Buying a house is always a nerve wracking proposition, especially because of the worries that come with previous owners. Everything might look good on the outside or decent from afar, but what if there are hidden problems no one can see? What if there are infestations or other severe problems that an inspector misses? One of the major new home dangers that it gaining more attention in recent years is the house that used to be a meth lab. Because meth has become one of the worst drug problems in the country, and because it is so easy to create a meth lab no home or setup is immune from having suffered through this at one point or another.
The Dangers of a Home that Has Been Used as a Meth Lab
Meth labs are a huge blight not just on the health and general well-being of the communities they spring up in, but they can be extremely dangerous, as well. Not only do these drug labs involve a huge number of unsafe chemicals that can get in the air, water, and soil, but there are many cases of these labs exploding. The fires are extremely hazardous, and release all those chemicals into the surrounding air, as well.
Burn Marks
Since meth is made from a combination of multiple common household products, it can be very hard to detect unless you know what signs to look for. One of the first signs to look for are burn marks on counters and tabletops. While these can sometimes be something else, a lot of burns away from the oven where you’d expect them should at least raise the red flag.
Meth-Making Remnants in Trash
During cleanup of a house if you find a large number of cold medicine boxes and coffee filters, that is a definite sign that the house may have been a drug lab at one point. Used coffee filters with red rings make that even more likely.
Dead or Dying Vegetation
Look for dead or dying vegetation, especially if it’s in a circle or appears dead from a liquid spill that’s killed everything in the area. When you see these signs, you need to face the possibility that one of your new home dangers is the change that the house was once a meth lab.
Follow American Southwest Magazine for more helpful and informative articles not only on the things to look out for when purchasing a home, but for a wide variety of other important safety topics, as well.
American Southwest Magazine 