safety / air quality question... re: disgusting old basement

[rdb7]

i 'may' have the opportunity to md an old basement... the center is cement foundation however the side wings of it are dirt.... this has been in this same spot since horse and buggy days (i've seen historical pics proving it)

1st off... do you think i'll find anything down there given that description? ie: it seems the only way something would be in that dirt is if it fell through the floor back in the day... the floor has no cracks ..etc... today

now on to the safety part of things... it's mainly sealed off and has a sump pump hole down there .. doesn't appear to have much ventilation... and has some standing water (1/4" or so on the ground)........... do i have to worry about passing out or something down there? is there anything to worry about besides carbon monoxide?

Thanks!

 

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[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

rdb7,
sounds interesting; do keep us posted,
if you live.

Never know what you could find in a
location like that.

You got spiders down there?
If so, don't worry about air.

have a good un...............
SHERMANVILLE

 

[rdb7]

i left out the fact that it's an old tavern...

tons and tons and tons of spider webs down there... i was thinking of kicking on some construciton site type halogens to hopefully send them packing for a little bit... if that would even help

 

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

rdb7,
"i left out the fact that it's an old tavern..."

Well that changes everything.

Just get down there and get searching.

All sorts of things going on in tavern basements.
Now go.............



have a good un....
SHERMANVILLE

 

[rdb7]

well the area that still has dirt is more like a crawl space (2-2.5' height dirt to floor overhead) ... so i'm not sure too much went on down there LOL ...

but i guess the possibilities exist that either:

a) stuff that was dropped fell through the old floor

and/or

b) the original owners 'may' have hid something down there

... then again there is always c.... nothing but dirt and spiders

 

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

well the area that still has dirt is more like a crawl space (2-2.5' height dirt to floor overhead) ... so i'm not sure too much went on down there LOL ...

but i guess the possibilities exist that either:

a) stuff that was dropped fell through the old floor

and/or

b) the original owners 'may' have hid something down there

... then again there is always c.... nothing but dirt and spiders

"nothing but dirt and spiders"

It's an small adventure.


have a good un.................
SHERMANVILLE

 

[Lowbatts]

Quit typing, start playing!
Remember to breathe, but only when your head is above the water.
Scrape the bottom of that well out down to the hard pack.

 

[rdb7]

i will only have access at 'certain' times... now of which isn't one of them lol

it doesn't appear to be an old well or anything... just looking like a typical sump pump hole



so judging by the replies so far... there really isn't any danger except for possibly carbon monoxide? and basic knowledge like don't get cut and dip the cut in the stagnant water..etc

 

[Lowbatts]

Drank half a gallon of water from a mud puddle in a parking lot once. Didn't prove anything good about myself, but I got 20 bucks and the cops let me go.

Stick that wound in stagnant water Man! Them bacteria fix everything!

Is there a way of ventilating? Blowing air down the stairwell or other such? I'm willing to bet it has enough thermophoresis to keep the breatheable air in motion, being an old, most likely thermally inefficient structure as described.

Look out for salamanders! They don't bite but they secrete a bonding agent when disturbed that'll glue your face shut, if you try eating them that is. Sticky little buggers.

 

[rdb7]

well the location is the same as 100+ years ago but judging from the cement foundation some new structure has obviously been put in place... we'll see

 

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

well the location is the same as 100+ years ago but judging from the cement foundation some new structure has obviously been put in place... we'll see

Don't know where your hunting; building could have
been raised to street level.

 

[kimsdad]

Sounds like an interesting place to hit. As uncomfortable as it might be, I'd wear a respirator if I were you. You don't know what's been growing down there over the years, or if there is asbestos dust from old insulation or floor tiles that has settled through the cracks.

Even stirring up dust from mouse droppings can release bacteria that can kill you if it gets in your lungs. Sounds kind of wimpy, but athsma or something worse isn't fun or worth even a pile of old coins. Truthfully, the spiders might be enough to keep me out. Meowwwww......

 

[rdb7]

yeah i thought about the respirator too... i'll just hide it until i get in the basement LOL

 

[tmanfromtexas]

the respirator wont save ya if there is carbon monoxide or sewer gas down there. Both displace oxygen. The best bet is to open it and use a fan to force fresh air into the space. Let it run for a while and get to searching. SMAN...

 

[rdb7]

thanks snowman.. i planned on bringing down a CO detector.. but thought there could be something else i was missing.. ie: sewer gas..etc

 

[treasurefiend]

Nah, it sounds too risky!!!! Better let me check it out...

 

[rdb7]

TreasureFiend.. lol... i just don't want to be found dead in some stanky-@ss basement for a couple of pennies (or less)....