Crawlspace odor

[Jeffrey Fanger]

I recently had a re-inspection on a lake property. I had to go back into the crawlspace to check on some plumbing repairs. As soon as I entered the crawlspace, I could smell chlorine/bleach. The property is vacant and I did not notice this odor on my original inspection. The odor didn't diminish at all for the 10 minutes I was down there. Any ideas? Thanks! Jeff

[wayne soper]

Upon reinspection of the crawlspace, I found that there was a chlorine or bleach odor that was not present at initial inspection.
Consult with plumber who made repairs as to what was done and if he used bleach to disinfect spills that may have occurred.
Was there a well.
Was it Shocked?
Keep it simple
Theorize over the phone

[Jerry Peck]

Was it Shocked?

If it was, there should not be a smell in the crawlspace, unless maybe if there was a corresponding smell in the house, even then, though, the smell should not be too much as the smell should be contained within the DWV piping (smell should not leak out through any joints, nor should there be any defective pipe which may allow the smell to leak out).

[wayne soper]

Jerry, I realize all that, but shocking a well would be one of the few reasons you would have chlorine on the site. What and where they spilled it is another story.
I look at it as what wold mo. larry and curley do.
Just trying to break down the facts into columns
And, I have seen well heads in basements and crawlspaces

[Jerry Peck]

What and where they spilled it is another story.
.
And, I have seen well heads in basements and crawlspaces

I've never seen well heads in basements or crawlspaces, so when I considered spillage I presumed the spillage would be 'outside' and not in the crawlspace.

Still, though, and especially if the well head was not in the crawlspace, I would recommend having the DWV piping tested for gas tightness with the peppermint test.

[Raymond Wand]

Javex could have been used in an attempt to cleanse the soil of mould.

[Jack Feldmann]

Or it could be someone was cleaning inside and just dumped the wash water out.

[Billy Stephens]

.
Or it could be someone was cleaning inside and just dumped the wash water out.
.
Nope ! too easy. :D

C.S.I. , First 48, Homicide Detectives or at the very least Dr Michael Baden.

[Jerry Peck]

Or it could be someone was cleaning inside and just dumped the wash water out.

Throw out into the crawlspace?

Cleaning with bleach was my first thought, then I thought 'How would it get into the crawlspace and smell there but not outside or in the house?'

I guess they could have thrown the bleach out next to the crawlspace and then it ran into the crawlspace, but that would lead one to fine a wet/damp crawlspace because rain would also get into the crawlspace just as easily ... oh well, I'll not worry about this one.

[Darrel Hood]

How does one put a dead animal in a spray bottle?:)

[Jeffrey Fanger]

It's official... the plumber used bleach to clean up! Thanks for the responses.