Habitat for Humanity or Rodentity- Under the bathtub, air bypass. Wenatchee and Cle Elum Home Inspection Services.
It has become all too often that I find myself showered with rodent fecal pellets.
As a structural pest inspector one of my duties is to evaluate all plumbing drops that I can access. This requires me to move insulation back and look at the plumbing drops for leak, possible rot and insect infestation.
This brings me to the infamous gaping hole below the bathtub or in some cases showers. This seems to be perfect habitat for my little rodent friends.
This also is a major fault in the building envelope that allows unconditioned air to infiltrate the conditioned space. Washington State Energy Code builders guide actually states [502.4.3]: Drain traps penetrating floors over unconditioned spaces are often overlooked, but must be sealed.
Washington State Builders guide-Air leakage and Moisture Control
I know plumbers will hate me here, but I really dislike those little black pellets falling in my face. This seems to be one of those items that never are checked by the local building inspectors, and maybe they scoff at it, but I would like to see them sealed.
It seems to me that we spend much time sealing around plumbing and electrical penetrations and one of the largest holes in the subfloor goes completely disregarded.
Okay I can live with a little air bypass but I still hate that shower of rodent poo in my face.
So if bypasses of the building envelop are not enough, exclusion of rodent habitat should be.
“I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results. “
Florence Nightingale
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
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www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572
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