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HELP! Dishwasher-eating rats!

2005

WE HAVE A DISHWASHER WITH A PLASTIC BACKING AND WE HAD A RAT GET TRAPPED BACK THERE AND ATE A 1INCH HOLE IN OUR DISHWASHER. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW IS DO YOU KNOW OF ANY KIND OF SEALANT THAT IS NOT ONLY WATERPROOF BUT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD?

I SURE APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER ASAP.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

RUSSELL WAYNE CLINTON
HOME - TURLOCK, California, USA

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First of two simultaneous responses --

If the rat only chewed through the plastic, just get another sheet of plastic and replace the whole lot. The plastic will not be important to the operation of the dishwasher. However, before doing anything else, I suggest you kill the rat - its all very well being all sweetness and light to our poor little furry friends, but at the end of the day, they are just common and garden vermin, especially when they are in our houses!

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2005

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

I would try a fiberglass and resin patch kit. Generally they are available from auto and marine supply stores. You want to use the one with resin, hardener and cloth NOT the type with putty.

Gene Packman
process supplier - Great Neck, New York
2005

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2005

Hi Russel,

This is to let you know that Trevor is a licensed rat killer but he doesn't want this to become public knowledge. True ! He keeps a family of large starved cats and guarantees rat removal and a smile on the cats' faces.

You could ask him what he charges. He would love to hear from you again.

And what Gene says makes sense ... but one hopes that the dishwasher plastic ain't Polyethylene or Polypropylene as the FRP ... or even epoxy ... will not bond to it.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).