rat poop - InspectionNews

Rob Omstead · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 01:41 AM

I dont know if this is in the right area to post in but I did an inspection today for a friend and their was rat droppings everywhere. Does all the insulation in the affected areas need to be thrown away and re insulated? I recommended to call pest control, but I am still curious as to what the proper procedure is?

Thanks for all input.

wayne soper · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 08:54 AM

Yes, health concern, Urine will also be present in the insulation. Google rat infestation and yuo will find lots of nasty stuff

AL Mullis · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 12:28 PM

Speaking of poop. I had inspected a home with a septic tank and the owner would not put septic safe toilet paper in the toilet thinking it would clog the tank. I thought septic tanks could almost last forever. I didn't know what to tell them but it sure did appear to be unsanitary for soiled toilet paper to be piled up in a trashcan next to the toilet. Would flushing the paper clogg the tank or shorten the life of the tank and is it a real issue to have poopie paper exposed to the environment within the home? Please Help. Thanks ALM

wayne soper · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 02:05 PM

She's a nut bag!! That is disgusting. D.A.B. White toilet paper does not harm a septic system. Colored paper does not break down as easy and can cause problems. Big cotton tampons will.
Ca;; her and tell her how the powdered soap she uses for the laundry and dishwasher are harming the septic as well. Then she can stop washinmg also.
Only liquid soaps for septic, and no tide!!

Rick Hurst · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 02:23 PM

Wayne,

My experience has been if they are putting that soiled TP in a can, the laundry and dishwasher drains are terminating onto the ground surface about halfway out to the barn.

rick

AL Mullis · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 04:21 PM

I searched the property and there is no exposed drains in the field anywhere and he confirmed that it goes directly into the septic tank. I know that bleach is not good to use in the wash or poured into any of the drains because it will kill any of the microorganisms that eat the waste, but I didn't know that powdered soap is not advisable either. Thanks for the info. ALM

Brad Deal · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 05:36 PM

Rat poop is an allergen and has been attributed to causing asthma in small children. Research is begining to show rat urine does the same. It is interesting to note that rats cannot regulate when they "Poop" so they poop and presumably pee, virtually everywhere. On the food where they are eating and everywhere else. I call rodent droppings out as a possible health safety hazard and recommend cleaning by a qualified specialist. This can be very nasty to clean up.

In regards to the septic tank I would be more concerned with the tank and or leach field be clogged with debris. This may explain why the unusual use of toilet paper. What else was she not telling you.

Brad Deal

Ponce Robinson · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 07:10 PM

I can go you one better...

How about racoon poop! At least my critter had a sense of decor and decided to "paint" the attic flooring in addition to leaving surprises for the buyer.

Seriously, a colleague in pest control recommended that anytime I find droppings and urine stains, that I consider advising buyers to remove insulation, sanitize, seal off and re-insulate. After killing as many of the critters as possible, of course. Rat pee and poop can be nasty stuff. Don't forget to protect yourself when you go into attics and crawls - gloves, masks, etc.

Rick Hurst · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 08:56 PM

Being also in the PC business for years, I have done complete attic insulation removal and then a complete vacuum process of the attic to remove rodent droppings. It is extremely important that if one chooses to do this type of work to wear all the necessay protective equipment.

We have a vacumm machine which traps all debris within a water compartment so there is no airbourne particles present during the process.

After the cleanup process is completed a insulation company was contracted to re-insulate the attic space.

We're talking about making some big bucks in line of work. People who have severe allergies will pay for this type of work when they discover the hazards associated with rodent feces in the attic space.

rick

AL Mullis · #10 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

In regards to the septic tank I would be more concerned with the tank and or leach field be clogged with debris. This may explain why the unusual use of toilet paper. What else was she not telling you.

Brad Deal

I asked him if the toilet or drains get clogged. He said the toilet never gets clogged, occasionally the tub gets does from his wifes extra long hair about twice a year and they have to put driano in it to clear that out. Also, when the washing machine is on, the water fills the kitchen sink.

He said the tank is 6 years old, he doesn't want to ever have to pay for the tank to get pumped, and he likes his tank clean (but his stinky poop is exposed in the trashcan next to the toilet where bacteria a desease can thrive).

I guess my new questions are how often should a septic tank be pumped, will putting tp down it make a big difference, and can I reassure them that it's better to flush it and not expose it?

Chuck J. Jones · #11 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 07:49 AM

Not everything that gets flushed down the toilet breaks down completely. Regularly flushing toilet paper is not a problem. Tampons, kotex and the like will not break down and are not supposed to be flushed. At some point the system will need to be pumped, it depends on how much it is used because like I said earlier, not everything breaks down completely. Use of RidEx or another product of like manner will add bacteria to the sytem which will help in breaking things down and therefore prolong the time between having the tank pumped. I live in northern Wisconsin where we are required to have our tanks pumped every three years regardless of how full it is.

John Kogel · #12 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL Mullis

I asked him if the toilet or drains get clogged. He said the toilet never gets clogged, occasionally the tub gets does from his wifes extra long hair about twice a year and they have to put driano in it to clear that out. Also, when the washing machine is on, the water fills the kitchen sink.

He said the tank is 6 years old, he doesn't want to ever have to pay for the tank to get pumped, and he likes his tank clean (but his stinky poop is exposed in the trashcan next to the toilet where bacteria a desease can thrive).

I guess my new questions are how often should a septic tank be pumped, will putting tp down it make a big difference, and can I reassure them that it's better to flush it and not expose it?

Poop with TP only is no problem whatsoever. I have opened septic tanks that never had laundry suds in them and they did not stink! (much

).
Draino is toxic to good bacteria, worse that soap. He should use the cleanout or a wire hook to clear the drain. If he had an illegal greywater system for his suds, the septic tank could go for many years without pumping. But one day, the sludge will reach the top of the outflow, and start to plug the drainbed.

Now, he is looking at a very expensive replacement of the whole system, and that is why we pump the tank every 3-5 years.

Jeffrey L. Mathis · #13 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 03:53 PM

Some folks trash the TP out of habit. In Mexico, it is almost required out of the major metropolitan areas. We've spent enough time there to occasionally forget and do it here. just habit.

JLMathis

Jerry Martin · #14 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009, 07:52 PM

I am a pest control operator and do radon measurements. Rat and mice droppings are bad news. Hanna Virus is the biggest threat to health and all contaminated insulation should be removed and contaminated areas be cleaned. Insulation should be replaced.