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The state’s threshold for meth contamination is less than 0.5 micrograms of residue per 100 square-centimeters. They use “round-robin testing,” which means the wipes are analyzed independently several times. Weecycle has also used labs in Utah and Washington. The wipes go to a certified lab, one of which is in Colorado. A simple screening, which is done if there’s no knowledge of meth use, can be done first. A composite test uses four 100-centimeter wipes per room, and those four wipes are considered one sample. They then begin testing, wiping the walls with methanol or isopropyl alcohol. They’ll also look for items that may been used to cook meth, like lithium batteries, glassware and other chemicals, as well as any signs of dumping around the building. York and Sawitsky charge between $1,200 and $2,100 for testing, depending on how many rooms a residence has.įirst, they’ll do a walk-through and look for chemical stains and any leftover smells. If they don’t, the buyer can file an action against the seller within three years of the closing date. Sellers are also legally required to disclose meth contamination. Testing must be performed by a certified consultant, and the seller has the right to either hire another certified consultant to retest the property or accept the original results.
#What does meth smell like buying a house full
York and Weecycle co-owner Judith Sawitsky are certified to test buildings for meth contamination, a process that can take a full day and can cost thousands on its own, depending on the size of the residence.Īccording to state statute, a buyer of residential real estate can test property to determine if it’s meth-affected and back out of the sale if the test is positive. “It’s not just Longmont that has a meth problem,” said Lauren York, a state-certified industrial hygienist and co-owner of Weecycle Environmental Consulting, Inc.
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Police estimate that only 1 out of every 10 meth labs are busted, according to the website for Boulder County Public Health. Before that, the number of meth lab busts had been increasing for years across the state, jumping by more than 1,300 percent from 31 busts in 1998 to 454 in 2002.