PEX & Rodents

[LSU]

I have a fishing/hunting camp way back up in the South Louisiana marsh.

The water supply is gathered rain water off the roof that is collected in a cistern. The pipes are PEX and we use 12v pump to deliver the water to the shower, toilet, etc.

we treat the water with bleach so do not drink it.

We have recently developed a problem with rodents (rats, we think) chewing through the blue PEX line. Not the white, not the red - at least we don’t think so. I know stop using BLUE but I’m not sure this would really solve it

Our camp is about 6’ above the ground.

Any suggestions on how to prevent /protect the PEX.

We‘ve used PVC before and, I guess we could go back to this but the cost is pretty high.

thanks.

 

[wssix99]

Seems like this is a thing and the pipe needs to be in an enclosure where the rodents can't go: https://tdtplumbing.com/rodents-che...X Pipe Is Vulnerable,water when they smell it.

 

[LSU]

Do you think the bleach - chlorine smell helps or hurts?

 

[Dagny]

is it where the pipe goes through a hole in wood

 

[BrandonV]

Do you think the bleach - chlorine smell helps or hurts?

You need to physically protect the pipe honestly. Rats will chew anything including copper pipe... no joke.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Got a sheet metal brake or even access to ? Bend up some sheet metal guards and screw over the pex .

Possible ?

 

[mike93lx]

Sleeve all the pex in copper piping and you'll be good to go.

I all seriousness, how much piping can there be? If you replace the damaged pieces with copper, you'll never have to worry about them again. It's not like the freeze benefit of pex is a factor

 

[RoninB4]

Hope it's just rats you have and not Nutria. I lived in Louisiana (New Orleans) for several years, Nutria would bore into the levee's.

 

[jack stand]

 

[Hohn]

Hope it's just rats you have and not Nutria. I lived in Louisiana (New Orleans) for several years, Nutria would bore into the levee's.

They still have the bounty on those in LA? I seem to recall from my brother who lived down there that it was $1 a tail at one point?

 

[RoninB4]

They still have the bounty on those in LA? I seem to recall from my brother who lived down there that it was $1 a tail at one point?

-On a quick search for images I spotted a thread from a couple of years ago where the bounty had been raised from $5 to $6 per. Some of the websites reported the Nutria as an invasive species that's destroying the wetlands, it was introduced in the 1930's for the fur. Whether it's of crisis proportions or not I wouldn't know.

Apologies to the OP for the topic detour.

 

[RonnieC]

Sounds like a good opportunity to use blue pex as bait and cash in on that sweet nutria bounty!

 

[RegeSullivan]

Forget the copper suggestion above. Rats and other rodents will gnaw it. No idea what attracts them to pipes but you need to find a way to protect it or get rid of the rats. I don't know if it would work but maybe try covering with some rodent resistant spray foam. This kind of stuff is frustrating I wish I had better suggestions.

 

[wssix99]

Do you think the bleach - chlorine smell helps or hurts?

I don't think it matters. For the rodents, its probably just like having lemon in their tea. (You can do it with or without.) I have consumed bleach disinfected water before in the jungle. Its not great, but you can live off it: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/emergency-disinfection-drinking-water

 

[Copymutt]

Rat bait in the area. Let em bleed out.

 

[mike93lx]

Forget the copper suggestion above. Rats and other rodents will gnaw it

My understanding is the exact opposite which is why copper mesh is sometimes used to stop them

 

[RegeSullivan]

My understanding is the exact opposite which is why copper mesh is sometimes used to stop them

Maybe it's the mesh they dont like??? I don't know what attracts them to pipes but I can tell you they do gnaw into copper. My dad did alot of work in some low income neighborhoods in the early 70's. We repaired/replaced plenty of 1/2 & 3/4 CU type "L" with "K" and in a year or 2 we'd be back replacing it again.

 

[LSU]

Rat bait in the area. Let em bleed out.

I'm worried about the darn things bleeding out inside the camp and finding them three weeks later inside.

That said - you got any recommendations for rat bait?

 

[doctordirt]

Hardware cloth wrapped around pipe

 

[BrandonV]

That said - you got any recommendations for rat bait?

I like using the professional stuff that has second-generation anticoagulants in it.

Can't buy it at Home Depot or Lowes as those stores target consumers. There is an agricultural exemption to sell it in eight pound containers at farm stores.

 

[no704]

Honda wire wrap. Or pipe wrap with lots of cyane pepper in it.

 

[LSU]

There is an agricultural exemption to sell it in eight pound containers at farm stores

Please explain this to us City folks. Thanks. How do I buy this stuff? Does Tractor Supply sell it?

thanks.

 

[LSU]

“Honda wire wrap.“


What is Honda wire wrap?

Thanks.

 

[mike93lx]

I buy my pesticides and herbicides from domyown.com you can get the legit, high test stuff there

 

[LSU]

I think I figured out what Honda wire wrap is - does anyone think this would stop the rats if properly (?) installed? Anyone have first hand experience with this?

Thanks.

 

[BrandonV]

Please explain this to us City folks. Thanks. How do I buy this stuff? Does Tractor Supply sell it?

thanks.

