How to stop pests entering sliding gate motor box?

emmab1986

Hello all

It is very frustrating that our sliding gate motor is being treated like a "5-star hotel" by slugs and lizards. They frequently crawl across the back of the circuit board, which causes the system to short-circuit.

We have already tried using mothballs and various repellent tactics, but unfortunately, these haven't worked. Could you please advise on a more permanent solution? We are particularly interested in better ways to seal the entry points or protect the internal components to stop this from happening again.

I have attached a photo showing where they could get in.

Kind regards,

PS: we have sealed all other holes, but haven't been able to seal that hole

MitchellMc

Hi @emmab1986,

That does sound frustrating, they’ve clearly found themselves a very cosy little spot.

If you’ve already sealed the other openings, the next step I’d be looking at is creating a small cover plate for that remaining gap. You don’t need anything too fancy, just something that physically blocks access.

A simple way to go about it is to take some basic measurements of the opening and make a small template, then transfer that onto a piece of material and cut it to size. You can then finesse the shape so it neatly fits around the pipe that’s coming through.

For materials, you’ve got plenty of options, even something as simple as:

• A small piece of thin timber
• A bit of sheet metal
• Or even something like the lid from an ice cream container if it fits the space well

Once you’ve got your piece shaped, you can fix it in place using a good exterior adhesive like silicone or Sikaflex 11FC, which will seal it up nicely while holding it in position.

If you want to take it a step further, you could also add a thin bead of sealant around the edges once it’s in place to make sure there are no tiny gaps left for pests to squeeze through.

The key here is creating a snug physical barrier, as repellents tend to be hit and miss, but blocking access is usually much more effective. I've created a rendering showing blocking with a panel.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell