Near record number of homes closed due to meth

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SALT LAKE COUNTY — Salt Lake County is on a record-setting pace to close more homes this year that previously housed meth labs. One inspector isn't surprised, because he says more people are asking to check for that type of contamination.

By the end of the week, Salt Lake County could break last year's record of home closures due to the presence of meth labs. The Valley Health Department has boarded up 129 homes so far, seven shy of 2011's total.

Midi Park, owner of Albion Home Inspection, says the signs of meth labs are usually obvious.

"A lot of times, people that are wrapped up in the difficulty of a meth addiction are not taking care of their homes in the same way. You know, tin foil windows are a pretty good indicator," he said.

"Methamphetamine cookware, glassware and beakers, those are all part of traditional methods of cooking meth. Sometimes, stains, odors and those things can give you an indication that someone has been cooking meth in the home," he said.

But it's not always so easy to spot. He says some meth abusers use the "shake and bake" method in a 2-liter soda bottle.

Park says potential homeowners can ask for a meth search. Currently he only inspects for methamphetamine in 10 percent of homes, but he expects that number to rise as awareness builds.

He adds that red phosphorus and pseudoephedrine (used to manufacture meth) left behind could harm people's health or cause explosions.

Park also says most of the boarded up homes are abandoned or real-estate owned (REO) that were foreclosed upon.