Mouse in house - Old air bricks

Mattatooi · 30 Dec 2018

So sourcing where mouse is getting in. It is using the pipes under the floors to get around and managed to get into one of the kids bedrooms upstairs where the pipe comes up to the radiator. Stuffed some steel wool in there for now. Anyway, we had mouse couple year ago and thought they were getting in via gap beside a waste pipe. I put steel mesh around and foam and caught the mice and not had a problem since. Not sure where else they can get in currently. However I am thinking it may be the air brick vents.

It is a house built in the 70's. There is no mesh or anything on this. Is there anything I can do to prevent mice getting in here? Or any suggestions etc?

Thanks

Tigercubrider · 30 Dec 2018

Add mesh
You could use plasterboard butterfly fixings to fit through the airbrick

Mattatooi · 30 Dec 2018

Not sure I follow what you mean with plaster board fixings? I would use mesh but not sure how to fix from outside

Tigercubrider · 30 Dec 2018

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fixman-810...546185549&sr=1-18&keywords=wing+spring+toggle

These can poke through the vent to secure the mesh
Although looking at the brick, very small rawlplugs could be used in the surround and the mesh secured with screws and washers

mattylad · 30 Dec 2018

Look up spring toggles.
i.e. https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-...Ys9wqrxqagHyRJveGMhoCK0MQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

The bolt pushed through a hole in the mesh, the toggle then put on the end and pushed through the vent slots, do them up enough to keep the mesh tight to the vent, ensuring you do not obstruct the vent slots with anything.
Also look elsewhere for were the mouse is coming in, its likely running under the floorboards from somewhere you would not think its coming from...

Mattatooi · 30 Dec 2018

Confident it's via heating and water pipes that go upstairs. They go up wall in kitchen which has a surround on it. It goes behind a cupboard. Checked underneath and there are droppings. I can see the pipes and can see access under the floor. Problem will be trying to block that as it's not easily accessible. They cannot access rest of kitchen because the unit is all sealed to wall and plinth is nailed in. So thats why i think they accessed via the air brick vents. Set trap under that cupboard will see.

Trying to get my head around that. So mesh will be in inside with them fixings where exactly? Sorry if it's dumb. Can't wrap my head around how it's secured.

foxhole · 30 Dec 2018

Could be many places, mice only need diameter of a pencil to make entry, fleixble back bone.Buy a mouse trap.

Mattatooi · 31 Dec 2018

Yeah so, no way i can get it behind. Is there anything i can buy that would just cover it and look half decent with a mesh on it ? I mean im sure mouse can get through there, but would they? I think I actually need to block the gaps around the pipes that come up the wall from under the floor in kitchen. This is for sure how they getting into rest of house. The problem is i cant really get at it easily. Its behind a fitted kitchen and its sealed up. Only way is from front taking plinth off, but then you would have 600mm to the wall. Quite a reachh, might be able to stuff some steel wool in there and then whack some expanding foam in. But that is gonna super awkward to get the foam in! Other than taking the kitchen apart!

Doppleganger · 31 Dec 2018

I use an electronic mouse repellent as well as all the usual precautions.
Either all the usual precautions, or the mouse repellent is highly effective.
They can be plugged into a rarely used socket and forgotten about.

Be careful with wire wool. It can spontaneously combust as it corrodes.

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Mouse in house - Old air bricks

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