Mice are dirty, and they carry several disease-causing viruses in their body. Let’s find the answer if you have sensed the mice infestation in your house and have this burning question of whether mice can get into the stove insulation.
Mice can get into the stove insulation by crawling through the gaps and holes found in the stove. They can chew through the insulation and wire, causing significant damage to the appliance. You can remove them by placing the traps and using mouse repellents.
Keep the area under the stove clean to avoid mice infestations in the future.
Bad odor and mouse pee around the stove are the obvious sign of mice infestation. In this article, you will understand the risk of mice getting into stove installations and the steps to avoid them. So, keep reading.
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This post includes some affiliate links.1. Understanding Stove Insulation and its Purpose
Like insulation in the house to prevent fire hazards, stoves also come with insulation installed in their interior.
Many of us don’t realize it until we open the appliance’s interior.
Recently, when I looked at the stove’s interior, it was surprising to see how insulated it is.
While it is the safer option, it comes with a significant issue.
There are more chances for trapping mice in the insulation because the insulation setup is a comfortable place for the mice to live.
Seeing my stove insulation with many mice with a strong bad smell was disgusting.
However, I got rid of all the mice from my stove.
It took efforts and strategic planning to get rid of this issue.
So, I am happy to share my learnings and experience to help you remove mice from your stove insulation.
Let’s start by understanding the type of insulation and its benefits while learning about the risk of mice getting into stove insulation.
The types of insulation used in stoves
The main purpose of the insulation material is to maintain the temperature range in the exterior of the stove.
It also prevents fire injuries to people by preventing the fire from escaping to the appliance’s frame.
Here is the common type of insulation used in the stove.
Vermiculite insulation
Vermiculite is often used as the insulation material in the stove due to its amazing insulation property.
It is a natural mineral highly preferred for its lightweight and easy-to-use nature.
It is often used as the outer covering of the insulation.
Vermiculite is not directly used as insulation.
Instead, it is mixed with cement to make it flexible and cast in a shape that would fit around the stove.
It protects the area around the stove from getting heated and is a non-toxic material that will not emit harmful gases.
As it is a naturally occurring mineral, it is an eco-friendly choice for insulating the stove.
Ceramic fiber insulation
Ceramic materials are melted into thin, flexible materials to make ceramic fiber insulation.
These flexible materials are folded to make boards and other shapes to install in the stove as insulation.
They are considered high-temperature insulation due to their property of withstanding higher resistance.
It is popular among people as they do not break or crack even though the temperature constantly changes.
It also conserves heat energy and releases it when needed, increasing the energy efficiency of the stove.
It is a flexible material. So, it can be used for a variety of stoves.
Ceramic fiber insulations come in different sizes and thicknesses.
Mineral wool insulation
Mineral wool insulations are used both in stoves and hoses.
It is a natural, manufactured material used as insulation.
Making mineral wool insulation involves breaking and melting the rocks at high temperatures, which are converted into a fibrous material.
It can withstand high temperatures, and it is a non-combustible material.
While installing mineral wool insulation, they are secured with the stove using pins and screws.
Fire brick insulation
Fire brick insulation is also called liners.
It is installed in the stove’s fire chambers to increase its combustion efficiency.
It looks like clay, and it has high resistance to high temperatures.
Different sizes of fire bricks are used based on the stove model.
Aluminum, iron, and alkaline materials are combined to make the fire brick insulation.
They are lightweight and easy-to-use materials. So, they are commonly used in insulating the stove.
The benefits of stove insulation
It is important to insulate stoves to prevent injury and increase their energy efficiency.
Here are the benefits of insulating the stoves in your kitchen.
Energy efficiency
Insulating the stove with the insulating materials prevents the heat from escaping and keeps it retained in the stove.
It helps to increase the energy efficiency of the oven.
Safety
Stove insulation prevents the heat from reaching the frame of the appliance.
It helps to prevent injuries to people who are operating it.
Insulation materials keep the stove and the area around it cool, reducing fire hazards.
Even the distribution of heat
Insulation materials help to spread the heat in the stove evenly.
Due to the even spread of heat in the stove, the food will be evenly cooked.
It improves the taste of the food and helps to avoid undercooking.
Cooking time is reduced.
As discussed, the insulation materials retain the heat in the stove by preventing it from escaping.
Due to the retaining of heat, the time of cooking the food will be reduced.
If you are someone who has less time for cooking, you will be highly benefited from insulating your stove.
Eco-friendly
Insulating the stove helps to reduce fuel consumption.
As fuel consumption is reduced, insulating the stove is an eco-friendly option.
The potential risks of mice getting into stove insulation
While insulating the stove has so many benefits, it also poses a reason for the mice’s invasion of the stove.
Here is the potential risk of mice getting into stove insulation:
- Electrical wire damages:
- Food contamination.
- Allergic reaction and breathing difficulties.
- Rize hazards.
- Decrease in the energy efficiency of the stove.
- Unpleasant odor in the kitchen.
2. Mice and Their Ability to Chew and Climb
Mice getting into the kitchen is the worst thing that can happen, causing several issues.
If you see mice in your kitchen, you should remember there are many in your kitchen and even all over the house.
