Hep2o - mice rodent rat damage

[Johnnie Godman]

Hi,
We developed our m house 4 years ago and used literally 100s of meters of Hep piping.
We had our first leak (between ceiling and first floor causing plasterboard of ceiling and wall to come down, etc) 2 weeks ago.
Cause of leak, a mice chewing through the central heating pipe during the summer months.
Beware of using plastic piping.
Johnnie

 

[quality]

There are loads of plastic plumbers around with no insurance or not traceable.
Sorry for you and your ceiling post where you are there are plenty of genuine decent plumbers on here

 

[kimbo]

Unfortunately there are a lot of places that you are not allowd to solder because your insurance wont cover it so plastic is the only alternative. That said using copper is a dying art but if you are known to have a rodent problem then any plumber worth his salt would not use plastic.

 

[sparra1100]

i dont use plasitic anyway unless its in a place were its impossible to get copper never heard of not being allowed to solder as long as your carefull and have water and damp cloth about and a heat mat

 

[ecowarm]

Trap the rats/ mice as poisoning makes them thirsty and will chew through more pipes

 

[WaterTight]

i wonder how they know there's water in the pipes

 

[AWheating]

in propertys where you are not allowed to solder you are better off using pressfit type fittings or brass/copper pushfit then using plastic, as most listed building tend to have a rodent problem of some sort.

 

[markfxy]

I doubt it was a mouse probably movement causing chafing on a screw or nail, Never had a problem with plastic, Plastics fantastic!

 

[ecowarm]

seen loads of pipes chewed
they can either smell or hear the water, either way they know its in there.

 

[samh]

i wonder how they know there's water in the pipes

I think its to do with their whiskers and sensing changes and stuff.

 

[SimonG]

It's the vibration in the pipe that attracts them, same with cables. Always copper if there's a rodent issue.

 

[sheff paul]

I think its to do with their whiskers and sensing changes and stuff.

On one job we had some 'thieving gypsy mice' who ripped out all the copper and left the plastic ...

 

[kimbo]

i dont use plasitic anyway unless its in a place were its impossible to get copper never heard of not being allowed to solder as long as your carefull and have water and damp cloth about and a heat mat

Read your insurance policy especially the small print.

 

[Best]

Hep say " not suitable for anywhere there are rodents ", or similar wording. I say, where do you not get mice? Even the best sealed up homes, with careful owners, can end up with a mouse. I wouldn't use plastic pipe if at all possible. Mice will chew many things, especially plastic. I am told their teeth keep growing, so they have to keep using them. Any plumber who thinks plastic pipes are safe, are deluded.

 

[Guest123]

i wonder how they know there's water in the pipes

They can smell it.