Correct and safe sealing around mains cable and other cables - mice

[ThomB]

Hi there

This is my first post - I have recently bought my first house - an Edwardian terrace and we have a bit of a mice problem (+ draft problem!) so I want to seal up holes where they can get in (amongst other things like mouse mesh etc.)

We have the gas and electrics coming in from the suspended floor in the recess under the stairs and thats where are largest holes are, plus the wires back out of the consumer unit that go back under the floor. In other areas I have been using wire wool and caulk but want to make sure I don't do anything stupid around the electrics. I have heard that certian products can eat away at the wire jacket / insulation and it doesn't seem right to put wire wool anywhere near electrics.

What is the normal/safe way of sealing up such holes in the UK? I struggled to find examples, but maybe my googling skills are failing me...

mains in / consumer unit out

• ThomB
• 25 Feb 2020

gas and electrical cable in

• ThomB
• 25 Feb 2020

bottom of conduit to consumer unit

• ThomB
• 25 Feb 2020

mains in / consumer unit out 2

• ThomB
• 25 Feb 2020

 

[plastic_peanut]

Not sure if his is overkill but something to consider

https://www.filoform.co.uk/filoseal-hd-re-enterable-duct-sealing

 

[ThomB]

thanks plastic_peanut - I'd be happy with overkill at the moment

I do wonder what would be "normal practice" as I can't imagine this is a unique situation. Of course, normal and effective may be two different things...

Cheers

 

[JohnW2]

I do wonder what would be "normal practice" as I can't imagine this is a unique situation. Of course, normal and effective may be two different things...

Just one 'warning', albeit there's not a lot one can do about it ...

... in my experience, rodents are intelligent enough to have worked out that when a cable goes through a hole in something, that there is potential for them also to get through. Hence, if there is not currently enough space for them to 'get through' (maybe because there is some sort of 'sealing' around the cable) they will often start chewing at the cable in the vicinity, in an attempt to 'create more space' that way. The following happened just where a cable entered a hole in a joist ...

Kind Regards, John

 

[ThomB]

Thanks John - that was a worry I had too.

 

[JBR]

View attachment 184685

I imagine the mouse involved got quite a surprise from that!

 

[JohnW2]

I imagine the mouse involved got quite a surprise from that!

One might think so, but there was no evidence that he/she didn't successfully move away from the source of the surprise!

Kind Regards, John

 

[JBR]

One might think so, but there was no evidence that he/she didn't successfully move away from the source of the surprise!

Kind Regards, John

Perhaps they can sense a potential before they actually come in contact?

 

[JohnW2]

Perhaps they can sense a potential before they actually come in contact?

Maybe.

However, assuming no other part of the body was in contact with earth, I think that anyone (mouse, human or anything else) would be unlucky not to survive a shock when the only points of contact were in/around their mouth - so maybe it got nasty belt and ran away (maybe more than once)!

Kind Regards, John

 

[ThomB]

Thanks for your replies - I have made a temporary fix by using a pine plank and beading that is pretty tight to the conduit. Gas pipes have wire wool around them.

This way I figure that if they chew through the wood at least I know for sure where they are coming in from. I am going to put in some under floor insulation in the next few mnths, and while I have the floor boards up I will look to plug up any holes and mesh up the vents. Hopefully that will make our side of the terace the least easy option

Cheers

TB

 

[clifford1]

One might think so, but there was no evidence that he/she didn't successfully move away from the source of the surprise!

I've had several feet of live cable stripped bare by rats in the barn. I've never seen an electrocuted rat, and they seem to be able to operate with impunity.
Nothing to do with enlarging an entrance - they eat the plastic, or perhaps chew it up for nest material.

 

[JohnW2]

I've had several feet of live cable stripped bare by rats in the barn. I've never seen an electrocuted rat, and they seem to be able to operate with impunity.

They do!

Nothing to do with enlarging an entrance - they eat the plastic, or perhaps chew it up for nest material.

That's certainly what rodents tend to do with many materials (particularly foams etc.). However, as I said, over the years I've been very struck by how common it is for their chewing to be primarily at places where cable disappear into holes - although one can but speculate (as I did) about the explanation for that.

Kind Regards, John