Keeping Rodents out of your Pool Heater

Rats take over Santa Clarita Pool Heater

One of our common service calls at CWI Pool Service is for heater repairs. Lots of local pool professionals rely on us to troubleshoot and diagnose heater problems for their customers as well.  Today I received a call from a local pool service company about a heater that was not working. I showed up ready to get to the bottom of it and when I took the cover off, there was a large rat’s nest and fresh droppings.

Rats can create a lot of problems with pool heaters.  Mostly chewing through wiring that is essential to keeping the pool heater in working condition. I wanted to share some friendly advice on what to do in this situation, and how to avoid it in the future.

If you know there are rats living in your pool heater it would be best to call a pest control company to set up live traps around your pool equipment to catch the resident rat. As soon as the rat has been removed the nest needs to be addressed. In my experience I have found that using a shop style vacuum and some non-flammable cleaner works best. Be sure to wear a mask and gloves when dealing with any areas where rats have lived, as they do carry diseases. Be sure to remove all of the debris from the heater so that other rats are not as attracted to the location.

When all is clean and clear it is time to prevent new rodents from moving in. I have found that using a fine mesh chicken wire works best. I use the mesh to cover large openings or vents around the outside of the heater. For smaller openings, I like to use steel wool or a silicone caulking. Try to fill every little opening, as a rat can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter.  Another “best practice” for keeping rats out of your heater is to turn it on regularly, for a short period of time.

The opinions that I have expressed here are simply what I have found to work in my personal experience, which unfortunately is quite extensive. I am not a licensed pest control service, and once again recommend that you consult one if you feel that you have an infestation.