grotty organism in uncovered water tanks and also mice / rats what do I do?!!

hostie

Hello,

I am in the middle of a renovation and have tradesmen in the house a lot. I noticed that the plumber left both the water tanks in the loft uncovered and recently there are grotty living things in the overflow tank. :eek:

Also, I heard heavy scurrying in the loft when a roofer was working on my roof so I think I might also have a mouse or rat up there. Is there anything I can do to try to clean the existing grotty oranisms out of my water system and make sure that rodents don´t get in. I don´t have a stop valve for the whole house as the plumber blocked up the old stop valve which was outside under the road...

If anyone has any advice I´d be grateful.

Leif

You can clear rodents using poison. I tried humane traps without success but the blue coloured poisoned wheat/rice grains did the job, even though the entrance was not found. At the risk of stating the obvious ideally you need to stop them getting in, and take care as the poison will kill cats, dogs and other pets.

What are the grotty living things you talk about?

27col

I think that you will find that the gadget most commonly used to stop rodents and pigeons getting into water tanks is called a lid.
As for cleaning the tank out, well, how does that differ from cleaning out any other open topped vessel. Answer: It doesn't differ. It is no different from cleaning out a deep washing up bowl, except that you cannot tilt it to pour the muck out. You have to scrape it out using a trowel or something similar.
Get a stop valve fitted as soon as possible, if you don't you will need it when you least expect it. All sanitary fittings and appliances should have their own isolators. If they don't you are just complicating any job to do with sinks, toilets and appliances.

Canucklehead

Hi,

When your plumber brings the system back into use (I assume using the existing fittings, tank etc) he should be disinfecting it.

With lids as col says.

GSR.

WhiteHorse

Take care with poison - the rats may go back to their hole to die. Then they stink. Traps are better.*

*And Jack Russells better still.

Leif

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Take care with poison - the rats may go back to their hole to die. Then they stink. Traps are better.*

*And Jack Russells better still.

That certainly can happen. I had mice, not rats. In my case there was a squeakathon one night, presumably the last gasp of the mice, and then quiet. No smell. Many years ago the company I worked in had a serious smell problem that was traced to a dead mouse under the floor. I found traps do not work. My late mother found the same. (Well, traditional traps might work but they are a bit messy, a mouse with a nail through its head and a splat of blood is unappealing to some of us.)

riverboat2001

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Take care with poison - the rats may go back to their hole to die. Then they stink. Traps are better.*

*And Jack Russells better still.

I have to say my Jack Russellwould run a mile if a rat came near him.
Now, my Lurcher on the other hand would have much fun catching and torturing the little !!!!!!s!

littleboo

I recently had mice in my loft. A couple of traditional traps baited with chocolate did the trick over a number of days. Thinly sliced mars bar is supposed to be good too. I got about 6 or 7 and would always use this method over poison in the house.

hostie

Thanks for all your help.

Leif wrote: »

What are the grotty living things you talk about?

The thing was about 4cm 1.5" long, white and a cross between a slug and a grub with sections like a caterpillar. Makes me feel sick thinking about it. I went back with a ladle to get it out but it had moved :eek:

The water tanks aren´t so easy to cover as there are pipes sticking out of the top of the overflow tank.

Will poison kill all sizes of rats? Even really big ones? Could they get in from the drains?

Thanks again.

Leif

hostie wrote: »

Thanks for all your help.



The thing was about 4cm 1.5" long, white and a cross between a slug and a grub with sections like a caterpillar. Makes me feel sick thinking about it. I went back with a ladle to get it out but it had moved :eek:

The water tanks aren´t so easy to cover as there are pipes sticking out of the top of the overflow tank.

Will poison kill all sizes of rats? Even really big ones? Could they get in from the drains?

Thanks again.

The organism you talk about sounds fascinating, some form of insect larva is my guess but I'm sure an entomologist could be more specific. In this country we have no nasty insects, unlike in some countries. People do tend to me scared of insects, but most are rather interesting. I find rats a bit iffy though ...

Yes poison will even kill giant rats, as well as squirrels which sometimes get into roof spaces. I think rodents climb pipes etc, and get in through holes in the walls on the exterior, perhaps even via the eaves if there is suitable pipe work nearby.

Canucklehead

Hi,

Is your plumber showing any interest in this problem?

GSR.