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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
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    Rockwall Texas
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    Default Stuffed Weepholes

    Whats your opinion of weepholes that have been stuffed?

    I think most of this is being done by PC companies to prevent a few crawlers from getting in.

    rick

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
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    3,509

    Default Re: Stuffed Weepholes

    I heard Stuffed Weepholes was an alternate name for the carry-everywhere lunch item now more commonly known as Hot Pockets.


  3. #3
    imported_John Smith's Avatar
    imported_John Smith Guest

    Default Re: Stuffed Weepholes

    In Houston, I usually see them stuffed with:

    A: Fire ants
    B: Old fire ant mounds
    C: Landscape mulch

    Theres one local pest control company on TV (ABC Pest, Pool, Lawn) that actually shows a mouse going into a weep hole then shows how they can prevent it by stuffing a little wedge shaped device into the weep hole.

    I remember after Tropical Storm Allison, a local yahoo in the neighborhood paper made front page by caulking up his weep holes "to prevent flooding" in his home.

    Im certain others read it and thought it was a good idea. Maybe next they can move on to blocking the plumbing vents and water leaks from TPV discharge lines.


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
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    Rockwall Texas
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    Default Re: Stuffed Weepholes

    John,

    That ABC company is into about everything aren't they. They started off as just a PC company.

    I expect them to get into child birthing before long.

    Too many irons in the fire I think.

    rick


  5. #5
    Tom Dietrich's Avatar
    Tom Dietrich Guest

    Default Re: Stuffed Weepholes

    I had the opportunity to ask a home seller's agent about what looked like 'scotch bright' in weep holes. The response was the owner paid for a local pet company to 'mouse-roof' the house, and the was some prevention technique.

    tom


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    The Blacklands Of Texas
    Posts
    82

    Default Re: Stuffed Weepholes

    Common recommendation to place "00" steel wool in weep holes to prevent entry of larger bugs, pests, rodents, etc. The practice is not to "Stuff It" in but a very light application. This will not, of course, stop ants and smaller problems but does work well for larger problems. Over the course of a year the steel wool will deteriorate and, for the most part, fall apart. Each year you take a probe and clean it out and replace it as part of annual maintenance. If properly placed it does nothing to stop any necessary drainage or air flow.

    It works real well! I live out in the country and perform this annually and it has helped without causing any ill effects. I don't write them up unless they are blocking the weeps, causing problems or stuffed with materials that could cause problems.

    O.K. you can proceed to beat me up now!!


  7. #7
    Tim Connors's Avatar
    Tim Connors Guest

    Default Re: Stuffed Weepholes

    If what their stuffing the holes with is still allowing the moisture to exit or create a wicking type action. I don't see a problem.


  8. #8
    Brandon Chew's Avatar
    Brandon Chew Guest

    Default Re: Stuffed Weepholes

    Quote Originally Posted by EmmanuelScanlan View Post
    Common recommendation to place "00" steel wool in weep holes to prevent entry of larger bugs, pests, rodents, etc. The practice is not to "Stuff It" in but a very light application. This will not, of course, stop ants and smaller problems but does work well for larger problems. Over the course of a year the steel wool will deteriorate and, for the most part, fall apart. Each year you take a probe and clean it out and replace it as part of annual maintenance. If properly placed it does nothing to stop any necessary drainage or air flow.

    It works real well! I live out in the country and perform this annually and it has helped without causing any ill effects. I don't write them up unless they are blocking the weeps, causing problems or stuffed with materials that could cause problems.

    O.K. you can proceed to beat me up now!!
    Not beating you up, just commenting on the choice of material.

    I bet it does work, for a while, which the PC company will be glad to replace under an annual maintenance contract. Something much more durable, like the plastic 'scotch bright' stuff that Tom mentioned, would be a much more economical choice of materials. Stainless steel wool might be durable enough.

    Weep holes are for passing water through the brick and to dry it out through exposure to air. Toss a wad of steel wool in your yard, let it rain on it a few times, and watch how fast it will disappear.

    Last edited by Brandon Chew; 04-04-2008 at 10:30 AM. Reason: Add comment about stainless steel

  9. #9
    Brandon Chew's Avatar
    Brandon Chew Guest

    Default Re: Stuffed Weepholes

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Hurst View Post
    Whats your opinion of weepholes that have been stuffed?

    I think most of this is being done by PC companies to prevent a few crawlers from getting in.

    rick
    Rick,

    BIA prefers open head joints between bricks over small tubes or wicks, mostly because it allows more air to get into the cavity between the brick and the wall to help dry it out. They don't have a problem with screening the opening in some way to keep insects from getting in as long as air can get in and water can get out.

    Brandon


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Oklahoma City
    Posts
    357

    Default Re: Stuffed Weepholes

    Your lucky if your even have weeps around here. I would say that only about 40% of the homes here have weeps.

    If it weren't for lawyers, we would never need them.

  11. #11
    Jeffrey L. Mathis's Avatar
    Jeffrey L. Mathis Guest

    Default Re: Stuffed Weepholes

    I did a new home recently and noticed as I walked up to the house that the weep holes just looked sloppy. So I got closer and saw that the mason must have forgot them and came back to open them up. Well, there were none that were cleared. So I noted it.
    Well the buyer homed in on that and demanded a correction. the builder sent someone out with a masonry drill bit and they drilled out the clogging mortar, the rubber flashing and into the framing. Bless their little hearts.
    Builder ended up removing the brick around the holes, repairing the flashing and rebricking. Did a nice job and the buyers still walked.

    JLMathis


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