Probably. My local agricultural/farm supply store carries it. There's nothing special about purchasing it; the EPA just prohibits its sale at consumer-focused (not agricultural/farm) stores like Ace, Home Depot, or Lowe's. As long as you follow the instructions, just like with any pest control product, you'll be fine.

The second generation stuff will come in an eight pound container like this. I've found this particular one (brodifacoum) is effective on the rodents I have.

 

[BrandonV]

I buy my pesticides and herbicides from domyown.com you can get the legit, high test stuff there

Yup. Good people. There is a local business in Mesa, AZ that is really good too if anyone is in Arizona (Bug & Weed Mart). I've walked in off the street and they'll sell you pretty much anything.

Also the frozen yogurt shop next store is amazing.

 

[carlaisle]

Sleeve the pex with flexible (or rigid) metal electrical conduit?

 

[denis4x4]

In the summer of '57, DuPont donated a bunch of PVC pipe to the Boy Scout camp and it was installed by SeaBees. Leaks started appearing every where and it was determined that rodents were the cause. Samples were sent to the factory. The following year, the SeaBees replaced the first installation with new materials from DuPont that were said to be rodent proof. No more problems!

 

[Tractorsellr]

Go buy a bucket of Farnam, Just one Bite rat bait. All the other stuff I have used is just candy to Rats. Keep this stuff out year round and your rat problem will disappear. Like Justin Wilson said, I Guarontee

 

[no704]

I think I figured out what Honda wire wrap is - does anyone think this would stop the rats if properly (?) installed? Anyone have first hand experience with this?

Thanks.

Haven’t tried it, supposed to keep roadants out of wires with soy based insulation.

 

[bluedog225]

Two ideas. One galvanized pipe will work fine for your application. Old-fashioned. Will have some rusty water when first turned on each time. Who cares. The other thing is DIY electric rat zapper. Something with a slope to it so when they come in and touch the bait they get fried they fall out. There are some pretty clever things on the web, but some of them are 1950s style dangerous. You should be ok. Depends on how much juice she got out there.

 

[LSU]

Two ideas. One galvanized pipe will work fine for your application. Old-fashioned. Will have some rusty water when first turned on each time. Who cares. The other thing is DIY electric rat zapper. Something with a slope to it so when they come in and touch the bait they get fried they fall out. There are some pretty clever things on the web, but some of them are 1950s style dangerous. You should be ok. Depends on how much juice she got out there.

Both great suggestions but camp only has 5K generator power that runs when we show up and start it.

I can cut and thread galvanized pipe (thanks to a summer job in the mid 70’s) but that stuff freezes when my camp mates forget to drain it in the winter.

Please keep the ideas coming.

Photo of camp below. It is pretty remote.

Thanks.

 

[dcg9381]

That looks amazing.. Reminds me of a buddy's cabin where it's "OK" to use .22 "rat shot" in the living room.

I assume that's accessed by boat or float plane? That's hard-core.

It's kinda strange how rodents will hit PEX (or whatever). We don't have that issue here, I guess there is "better" stuff to chew up. Winterizing vehicles up north, I'm using moth balls and liberal spray of peppermint and cinnamon oil. I have no idea if that's practical or not up there.

There are several jokes on "wire wrap" as many years the wire wrap was appealing to rodents. Apparently manufacturers came out with a less attractive wrap, which is what people are suggesting... But if they are eating PEX, doesn't seem like there are many options left.

 

[BrandonV]

Go buy a bucket of Farnam, Just one Bite rat bait. All the other stuff I have used is just candy to Rats. Keep this stuff out year round and your rat problem will disappear. Like Justin Wilson said, I Guarontee

Yup. Looks like an 8 lb container of the good stuff. I still prefer brodifacoum it's the most potent thing you can get on the market but bromadiolone is pretty dang close.

 

[bluedog225]

Nice place. I’m surprised the two legged rats are not the main issue.

Just me, but I wouldn’t want to poison all the other wildlife that‘s going to eat the dead rats.

There is a solution that could be worked out with a battery operated watering timer depending on how the pipes are run. Something that opens up once a day or week or whatever and drains the entire system. That way if one of the guys forgets to drain it, it will drain itself. Maybe a couple for redundancy.

If you are getting by with a 5000 watt genny, that place begs for a few solar panels, inverter, and some LFP batteries. Big step up in peace and quiet.

 

[Indexmill]

As mentioned above, steel hardware "cloth" will not allow the rodents entry. They cannot chew steel effectively.

 

[LSU]

I’ve got another random thought/question- what about some sort of soft rubber garden hose type pipe? I’ve got garden hoses around my camp that don’t get chewed.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

 

[ipgenie]

You could probably put 1/2 pex inside a stick of 1" EMT. Bend it to the shape you need, crimp on ends and protect ends with wire mesh.
Might be enough room to expand the pex a little if frozen but keep the critters away.
Heavy wall poly might be good too.

 

[southalabama]

Forget the copper suggestion above. Rats and other rodents will gnaw it. No idea what attracts them to pipes but you need to find a way to protect it or get rid of the rats. I don't know if it would work but maybe try covering with some rodent resistant spray foam. This kind of stuff is frustrating I wish I had better suggestions.

When we cleaned out my great grandmother’s abandoned house we found a number of bullets. Rats had gnawed the lead off the ends.