Stove and mice

[medic149]

I am trying to seal up the trailer so mice don't get in. Does anyone know if I should or should not put steel wool and tape across these openings in the stove?

Our previous trailers we're terrible with mice getting in these areas and into the stove.

Just curious if I can see all these holes up or not.

Thanks

[wiscampsin]

I wouldn't, way too close to the flame.

[jimp]

Work on closing off the holes where water pipes or any other openings are on the underbelly and any vents as well. Steel wool where water pipes or wires come thru the floor or wall is a good place to start.

[medic149]

Originally Posted by jimp

Work on closing off the holes where water pipes or any other openings are on the underbelly and any vents as well. Steel wool where water pipes or wires come thru the floor or wall is a good place to start.

Thanks. I've got about 8 hours into doing just that. Holes everywhere!

[Iraqvet05]

Fine steel wool makes a great fire starter...try it one time with a match or 9V battery.

I worked briefly for a pest control company and we used copper mesh with a layer of Quikrete's mortar repair (in a tube) from Home Depot . Copper is a bit expensive but does not rust like steel wool does and the mortar mix has some abrasive in it the mice don't like. I would not use anything that close to the stove.

[jimp]

I've seen stainless steel brillo type pads at wally world/$ stores.

[RogerR]

I use aluminum screen wire cut in strips and poked into the holes. Then I silicon caulk or foam the hole to fix the wire in place. If I can, I go inside and do it from the inside. They might get in a place I missed, cross the underbelly and come up the inside holes.

Don't forget doors and hatches. Even a tiny gap is a highway to heaven fo them, ( mosquitoes , flies, wasps, etc).

If you leave it plugged in don't forget to somehow seal up around the shore power wire inlet.

Check all outside vents for furnace, fridge, water heater. I have them all covered with wire covers. Keeps out wasp nests also.

[Screwby]

Stop them before they get that far! Take the 4 or so screws out of the top of your stove where it screws into the cabinets, there may be a couple in the front too, and slide your stove out a bit so you can see behind and under it. Don’t worry you won’t hurt anything, there’s usually enough slack in all the lines to actually lift your stove out and set it on the floor. Your probably going to find a couple good sized holes behind or under the stove that the mice will use to get into your rig. Seal them up and keep them out of the stove totally. I used the Pestblock expanding foam everywhere there was even the titiest hole under, over, and inside the camper. No mice for years....

[Mustang65]

Holes next to my stove, put foam in the holes. There were a few more smaller holes by the outside wall also.
Don


My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[us71na]

I would not recommend steel wool any where near a flame. It can burn. It also rusts easily. Use one of those copper scrubbing pads for pots and pans, but use it to seal the holes in the bottom of your camper where wires and gas lines go through the floor. Mice can enter through really small holes and they are remarkable acrobats when they want to be.

[us71na]

Originally Posted by Mustang65

Holes next to my stove, put foam in the holes. There were a few more smaller holes by the outside wall also.
Don


My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

You don't want to use Great stuff near any heat source. Here is the warning from the manufacturer's safety literature.

" Cured foam is combustible and will burn if exposed to
temperatures above 240°F (116°C). Do not apply GREAT
STUFF PRO ™ foam around heaters, high heat lamps or
recessed lighting fixtures, radiators, furnaces or fireplaces
where it could contact heat conducting surfaces. Do not use
GREAT STUFF PRO™ foam inside electrical boxes or panels. "

[medic149]

I ended up pulling the stove out and found only one hole!! Surprised to say the least. Plugged the hole where the gas line is with steel wool and gorilla tape.

Been working for 3 days sealing up holes. They are everywhere! Some I just can't get to so I am trying to limit escape routes to other areas of the trailer. Of course, I've been underneath foaming up any holes or open areas as well.

Thanks again for the help!!

AJ

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by us71na

You don't want to use Great stuff near any heat source. Here is the warning from the manufacturer's safety literature.

" Cured foam is combustible and will burn if exposed to
temperatures above 240°F (116°C). Do not apply GREAT
STUFF PRO ™ foam around heaters, high heat lamps or
recessed lighting fixtures, radiators, furnaces or fireplaces
where it could contact heat conducting surfaces. Do not use
GREAT STUFF PRO™ foam inside electrical boxes or panels. "

Thanks is71na, I guess I will remove it and go with my original thought, the old stand by plumber's putty.

Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[Jagiven]

Personally, as others said no to steel wool around the stove. If they find their way up there, they are already in the TT and that is an easy area to clean.

Spend your time under the rig and filling and patching every single hole you can find.

Personally, I would not plug a hole with steel wool and tape. Mice can chew right through the tape quickly, and the adhesive of the tape will not last more than a few years at most. I plugged each hole with steel wool, than used a little marine caulking (clear) I did the top and bottom side of each hole I could find and reach. Don't be surprised to find a few more holes down the road, I did.

[wpostma]

Get screamers to plug in and leave poison bate and dont worry about interior mouse proofing. Save your strength.