The chewing and climbing habits of mice
Even though mice are disgusting, none can deny their chewing and climbing abilities.
Mice have incisor teeth at the front of their mouth, growing continuously without a pause.
It is a tooth they usually use to chew wires and other materials.
As they have strong teeth, it will be easy for them to chew anything less hard than their teeth.
They are omnivores and eat anything available to them.
They have excellent survival skills and are quick climbers.
Seeing them climb higher areas of the building and walls is common.
They even climb on the utility lines.
They can jump up to 13 inches at a time and run quickly on all vertical surfaces.
How can mice gain access to stove insulation?
The nature of mice is to jump, climb and squeeze themself, even in smaller spaces.
They usually invade houses in search of food, water, and shelter.
They are attracted to the piece of food under the refrigerator and stove.
A crack or a small opening is enough for the mouse to enter the stove or under the refrigerator.
The dangers of mice in stove insulation
In addition to the fire hazards and causing damage to the stove, the mice getting into the stove potentially cause severe health hazards as they contaminate the insulating material of the stove.
Health hazards are caused because mice carry various viruses, which cause diseases like lymphocytic choriomeningitis, leptospirosis, Salmonella, and Tularemia.
It also chews the electrical wires and causes damage to the entire appliance.
3. Preventing Mice from Getting into Stove Insulation
Having discussed the importance of insulation in the stove and the damage of mice getting into it, let’s learn how to prevent mice from getting into the stove insulation.
These are the three ways to prevent mice from getting into the stove insulation:
Sealing cracks and gaps in the stove and the surrounding area
Cracks and gaps are the entry points for the mice to enter your house.
Start by locating the cracks and gaps in your kitchen, or check the entire house for cracks and holes.
After locating the cracks and gaps, deep clean the area around it. Doing this will remove any dirt and debris.
Next, sealing materials like silicon can cover the cracks and gaps.
Make sure the seal is tight to prevent the entry of the mice.
Once sealing the cracks, check if the mice are still entering your house. In such a case, look for any other cracks and gaps.
Installing wire mesh
Another way to prevent mice entry is to install the wire mesh.
Locate the area in the stove that acts as the mouse’s entry point and locate the gaps and cracks.
Check the vent and pipes to see if they pay for the mice in the house and kitchen.
Now, clean the area to get rid of dust and debris particles.
Install the wire mesh. Make sure it is capable of withstanding the high temperature.
It must also be too strong for the mice to chew. After installing the mesh, check the corners for any gaps and holes.
If there are gaps, seal them with silicon materials.
After installing the mesh, check if the issue still persists.
In such cases, install wire mesh in any other areas.
Using mouse repellents or deterrents
After installing the wire mesh of the silicon sealing in the cracks and gaps, you can use repellents and deterrents to eliminate mice.
Here are some natural ingredients to get rid of mice in the kitchen.
- Vinegar
- Peppermint oil
- Cinnamon
- Citronella
- Bleach
- Ammonia and
- Mothballs
4. Removing Mice from Stove Insulation
As soon as you see mice roaming around your kitchen and stove insulation, you must take steps to remove them. Follow the steps mentioned below to do the same.
Steps for safely removing mice from stove insulation
The best way to remove mice from the stove insulation is to set traps and mice repellents along the wall and against the stove.
- Find an area in the stove where mice are hidden.
- Set the traps along the wall of those areas.
- Keep checking the traps regularly.
- If mice are caught in the traps, catch them and put them outside your home.
- Once done trapping, seal all the gaps, holes, and other openings to prevent them from entering again.
- Clean the area around the openings and the gaps and place repellents to prevent their entries.
Tips for avoiding mouse infestations in the future
Follow the tips below to avoid mice infestations in your home
- Keep the areas under the stove and refrigerator clean.
- Clear the clutter in your home. Mice always hide in cluttered areas. Cleaning the clutter will prevent the infestation of mice.
- Prevent the food from spilling on the floor. If the food is spilled, clean it to prevent it from attracting the mice.
- If there are trees around your home, mice can climb them to get inside. Trim them to prevent it.
- Place traps and repellents in the suspected area and monitor your house regularly.
When to seek professional help for removing mice from stove insulation
It is best to hire a professional if you cannot control the mice infestations even after following all the preventive steps.
Professionals will strategically approach the issue and help eliminate the mice without costing you time and effort.
You must also hire a professional when the issue is out of control.
Final thoughts
It is common to confront mice infestation in stove insulations. But it is not to be taken lightly. It will be disgusting to cook on the stove when mice contaminate its insulation. It also causes serious health hazards if not taken prompt action to get the mice out of the stove insulation.
You can remove the mice from the stove insulation by keeping the traps and repellents along the wall. Seal the cracks and gaps in your house’s stove and other areas with silicon sealing and wire mesh.
You must clean the area under the stove to avoid attracting mice infestations. Consider hiring a professional if you find it hard to control mice infestations in your stove insulations.
Can mice ruin a stove?
Mice can chew the electrical wires and other components, damaging the appliance. Not controlling the mice infestation immediately will ruin the entire stove.
What smells will keep mice away?
You can prevent the entry of mice with the smell of peppermint, bleach, vinegar, and citronella.
Reference link: Kitchen stove Wikipedia