Propane line looks chewed
Prof Wonmug
the propane tank to the burners has several holes that look like they
were chewed. The line is fairly new and except for the holes, shows no
wear.
We do not live in a wooded area. The only animals we ever see are
squirrels and rats. I suspect the rats. Is there any other
explanation?
Assuming that it is a rat or other animal, why would they chew a hose?
Are they after the grease? After I replace the hose, do I need to be
more careful to keep it clean? This has never happened before. Is
there something else I should do?
Puzzled.
Frank
I'd think squirrels. Bumped into a coworker once at a hardware store
and he said he needed new lines since squirrels had chewed his.
I keep my BBQ covered and we have lots of squirrels but they have never
bothered it. My grill is practically an antique and I've had to replace
burner and grates several times but hoses have remained intact.
Art Todesco
> On Thu, 06 May 2010 23:17:24 -0700, Prof Wonmug<won...@e.mcc> wrote:
>
>> When I went out to clean off the BBQ, I discovered that the line from
>> the propane tank to the burners has several holes that look like they
>> were chewed. The line is fairly new and except for the holes, shows no
>> wear.
>>
>> We do not live in a wooded area. The only animals we ever see are
>> squirrels and rats. I suspect the rats. Is there any other
>> explanation?
>>
>
>>
>> Assuming that it is a rat or other animal, why would they chew a hose?
>
> & they need the salt. I suspect they are just trying to kill us.
> I've had mice chew my wiring harness in a new car. I doubt anything
> but a robot ever touched that wire.
>
> Last month a friend had out-of-town relatives staying in his camper in
> his back yard. The came in to ask how to turn off the 'smoke
> detector' -- turned out it was the explosive gas detector. Some
> rodent had chewed the propane lines---- then they turned on the
> water. Yup- the bastards ate some of that too. [and for good
> measure they ate some wires on his generator in a nearby shed.]
>
>> Are they after the grease? After I replace the hose, do I need to be
>> more careful to keep it clean? This has never happened before. Is
>> there something else I should do?
>
> find a good live wire, they taste every piece of rubber/plastic they
> can find. Stuff happens-- be vigilant-- take precautions.
>
> Jim
I think some of the rodent chew in the
winter time to keep their metabolism up
and stay warm. Squirrels will
practically chew on anything.
notbob
> I suspect the rats. Is there any other
> explanation?
Maybe one of those metal loving woodpeckers.
nb
Mike
This same thing caused the death of my gas grill. Decided to go with
charcoal and gave the grill to someone else who replaced the propane
connection. I suspect, in my case, that some grease drippings had
landed on the hose and made it too much to resist. Darn rodents! I
like charcoal better anyway, but it's certainly less convenient.
Mike
Tony Hwang
Jog your memory in the biology class. Those critters always need to chew
something to wear down their teeth. Otherwise The teeth will grow and
they can't even close their mouth.
DGDevin
"Prof Wonmug" <won...@e.mcc> wrote in message
news:nob7u596ghbet5p8h...@4ax.com...
> Assuming that it is a rat or other animal, why would they chew a hose?
> Are they after the grease? After I replace the hose, do I need to be
> more careful to keep it clean? This has never happened before. Is
> there something else I should do?
If you can't find an armored hose for that application, I'd consider
wrapping the new hose in something rodents would be unlikely to chew
through, maybe like this:
http://www.paragonperformance.com/Techflex.html
aemeijers
Do they sell propane hoses with steel-braid jackets, like they do for
car fuel lines?
But yeah, a little meat grease on the hose, and it looks like food to
critters. Even the mold release on a new hose can smell interesting
enough to them.
--
aem sends...
Prof Wonmug
wrote:
Interesting idea. When I saw your post, I was about to ask if there
might be something I could put on the new hose like a spray or wrap.
The TechFlex solution might be a bit overkill. The sleeve itself is
probably about $4-5. Then I'll need something to secure the ends. The
hose locks are about $12-15 each and one of them needs a special tool.
I suppose I could wrap the ends with duct tape.
Here's another solution I found.
http://www.accentshopping.com/product.asp?P_ID=149548
It's just $5.50, but probably wouldn't buy from them. The photo is
pretty much useless as is the website. And I noticed that their
"guidelines" for user feedback on their products precludes negative
comments.
Would wrapping the hose with duct tape make a difference? This site
recommends it.
http://www.rd.com/advice-and-know-how/extraordinary-uses-for-duct-tape/article23831-3.html
Would squirrels chew through duct tape, too?
The other alternative is to do nothing. We've only had one hose chewed
in 20 years and a new hose is only $4.
Prof Wonmug
>On Thu, 06 May 2010 23:17:24 -0700, Prof Wonmug <won...@e.mcc> wrote:
>
>I'll vote for the rats. Too bad they didnt get gassed and die. I
>hate rats. Wrap the hose in some sort of metal. Screen, tin-foil, or
>shove it thru some copper tubing. Then put rat poison around the area
>so they DO have something to chew. (warning, dont use rat poison if
>you have pets).
Hmmm... Probably not copper tubing, which tends to crimp, but maybe
some sort of flex tubing. I need to go to the hardware store anyway.
I'll see what they have. Maybe even some metallic tape.