Need help to seal off Outside electric meter box

funkyDIY · Post by **funkyDIY** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:46 am

Hi

My electric meter is in a box on the outside of my house. As you can see from the pictures there are huge holes in it and I've been told by a Pest Control company that it might be where field mice are getting into my property and heading up to my loft.

Any suggestions on how best to seal this box off and what materials to use?

Many thanks
Al

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 12:04 pm

Piece of timber, and cut it to fit round the cables. Use cardboard first to get the shape / cutouts, then lay it on the timber and draw round it, secure it with silicone sealant.

Razor · Post by **Razor** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 12:15 pm

If you need an easy solution go for flue jointing compound. It's what gas engineers use to seal holes etc in meter boxes and rodents don't like it.

https://www.bes.co.uk/flue-jointing-com ... -tub-9465/

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 12:49 pm

looks like a typical rat run to me because off the greasy lines and what looks like gnawing, but i could be wrong
i f am correct then something they cannot gnaw at like metal or cement with pebbles in

funkyDIY · Post by **funkyDIY** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 1:00 pm

Thanks for the replies.

What I'm thinking of doing is using some cardboard to mark out the big cutout where the powerline comes into the box. Using the cardboard as a stencil to cut a piece of wood into the shape as @Someone-else suggested. I'll then use silicone to stick the wood to the box from the inside. I'll then the flue jointing compound on the outside of the box to cover any gaps from the powerline into the box. I'll use the flue jointing compound to filler to fill in the other two holes (random hole and the hole with cables feeding into the house). How does that sound? I've not used flue jointing compound before, any advice/tips are much appreciated. is it like using Polyfilla?

@big-all The pest control company left poison in the ceiling and came back after a few weeks to check it. They said based on the droppings and the gnaw marks on the bait it looked like a family of mice. Would my potential solution work if it were rats?

Razor · Post by **Razor** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 1:46 pm

FJC is more like a non setting putty you just mold it into a sausage and push it where it's needed.

That's why it's known as donkeys d*ck in the trade

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 1:55 pm

by all means try it if they have gone then theres no draw to bring in fresh creatures
then if it gets gnawed through you know you need stronger
perhaps metal scourers fully covered with filler/cement :dunno:

https://www.cleanerproducts.co.uk/produ ... n-scourers

funkyDIY · Post by **funkyDIY** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 4:03 pm

lol, donkey ****!!!

Are there any other names for flue jointing compound? I'm trying to see if I could pick up some later tonight from a local Screwfix/Wickes or B&Q but I cant seem to find it on their website. I'm sure its just me not searching the right thing.

OnlyMe · Post by **OnlyMe** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 6:15 pm

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Wed Jan 26, 2022 12:04 pm Piece of timber, and cut it to fit round the cables. Use cardboard first to get the shape / cutouts, then lay it on the timber and draw round it, secure it with silicone sealant.

Yep - agreed. I would use pieces of large PVC trunking lid instead of wood as that is what is in my van. Same principal - same result.