Mouse deterrent

[Rene T]

I had an issue in the last couple of days and need help. I have a mini split at my home in the country. Mice got into my condenser, which is outside, and chewed through a couple of small wires making it inoperative. Anyone know of anything I can put inside my condenser that will keep them out. I may be able to seal some of the areas they get into with stainless steel wool but I can’t seal all the areas.
I have tried peppermint oil, dryer sheets s and mothballs in my Rv in the past and none of them have worked. Please only give me suggestions of things which you know has worked

 

[Jackiemac]

We had mice in the trailer a few times and thought they were getting in from the front cap. Steve bought some stuff from a hardware store (True Value) to block up the space. Not had any issues since.

It was a type of chicken wire but much stronger and with smaller holes but it was really sharp too. So anything trying to squeeze in would not like it.

It came in a roll that they could cut to size so I'm wondering if you could use it to make a cage of some kind.

You'd be best to go into a local store to see if they have it. I had a quick look online but wasn't easy to find.

 

[Laura & Charles]

Part of country living is dealing with mice. Trapping and or killing them isn’t effective as their numbers are unlimited.
Blocking their access will be the most effective. Jackie’s idea of surrounding the entire thing in wire mesh sounds like a good one.
We always kept a few outdoor barn cats around. But NH winters would certainly require a barn or some type of building with some straw or other bedding.
Mice can do some serious damage! My son lives in the place we had those barn cats and decided he didn’t want to deal them and got rid of them and got dogs instead. Within 6 months mice chewed up some wiring in his Prius to the extent that it was totaled(!)

 

[John From Detroit]

I know many RVers are into Dogs. but I hired Amber and Alex (Cats) and mice... Well they seemed not to wish to join the cats for Dinner.

 

[Rene T]

We had mice in the trailer a few times and thought they were getting in from the front cap. Steve bought some stuff from a hardware store (True Value) to block up the space. Not had any issues since.

It was a type of chicken wire but much stronger and with smaller holes but it was really sharp too. So anything trying to squeeze in would not like it.

It came in a roll that they could cut to size so I'm wondering if you could use it to make a cage of some kind.

You'd be best to go into a local store to see if they have it. I had a quick look online but wasn't easy to find.

I wonder if it was donething like I would call rabbit cage wire. It has square holes about 3/8” square. The only thing is, they are not sharp.
What I know chicken wire to be is fencing with holes about 1” in diameter and the wire material is small gage but still strong enough to keep chickens in a pen. That isn’t sharp either.

 

[TheBar]

I wonder if it was donething like I would call rabbit cage wire. It has square holes about 3/8” square. The only thing is, they are not sharp.
What I know chicken wire to be is fencing with holes about 1” in diameter and the wire material is small gage but still strong enough to keep chickens in a pen. That isn’t sharp either.

It was likely galvanized hardware cloth. Like metal window screen except 10x heavier and mostly used for fencing. I use cloth with 1/8" holes on the inside of RV vents like for the fridge. It keeps out wasps and any mouse that tried to chew thru it would need a full set of dentures.

 

[Sunnyfalls]

Did you say mice...where?

 

[Jackiemac]

Steve can't remember what it was called but it was indeed sharp almost like razorwire. It wasn't pleasant to put in place but it seems to be doing a grand job so far.

 

[Rene T]

Steve can't remember what it was called but it was indeed sharp almost like razorwire. It wasn't pleasant to put in place but it seems to be doing a grand job so far.

Jackie, Are you able to take a picture of it?

 

[TonyL]

I wonder if it was donething like I would call rabbit cage wire. It has square holes about 3/8” square. The only thing is, they are not sharp.
What I know chicken wire to be is fencing with holes about 1” in diameter and the wire material is small gage but still strong enough to keep chickens in a pen. That isn’t sharp either.

3/8" holes are far too big to stop mice. I was always told any hole needs to smaller than a pencil to stop mice.
Depending on how the pipe and cables enter the outdoor unit will determine how to stop the mice.
Some Mitsubishi units have the pipe and electrical connections on the side of the unit and a separate plastic cover slides up and is secured with a screw. Apart from the mains wiring, there's no access to any sensor wires.
If the pipes and wiring enter through the base, side or rear and connect inside the unit, where you can see internal components, the entry hole can be sealed with wire mesh and expanding foam.

 

[Rene T]

The air intake on the backside is wide open. Great spot for mice to use to get in. I was thinking about using the rabbit cage wire to cover the entire intake. I was thinking 3/8” square hole would keep them out and I didn’t want to restrict air movement. 3/8 holes is pretty close to the size of a pencil. I think they sell some with 1/8” holes. I’m afraid it would restrict the volume of air needed.

The front grill has a couple of corners that are wide open but I can seal them with stainless steel wool. I’ve got to take the entire cover off like the tech did the other day and see where else there are spots I have to address.
Thanks Tony.

 

[RayIN]

Metal duct-tape is good for sealing holes and cracks. A mouse can squeeze through any hole it can get it's head through because it has no shoulder bones.
Before sealing the unit back up, I'd place a couple rectangular blocks of Tom Cat brand mouse bait inside JIC one gets inside.

 

[Jackiemac]

Jackie, Are you able to take a picture of it?

I'll try.

 

[TonyL]

The air intake on the backside is wide open. Great spot for mice to use to get in. I was thinking about using the rabbit cage wire to cover the entire intake. I was thinking 3/8” square hole would keep them out and I didn’t want to restrict air movement. 3/8 holes is pretty close to the size of a pencil. I think they sell some with 1/8” holes. I’m afraid it would restrict the volume of air needed.

The front grill has a couple of corners that are wide open but I can seal them with stainless steel wool. I’ve got to take the entire cover off like the tech did the other day and see where else there are spots I have to address.
Thanks Tony.

Now I'm confused, normally the air is drawn over the outdoor coil which is at the back, by the fan which faces forward

 

[Rene T]

Now I'm confused, normally the air is drawn over the outdoor coil which is at the back, by the fan which faces forward

That’s right Tony. The coil is at the back of the unit and the fan which is at the front of the unit draws air in from the back, through the coil and out the front.

 

[Rene T]

Before sealing the unit back up, I'd place a couple rectangular blocks of Tom Cat brand mouse bait inside JIC one gets inside.

Ray, do you know if the mice eat the Tomcat bait Chunx, do they leave the area looking for water and then they die or do they die right away after eating the bait. I would hope they would get out of my mini split before dying. I believe that’s how D-con works.
I’m going to look into D-con also.

 

[Firstime RVer]

problem disappeared after neighbor took to feeding feral cats about two years ago.
safe travels and all the best.

 

[SMR]

The problem with Tomcat is other animals might eat the mouse and get poisoned from it, learned that the other night at a presentation on owls and hawks at the state park we are at.
Look for a mesh at Lowes or HD to prevent them from entering the unit. JMHO

 

[Laura & Charles]

Hardware cloth… Comes in various coarseness.. I’d think 1/4 inch would stop a mouse. Built a cage

 

[Jackiemac]

Jackie, Are you able to take a picture of it?

Will do it tomorrow