A rat infestation problem on-and-off since 2015 where 3 pest control companies could not find the entry point where they were getting in, was solved accidentally. A bathroom remodel required opening the sheet rock behind the tub. My 1988 Texas house is built on a solid slab concrete foundation. So why are dirt and rat droppings piled on the foundation around the tub?
From the rats tunneling under the foundation and coming through the huge hole in the foundation that goes all the way to the dirt. Is that a joke? Sadly, no. It's called a "bath trap" STANDARD in slab foundations, because the pipes from bathtub and shower drains are BELOW the floor level, and the opening is for "plumber convenience."
It's now considered "best practice" to fill this opening with sand or pebbles with a thin layer of concrete that can be chiseled out if plumbing work is needed. While most commercial buildings have access panels for plumbing, few homes do. If you have mice or rats and hear scratching under a bathtub, it may not just be a nice place to nest, it may also be the biggest entry point.
. It
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