Motorists have been issued guidance to protect their vehicles from rats during the colder months and when cars are left idle over the Christmas period
An expert has shared advice for motorists to safeguard their vehicles against rats and mice during the colder temperatures and when cars sit unused over the Christmas period. Louis Verrico, Chief Executive Officer at Pace Van Hire, told motorists that taking preventative steps now could save significant repair costs and inconvenience later.
“Cold snaps can be particularly harsh on vehicles that aren’t properly prepared, especially if they’re left standing for several days during the holiday season,” he said. The South London-based expert highlighted that rodent damage ranks among the most common yet overlooked winter vehicle problems.
He said: “In cold weather, rats and mice love seeking warmth and shelter in engine bays which stay warm long after the van has been used. Plus, if your van is parked in a quiet, undisturbed space for a long period with lots of wires and other components to gnaw on, they will enjoy taking advantage of this perfect nesting spot.”
He offered one simple method that could help. “We take a two-pronged approach to protecting exposed wires with tape. We first wrap with Metex Rat Tape which is typically used on building sites to stop rodents getting through holes. It creates a physical barrier.” You can get Metex Rat Tape at the Safety Supply Company for as little as £9.60.
The van rental specialist continued: “Once that has been applied, we apply Capsaicin-infused tape which is designed to deter rats by making the surface unpalatable and spicy. Capsaicin is the compound that gives chillies their heat – so you can imagine, it’s pretty effective at repelling rodents without harming them.” You can find Capsaicin-infused tape for £6.19 on Amazon.
One man who consistently works with high voltage highlighted on Reddit how much of a rampant issue rodents are when it comes to wiring in the great outdoors, or in cars left outside. He wrote: “Rodents are a circuit’s worst nightmare.
“I do a lot of outdoor high voltage stuff as part of my job and the amount of times I’ve heard and seen rodents chewing into a 10 kV table and blowing themselves to smithereens is so high. They have a death wish that is fuelled by their desire to explore tubes – it’s ridiculous.”
Some Reddit users have also used these tapes to deter pets from chewing on the wiring inside their homes. One wrote: “Oh I love my dog – it’s is for her protection – but the money it will save me is a great ancillary benefit.
“Just a little unpleasant spiciness and she’ll associate that tape with, ‘Don’t Chew’. She’ll probably only do it once and that will be it. I could probably just use regular tape the same colour at that point.”
