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Rodents! A word of warning for heat pump owners

Tim441 · 2025-08-22T13:02:31Z

Rodent issue... to highlight potential problem from my heat pump service (LG)One worry was sign of rodent getting up the drainage holes in the unit and chewing some insulation. Fortunately no damage to electronics or pipe. I will need to give some thought to protect the hole with mesh.... perhaps expanding mesh used by builders. Either galvanised or stainless Not something I'd considered before and would've thought manufacturers would make rodent proof. Also some signs of chewing external pipe insulation

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Tim441

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Topic starter 19/10/2025 1:03 pm

Useful and timely reminder!

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madbilly

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07/01/2026 1:39 pm

Hi everyone 🙂

I found this thread searching about rodents eating pipe insulation. The insulation on the outdoor pipes for our heat pump is being eaten, presumably by rodents (but I imagine it could also be birds pecking at it). I initially wasn't sure so I asked the installer (it was only installed ~1 year ago) and they said it was rodents, but I was surprised they didn't offer any solution - note my post here is NOT about my installer! 😀 I'm actually wondering why pipe insulation isn't made to be rodent proof when it's going to be outside? It seems obvious to me. Shouldn't it be a requirement of MCS certification that insulation on outdoor pipes must be resilient to vermin?

Now I've seen Mars' video I'll bear in mind asking them to check inside the unit at the next service.

Cheers 🙂

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Toodles

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07/01/2026 2:09 pm

@madbilly Sounds good; MCS requiring rodent proof insulation as a basic requirement. What we need first is a requirement for MCS to bare their teeth - never mind the rodents! Regards, Toodles.

Toodles, heats his home with cold draughts and cooks food with magnets.

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JamesPa

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07/01/2026 2:19 pm

Posted by: @toodles

↑

@madbilly Sounds good; MCS requiring rodent proof insulation as a basic requirement. What we need first is a requirement for MCS to bare their teeth - never mind the rodents! Regards, Toodles.

Im sure there are plenty of gags to be had linking MCS and rodents of various types!

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Toodles

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07/01/2026 2:37 pm

@jamespa I think I was being very restrained really!😉

Toodles, heats his home with cold draughts and cooks food with magnets.

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Mars

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07/01/2026 2:56 pm

@madbilly, MCS requiring rodent-proof insulation? Hysterical. MCS can’t even require installers to insulate pipes properly in the first place.

In fact, if MCS were in charge of pest control, they’d certify the rats as long as they paid their annual membership fee.

@jamespa, I'm trying very hard and restraining myself from the inevitable MCS/rat comparisons.

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Toodles

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07/01/2026 2:59 pm

@editor Come on Mars, cut out the restraint and amuse us all! Toodles.

Toodles, heats his home with cold draughts and cooks food with magnets.

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Transparent

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07/01/2026 3:28 pm

Posted by: @madbilly

↑

I initially wasn't sure so I asked the installer (it was only installed ~1 year ago) and they said it was rodents, but I was surprised they didn't offer any solution

Two thoughts:

1: Let's ask @david-s if Primary Pro insulation has any rodent-proof feature.

2: What about painting the external insulation with something distasteful, such as Stop & Grow?
or a similar remedy normally used to discourage children from biting their nails?

This post was modified 5 days ago by Transparent

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