I've Never Seen This Before

[A/A Fuel GTX]

I was at my sisters house today and noticed a flush mount PVC box with a screw cover on it right near the service entrance. My curiousity was aroused so I removed the cover to find a plate with about 12 ports on it and about half of them had what appeared to be 1/4" orange plastic tubing run to each port from the inside of the wall. Then the tubing had what appeared to be miniature golf tees inserted into each end for some sort of seal I presume. The only thing I could think of was that this may be some sort of fiber optic mechanism but the tubing seemed real small if it were some sort of conduit. Just wondering if anyone has some insight on this.

 

[charlie b]

How old is the house? There was a day and age during which everyone wanted intercom boxes in all the rooms, so you could call the kids to dinner without shouting. This might have been the location of the master station. Their might have been small wires inside these 1/4 inch ?conduits.? The ?golf tees? might have been inserted merely to keep the lines clear of dirt and dust.

 

[benaround]

Pest Control ?

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

The house is only 3 years old. I looked around the neighborhood and saw the same enclosure on the other houses too. I'm sure it wasn't intercom related because of where the enclosure is located, outside next to the other utilities service points.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

Maybe Frank. BTW, the house is in Surprise, AZ. Are you near there?

 

[Cavie]

That was pest control. The tubing runs through the walls of the house and once a month the bug guy comes by and squirts in some bug killer.

 

[acrwc10]

Wow hot and cold running pesticide.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

Once again the Forum comes through....Thanks

 

[racerdave3]

That sounds like a very good idea and a neat set-up. Do you guys have that bad of a pest control problem out there?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

The house is only 3 years old. I looked around the neighborhood and saw the same enclosure on the other houses too. I'm sure it wasn't intercom related because of where the enclosure is located, outside next to the other utilities service points.

The reason it is outside is to allow pests to enter the house so that the bug man can have job security.

 

[allenwayne]

Most of the new homes here have the same thing.The pesticide companies don`t charge for the rough in and get the $$$$ monthly over the long run.Free to the builder to say in wall pest control for free.

 

[tallgirl]

I don't know anyone who has THAT bad of a pest problem without being a slob. My house is 7 years old this week ("Happy Birthday to it, Happy Birthday to it ..."), has those tubes, and has never, not once, needed professional pest control. It's just something that Centex (the builder) put into the walls to jack up the price.

 

[allenwayne]

Julie sometimes it has nothing to do with being a slob or not being one.Some areas are just prone to a type of infestation no matter how clean you are.In Florida the biggest infestation even in a spotless home is palmetto bugs.If you don`t know what they are, They look like a roach on steroids.Nothing to do with being dirty just they live in moist areas.Since Florida is a wetland area they are everywhere.

I think in wall pest control is a great addition to a home.If the home owner doesn`t want to use it well thats all good but for a minimal cost monthly they will come and spray the inside of the walls for a pest free enviorment.

 

[monkey]

Here in Arizona we have TERMITES. There is a saying, there are two kinds of buildings in Arizona, ones that have termites and ones that WILL have termites.

Most new residential construction here is frame with chicken wire and stucco. The termites can get behind the stucco and eat away at the framing for years without being noticed. There is a process where foam is injected into the walls in the never ending battle of termite control. I suspect the orange tubes are for that purpose.

Ever since Chloradane was outlawed, you can never really eliminate a termite infestation, you can just control it. Most homes are on a yearly termite contract where they come out and inspect once a year, treating if necessary.

By the way, my Dad lived in Surprise for 10 years before moving to the original Sun City West closer in to Phoenix.

 

[steve066]

Most new residential construction here is frame with chicken wire and stucco.

My last visit to california, I noticed almost everything is stucco also. Around here in the Midwest, everything is wood frame, with fiber board or particle board sheeting, and vinyl siding (or occasionally brick).

I often wonder why you don't see these type of houses out there, and you don't see any stucco around here???

Is it a difference in taste, or climate, or the regional prices of materials???

Steve

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

I think it's based on regional architectural style. Stucco is more of a southern style and steel/vinyl siding is more midwestern.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

My last visit to california, I noticed almost everything is stucco also. Around here in the Midwest, everything is wood frame, with fiber board or particle board sheeting, and vinyl siding (or occasionally brick).

I often wonder why you don't see these type of houses out there, and you don't see any stucco around here???

Is it a difference in taste, or climate, or the regional prices of materials???

Steve

Stucco is usually not a good idea where it freezes.It cracks some and water would get in it and freeze cracking it even more.

 

[bikeindy]

Stucco is usually not a good idea where it freezes.It cracks some and water would get in it and freeze cracking it even more.

Not if properly done, while we have very few stucco homes around here the ones that are well done have lasted many many years one down the street from me is 105 years old and has never cracked. just goes back to workmanship. I would think those rolling earthquakes would do more damage to stucco.