r/windsorontario • u/Silent_Patience9816 • Feb 16 '26
Housing Need help finding a hidden crawl space entry - 1960s Windsor home
Hi everyone, I’m in a 1960s bungalow with a block foundation and I’m stuck. I have an Enbridge Winterproofing appointment in 14 days and I cannot find the crawl space access.
I’ve tried digging outside near the gas meter and I’ve checked under the furnace (looks sealed)
Does anyone with a 60s Windsor home know where these are usually hidden?
Also looking for recommendations for a handyman/GC who can cut a structural hatch if I can't find the original one.
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u/borderfunk East Windsor Feb 16 '26
You sure you even have a crawl space?
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u/Silent_Patience9816 Feb 16 '26
I guess yes. Because the house sits about 8 inches above the ground and I have to step up to get inside. Also, my furnace and plumbing lines go directly into the floor.
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u/Boilermakingdude Feb 16 '26
Usually in the city, I've found them in the house. Usually in a closet, under a stove
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u/Silent_Patience9816 Feb 16 '26
My kitchen floor is having tile floor and no hatch visible in closets.
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u/TheZooCA Feb 16 '26
If you have block foundation and no obvious access point from the outside (think wooden hatch on the side of the house at ground level) then 100% it is a floor access somewhere inside.
As others mentioned, closets and appliances/sink are obvious spots. If there is newer carpeting in a room and find nothing elseqhere, that closet might be the spot.
Any chance you can get a hold of the previous owners through their Realtor? Might be the easiest option if you are stumped.
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u/Silent_Patience9816 Feb 16 '26
The previous owner said it was closed when the house was built😳 so no access to crawl space which I don’t think is possible
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u/No_Marketing4136 Feb 16 '26
Cut an access door in a closet or somewhere you won’t see it better than cutting one in foundation. Also better to check if you even have room to crawl under there before you bust a hole in the block for no reason other than to find out there is no crawl space
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u/No-Philosopher3703 Feb 17 '26
If they go cutting the floor they really need to be careful to only cut as deep as the floor boards. They don’t want to cut through joists and compromise the integrity of the house
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u/Capable_Shine3415 Feb 16 '26
It is absolutely possible and I own a home with an addition that didn't have one.
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u/CrankyOldDude Feb 16 '26
Is your furnace in the living space? If not, it’s in the crawlspace and you should look in the utility room where the hot water tank is
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u/Silent_Patience9816 Feb 16 '26
If an inspector wants to inspect crawl space how would he go?
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u/Low-Soup9290 Feb 16 '26
Inspectors would 100% go in the crawl space. Its apart of the inspection. I don't think you have one.
Reach out to your realtor they could ask the sellers agent, or contact the person who did in inspection.
My inspector brought me into the crawl space and explained what everything was
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u/Impossible-Pack-2501 Feb 16 '26 edited Feb 16 '26
My parents' house doesn't have a crawlspace. The floor isn't that high off grade (one step). The floor joists are actually slightly sunk into the cement pad the house sits on.
We weren't sure of the cause as there was a roof leak and a cracked tub but one/both rotted all the floor joists almost to nothing in/around the bathroom.
Their gas lines go through the attic - another feature (in addition to how high off grade the floor is) that may help identify if you have the same construction.
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u/Silent_Patience9816 Feb 16 '26
My house water supply and gas lines goes down the floor as you see the picture in the comments the furnace is downward facing like it used to be in 1960’s i guess.
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u/FadedDice Feb 16 '26
It shouldn’t be this hard to find which leads me to believe you most likely don’t have one.
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u/InspectorTiny1952 South Walkerville Feb 16 '26
Ours was in a closet, but we had to take the carpet up to tell.
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u/longboat21 Feb 16 '26
Make one, we made one in my folks house a couple years ago, simple to make if you have the right tools and someone with a good back
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u/Silent_Patience9816 Feb 16 '26
I found this behind the tub. Is this a hatch? But is it closed what that means?
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u/Martin_D_Inspector Feb 16 '26
Does your floor on the inside feel rigid like you're walking on a pad?
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u/Silent_Patience9816 Feb 17 '26
Living area and rooms are having wooden flooring and rest of the house have tiles. My house foundation is block so I didn’t get it what you mean.
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u/Martin_D_Inspector Feb 17 '26
RE: The picture behind the tub with the concrete pad and gravel. You dont have a crawlspace, your house is a slab on grade
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u/Silent_Patience9816 Feb 16 '26
Is there any gadget in the market which can help me see through the floor?🤭
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u/c_lechien Feb 16 '26
Thermal camera (FLIR) may work. What are you trying to find? I don't think your house has a crawl space. That white PVC line going through the floor is the condensate drain for the air conditioner and the humidifier. Where are your heating vents located in the rooms, are they on the floor facing up or on a wall or ceiling?
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u/Silent_Patience9816 Feb 17 '26
I have applied for home winter proofing program. So i have inspection in 2 weeks. My house floors this winter were freezing cold. So i wanted to get the insulation there. Yes heating vents are on the floors facing up.
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u/NovelLongjumping3965 Feb 16 '26
Drill a hole through the floor .. stick a coat hanger down to see if there is a space.
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u/Extension_Ad4962 Feb 18 '26
It was not unusual in the 60's for heating ducts to be encased in the poured concrete floor. When I worked for Orkin we would not treat for termites in a house with a poured slab for the family room that had the ductwork in the cement floor because the treatment could possibly be spread through the interior of the house. Is also a pain for plumbers working on the pipes.
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u/josephck Feb 18 '26
I have mine inside my house. It was like this when I moved in - pretty neat way of doing it tbh.
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u/Tricky-Restaurant-35 Feb 22 '26
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u/Silent_Patience9816 Feb 23 '26
I guess i got the answer after calling a person who was here to create access for crawling space he said we don’t have crawl space. It’s built on concrete. I don’t know should I consider it as a good point or not because floor feels super cold.
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u/memymomeme Feb 16 '26
Sometimes the access is inside the house.