The photo is showing a baseboard heating unit. The unit is rusting out because of a moisture issue in a bathroom with no exhaust venting system. Look at the white powdery substance on it however. If other signs were present and I did not know the property I as the inspector could question the possibility of meth use or meth lab.
" METH LABS "
Meth labs can be located almost anywhere. They have been found in homes, garages, apartments, even vehicles etc. It is believed that in the US the number of labs could be in the tens of thousands. The amount of waste produced with making meth is believed to be a ratio of about 7 to 1 in lbs. Chemicals used to produce meth have been known to cause many different health ailments including birth defects. Clean up cost of a house that was used as a meth lab can be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Many techniques are used in testing for meth and the clean up after testing and its best left for the proffesionals. It’s generally up to the individual inspector when meth is suspected some do testing to try and confirm and others will stop the inspection and recommend a proffesional in the field.
In a home contaminated by methamphetamines, inspection and testing of the homes septic system is very important. The corrosive nature of the chemicals used during meth production can corrode plumbing components. Evaluation of septic tanks and drain fields is also very important.
Article Review: Meth Labs
Methamphetamines are a highly addictive drug. The production of meth produces numerous hazardous contaminants. The remediation of a prior meth lab in a home is very important for the health and safety of its occupants.
Countertop located in main floor kitchen. Light staining present on surface which may indicate a meth cook or use may have occurred. Staining is isolated to counterspace left of sink approx. 3"x4". Wipe sampling to be used for sample collection.
Article review/Critical Thinking exercise
I reviewed Nicks article on meth labs. It was concise and a brief overview of the course. I took this class because I performed an inspection on what was believed to be a cook house. This was not known ahead of the inspection and I was not hired to do testing but only an inspection. Luckily I had received good information through a friend who does meth remediation and had appropriate safety gear with me that I felt safe enough to continue the inspection. Because I had come across a suspected cook house in downtown Indianapolis, I felt it good practice to take this course so that I can provide my clients with valuable information and be able to explain testing methodology.
The production of meth can be done in several different places. There are several different steps in the production. Many of the components are items that are normally found in homes today. Evidence of a meth lab is finding extreme supplies of these normal components around the home. My picture is of an air duct. Samples could be taken in air ducting. This is a very dirty duct.
I choose to do my research essay on an article from the Library of Inspection Articles Meth Labs. As we inspect homes we should be wise to the possibilities we may be inspecting a home where meth has been made. It does not have to be in a rundown shanty house but can also be in an upscale townhouse. Know what to look for and be careful what you handle, it may be toxic. It could cost tens of thousands of dollars to remediate the home. Some home just need to be destroyed. We as Inspectors are not serving our customers if we are not aware of what to look for.
This is the kitchen floor for deer park road single family house. It is a light brown ceramic tile floor with colorful ceramic inlays. The grout is standard 1/4 inch and is tan in color. The floor appears serviceable and appears to need resealed in the near future. There are no cracks or other damages anywhere in the room. I have personal knowledge of this house for the last 15 years and there is no suspicion of prior meth use and neither the floor nor this room was tested for meth exposure.
