DIY & Home Improvement

IbogaProject

(4,211 posts)

24. Surface area and steel can have other things in it, so there maybe another item that causes that issue.

Fri Feb 21, 2025, 06:12 PM

Feb 21

Modern practice is to use copper mesh, or copper dish scrubbers.

"is steel wool against the fire code"?, google search=

Yes, steel wool is considered against fire codes due to its highly flammable nature; while solid steel is not flammable, the fine fibers of steel wool can easily catch fire when exposed to heat sources like sparks or open flames, making it a significant fire hazard and violating most fire codes.

And from a reddit thread,

The comments here are terrible. Steel wool is STRONGLY discouraged from being used near any heat source both within pest control and fire codes. https://staysafe.org/pest-control/how-to-use-steel-wool-to-control-mice/

It's not electrical though. It's something that'd give fire code inspectors high blood pressure.

The recommendation is to use steel mesh near heat vents. They should not use such a combustible material near a heater.

https://staysafe.org/pest-control/how-to-use-steel-wool-to-control-mice/

https://mosquitojoe.com/blog/does-steel-wool-work-for-pest-control/#:~:text=Essential%20Considerations%20for%20Using%20Steel,any%20type%20of%20electrical%20spark.

https://up.codes/s/venting-of-gas-water-heaters-and-other-gas-appliances-in-multiple-dwellings

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Yikes! I have mice in the house! [View all] Dyedinthewoolliberal Feb 21 OP

Why are you not supposed to trap? mahina Feb 21 #1

I didn't say that. Dyedinthewoolliberal Feb 21 #9

Oops, I misread. So the black plastic traps work great esp w slimjim for bait. mahina Feb 21 #10

Traps work the best in my opinion. Progressive dog Feb 21 #2

Amazon has plug in pest devices. Six for about 24 bucks. Autumn Feb 21 #3

Neighborhood cats will come. bucolic_frolic Feb 21 #4

They can also get in through an open entrance door. Omnipresent Feb 21 #26

I use poisoned bait. I'm not hawking a brand, but I use Tomcat bait blocks. patphil Feb 21 #5

Poisoned bait kills cats, owls, snakes and anything else up the food chain, japple Feb 21 #7

True, that's why I said to put the bait it inslde the crawl space. patphil Feb 21 #21

They go outside to forage even in winter. It's a real problem for raptors. 58Sunliner Feb 21 #22

I had this issue when I lived in SC in 2021. Still traumatized by it Joinfortmill Feb 21 #6

Get a cat SheltieLover Feb 21 #8

Ugh, I have a crawl space and perimeter foundation. Worst case. They find a way. usonian Feb 21 #11

I used live traps myself for a couple years, baited with peanut butter bhikkhu Feb 21 #12

You have to plug the holes into the house questionseverything Feb 21 #13

steel wool is a fire risk use copper mesh instead. IbogaProject Feb 21 #15

never heard of that Kali Feb 21 #17

Surface area and steel can have other things in it, so there maybe another item that causes that issue. IbogaProject Feb 21 #24

huh Kali Feb 21 #32

Copper dish scrubbers fit in the same spaces and are cheap IbogaProject Feb 22 #35

key is to seal any holes. IbogaProject Feb 21 #14

Also, get mouseproof containers and keep them from finding any food at all. chowmama Feb 21 #16

Use duct tape to keep the steel wool in place! questionseverything Feb 21 #18

snap traps baited with peanut butter Kali Feb 21 #19

And when baiting with peanut butter, don't use too much. Had to deal with an invasion at my old place... JHB Feb 21 #29

yep and old almost rancid super sticky or partly dried PB is best Kali Feb 21 #33

While I dislike kill traps.... wysimdnwyg Feb 21 #20

I have cats and never had a problem. Anywhere. 58Sunliner Feb 21 #23

Thanks everyone! Dyedinthewoolliberal Feb 21 #25

A friend of mine is away a lot. usonian Feb 21 #27

Steel wool in even the tiniest holes to the outside. Scrivener7 Feb 21 #28

Get a tube of Mortar Joint caulking a caulking gun and a mirror when it's warmer and drier. IA8IT Feb 21 #30

They seem to come in waves Shermann Feb 21 #31

Once they get in, oh boy, do they reproduce. OAITW r.2.0 Feb 21 #34

get a cat. pansypoo53219 Feb 22 #36