It’s illegal to produce, deal, or possess methamphetamine (also commonly known as meth, speed, or crank) in Idaho Falls. Yet, numerous clandestine meth labs are reported every year in remote forested areas, people’s homes, and apartment complexes.
When law enforcement seizes a meth lab, they take away the bulk of the lab equipment, chemicals, and containers. But small amounts of contaminants may be left behind on different surfaces including walls, carpets, floors, furniture, and more.
The only way to guarantee a safe and healthy indoor environment is to conduct a meth lab cleanup.
Here’s all you need to know about meth lab cleanup.
Dangers of a DIY Meth Lab Cleanup
A meth lab is a highly toxic environment. The plethora of meth chemicals and fumes pose serious health hazards and their volatility can cause other potential dangers like fires and explosions. In fact, once you discover a meth lab, law enforcement recommends that you not touch anything, leave the site at once, then report it.
For these reasons, we would not recommend a DIY meth lab cleanup. To guarantee your safety and to ensure you get quality meth lab cleanup services, it’s best to hire professionals to conduct the decontamination process.
Testing
When law enforcement identifies a property as a clandestine meth laboratory, they notify the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare who proceed to list it on the Clandestine Drug Laboratory Site Property List.
Meth lab cleanup professionals then proceed to conduct testing on the property to determine the high areas of contamination and to help in creating a roadmap for the cleanup process. The samples collected undergo testing in an accredited laboratory for reliable and credible results.
The Cleanup Process
The meth lab cleanup process can be more or less intense depending on the contamination levels in the property.
It includes the following processes:
- Removal of contaminated materials like carpets, drapes, clothes, and furnishings and disposal at a designated facility.
- Ventilation of the property for 24 hours or more
- High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuuming, repeated cycles of detergent washing, scrubbing, and rinsing of the walls, floors, and ceilings to eliminate heavier contamination
- Inspection and removal of toxic waste from the septic and plumbing systems
- Post-clearance testing for delisting and re-occupancy approval
- Repainting using a strong primer followed by an oil-based paint and another layer of paint for extra protection
Meth Lab Cleanup Cost
The meth lab cleanup process is expensive because it’s resource-intensive and the property owner shoulders all the expenses. The average cost of a meth lab cleanup ranges between $5,000 and $20,000. It may vary depending on the level of contamination, location of the property, and other state regulatory laws.
Contact HHE for Effective Meth Lab Cleanup Services in Idaho Falls
If you’re required to conduct meth lab cleanup for your property, contact Health Home Environment Services. We offer high-quality meth lab cleanup services for homes and businesses throughout Idaho Falls. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
