The outdoor portion of our Central Air unit is a mouse hotel

[NewJeffCT]

it seems. Found out last night when we came home to find the A/C not working. I replaced a fuse on the indoor unit and it fired up for a minute or two before stopping. Then, the service guy on the phone said it might be mice got into the A/C unit and chewed two copper wires there... sure enough, that was it - I saw at least 3 mice out there (one was small & brown, one grey and one big fat one that was also brown). I separated the wires and replaced the fuse again and it worked. One of the handiest things I've done in my life (very low bar on that one, though)

However, is there a way besides killer traps and/or poison to keep them out of there and prevent further wire chewing?

[grasswire]

1. four legs, fur, claws/fangs and PURRS. n.t

[sakabatou]

2. Not all of them are guarenteed to work

Like my cat. She just ignores the mouse. My dog, before he died was a great mouser.

[NewJeffCT]

3. Too many coyotes & foxes around where we live

we've had some neighbors lose cats - assuming it's from a coyote or a fox.

[Jamastiene]

19. A trail of bread crumbs from the fox and coyote dens to the A/C?

:P

[sarge43]

4. If there's space and the smell doesn't get in house, try mothballs.

Furries can't stand the smell. We put them in the summer cars so they don't camp out in them during the winter.

[NewJeffCT]

6. I sprinkled a few around the unit

I don't think the smell would get into the house, as it's maybe a yard away from the house itself.

[sarge43]

7. It's worth a try.

If it works, don't forget to put out more after a rain.

[NewJeffCT]

13. I was smelling mothballs for the rest of the night

pretty strong smell - I can see them driving off just about any animal.

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. Yeah, they are brain cell killers. If you can avoid using them again I would do so. We use

the sonic repellents here and so far so good. Do you have an outlet inside fairly close to the unit? I know the small repellents we use can cover a fairly good amount of space, so if you have an outlet near enough to the unit that might do the trick. :hi:

[NewJeffCT]

21. A co-worker of mine

suggested using those car air fresheners, as they last for a while and are pretty cheap as well.

There is probably an indoor outlet within 4-5 feet of the outdoor unit.

[GreenPartyVoter]

23. Let me know if it works. :^)

[Haole Girl]

5. We have never even seen a mouse near or in our house for some reason...

:-)

[NewJeffCT]

8. we'll do that one of these days

but, as I said, there are a decent amount of coyotes & foxes in the area, so it's not a great area for an outdoor cat.

[Haole Girl]

10. We have coyotes in our area

I just keep them indoors most of the time. It seems, their trips outside (however brief) must be a deterrent for mice, because all of our neighbors have had mice. Of course, they all have dogs, instead of cats. :hi:

[RagAss]

9. Play 70's Disco music all day until they hang themselves.

[mikeytherat]

15. Do that, and you'll only attract mice like this:

mikey_the_rat

[RagAss]

16. LOL !

[csziggy]

11. Rat snakes will keep the mice out

And they can get into those small spaces the cats can't. But it could be hard to get the unit serviced with a snake living in it!

[NewJeffCT]

14. My wife

is deathly afraid of snakes - doesn't even like to see them on TV.

[csziggy]

17. Well, then that remedy is out.

We don't mind snakes - in fact I have been known to "kidnap" them from other farms to bring home to reduce the mouse population in the barn. Last week one meandered through the screen porch - cute little gray rat snake.

But I do understand that some just can't stand them.

[Jamastiene]

20. Too bad, because I have an abundance of rat snakes.

No more mice though.

[pokerfan]

12. deterrent powder

http://www.critter-repellent.com/mice/mice-control.php

[Kali]

22. screen the holes with 1/4 inch hardware cloth