Blocking meece holes.

Bendy_House

I know this has been asked before, but I'm wondering if folk have actually tried anything since.

Mil's new bungie - mouse eating the P&D's kitkat. New poo found in a drawer...

I've looked under the units, and the incoming mains does pass through the floor (concrete with UFH) via a large duct which seems hollow around the water pipe as far as my fingers can fit. Then the other pipes - H&C and waste etc - pass through an internal p'board wall through to what I presume is a void where they also run off to the bathroom and the boiler. All of it crudely done through too-large holes.

The problem I have is access - I can reach the wall at the back of the units (just), but all these pipes also run in front of the wall making access to the holes quite awkward. I can certainly get an aerosol nozzle to these to inject foam, so that's my first Q; there are some anti-vermin foams available now - does anyone know if they are any good? Getting wire wool to these locations won't be easy, and there's also the issue that it's a single p'board layer with a void behind, so the stuff would push through and fall inside. Hence me looking for a one-shot solution.

I've watched one test on YouTube where the guy tried just about everything - wire wool, copper mesh, foam, silicone sealant, and the foam was the only one that the mouse went for (it wasn't antiverm foam, tho'). So, I'm wondering if silicone would work as it seemingly did in this test? Sili is tough stuff, but also rubbery so not what a mouse would normally like to chew through - they like to grind through hard stuff. Any thoughts whether it would be suitable?

Cheers.

Benny2020

"Mil's new bungie - mouse eating the P&D's kitkat. New poo found in a drawer.."

What does any of that mean?

stuart45

Mil= Mother in law 
Bungie = bungalow
P&D= planning and development
Kitkat= overrated chocolate biscuit.

Bendy_House

Lol!

Sorry Benny

Thanks Stu - threeoutoffourain'tbad. P&D = painter and dec. :-)

BUFF

Bendy_House said:

I've looked under the units, and the incoming mains does pass through the floor (concrete with UFH) via a large duct which seems hollow around the water pipe as far as my fingers can fit. Then the other pipes - H&C and waste etc - pass through an internal p'board wall through to what I presume is a void where they also run off to the bathroom and the boiler. All of it crudely done through too-large holes.

The problem I have is access - I can reach the wall at the back of the units (just), but all these pipes also run in front of the wall making access to the holes quite awkward. I can certainly get an aerosol nozzle to these to inject foam, so that's my first Q; there are some anti-vermin foams available now - does anyone know if they are any good? Getting wire wool to these locations won't be easy, and there's also the issue that it's a single p'board layer with a void behind, so the stuff would push through and fall inside. Hence me looking for a one-shot solution.

I don't suppose that you can buy or make collars that could run along the pipes until lying flat against the wall (glue them to surface)?

Bendy_House

BUFF said:

Bendy_House said:

I've looked under the units, and the incoming mains does pass through the floor (concrete with UFH) via a large duct which seems hollow around the water pipe as far as my fingers can fit. Then the other pipes - H&C and waste etc - pass through an internal p'board wall through to what I presume is a void where they also run off to the bathroom and the boiler. All of it crudely done through too-large holes.

The problem I have is access - I can reach the wall at the back of the units (just), but all these pipes also run in front of the wall making access to the holes quite awkward. I can certainly get an aerosol nozzle to these to inject foam, so that's my first Q; there are some anti-vermin foams available now - does anyone know if they are any good? Getting wire wool to these locations won't be easy, and there's also the issue that it's a single p'board layer with a void behind, so the stuff would push through and fall inside. Hence me looking for a one-shot solution.

I don't suppose that you can buy or make collars that could run along the pipes until lying flat against the wall (glue them to surface)?

Now that's not a bad idea :-) I'm sure that could certainly work for some. 
It's a real maze of pipes under the units, tho', so some gaps would be very hard to get to, hence me hoping that there IS a foam that'll work, or another sealant that comes out a cartridge.
Thanks BUFF.

another_casualty

Mmm... 🤞I haven't a 🐁 problem . Having said that , a few months ago I realised albeit belatedly that I forgot to cover the holes in floorboard where my new boiler is in my second bedroom ( which is now music room/ home office ) .

Having watched a similar you tube film to you @Bendy_House, the one I saw ( American ) was the one with wire wool with mesh which seemed to be the winner . This is what I went for . I can understand that it is difficult trying to get to those awkward places etc.
One thing I would recommend though with your plan , is to get a plug in that doesn't effect other animals ( 🦜🐕🐈) . They imho do work, and would cover the living space etc 
One other thing of course ; if you can't get to the points of entry , maybe get additional help from someone to help you or pest controller ..

Best of luck 

Bendy_House

Thanks A-C - that's all good stuff. Forgot about the sonic repellent option - that's worth keeping in mind.

She does have an ancient dawg, and it would be a bonus if that was repelled too (er, only kidding...)

I'll be heading over this afa' to stuff wire wool down around the incoming mains pipe which is quite accessible, and the most likely POE. It'll then have cement filled in on top :-)

Cheers.

Eldi_Dos

Get yourself some tubes of fire stopping compound that will fit your mastic gun ( I prefer the white variety) and a cheap sponge.
Use the sponge to cut into strips and use as packing material around pipes and any cables and push down below duct mouth or back into void that needs filling,I find the compound easier to apply if it has been kept in a warm environment before use. If appearance is important dress it off before cured but it is messy, small bits of cardboard that you then dispose of do the job.
As Buff says above if you want a collar to glue onto units the covers for when central heatings pipes come out floor could be trimmed to suit.

Bendy_House

Ah! Fire cement! That's well'ard stuff. 

Good call!