Rats causing plumbing issues...

[mr. buck]

Received a call from the rancher today that we had a major water leak under the master bathroom floor right beneath the sink. Its the third time we've had this issue and dhe last two times its been rats or something similar that has chewed thru the cheap pvc on the double wide we put out at the hunting camp.

A couple of questions I'm hoping you guys can help me with. Would it help to put flashing around the base of the trailer with about 6 inches of it below the surface and drill it into the skirt?

Also we should've been shutting off the water when not out there but were worried about the implications to the hot water heater. If we shut off the water do we need to drain and shut off the hot water heater? Also if we do that when we turn the water back on what should the process be in turning the hot water heater back on?

Thanks in advance guys, getting expensive replacing cabinets and floors but the worst part is that it inconveniences the rancher who already does way too much for us.

[muzzyslinger]

use copper piping

[kmlj9491]

I don't see why you would have to drain the water heater. But then again I'm not a plumber. You can't just turn the breaker off? If the rats are that desperate for water that they're chewing through pvc I would put a little automatic waterer outside somewhere

[huntresss]

In regards to the water heater, you do not need to drain it. Just turn the breaker off when you leave and turn it back on when you come back. We do it all the time in our guest house.

As far as the rats, the on,y thing I've found that will keep rats and mice out from under a trailer, is cats.

[hcshooter]

Rat Snake

[kmitchl]

In regards to the water heater, you do not need to drain it. Just turn the breaker off when you leave and turn it back on when you come back. We do it all the time in our guest house.

As far as the rats, the on,y thing I've found that will keep rats and mice out from under a trailer, is cats.

10-4 on the cats. Feed them about once per week and they are on their own the rest of the time.

[buckmastertexas]

When you turn the water back on, do it gradually so the full force does not hit the plumbing connections full force. On an older trailer(my camp), this gradually damaged water connections and sprang leaks. Newer model homes probably have better plumbing and may not be an issue. I did not make the connection on what was causing the problem until this past incident. Learning the hard way, as usual!

[Todd-ty729]

Tagged for later

[Out_Numbered]

There is a new poly pipe that the rats can't smell the water through it.

[Martin]

That trailer probably has Quest plastic piping....rat candy. Re plumb with Pex or copper.

[mr. buck]

thanks for the response guys. Just talked to the plumber that did it last time and unfortunately he'd already upgraded to the Pex and thats what got chewed through. He said in his opinion the copper would freeze. So he's going to replace with new Pex and suggested that he wrap it in electrical conduit and the areas where they'd been chewing through. We'll see how it goes.