Dirt/Mud Dauber Water Heater Door Entrance

[TECMike]

Dirt/Mud daubers gain entrance to my hot water heater via the door. It has gaps around it when it is closed and the pests enter through them, thus building their mud nest.

Has anyone experienced this and is there a fix? I thought of rubber adhesive door strips used to stop air, but am afraid it might be flameable.

Sure would appreciate some recommendations. Thanks in advance. Mike

Moved to Tech Issues forum from DIY.

[Blazing_Zippers]

I went to the Habitat for humanity store and bought an old window screen (metal screening) for a dollar. Then with the screen and a beer, I formed a complete screen covering for the inside of the water heater cover. I used silicone to attach the screening to the metal door.
I took the rest of the screening (and another beer) and made a similar screen inside the refer vent cover. I didn't have enough screen to cover the upper refer vent stack.
I used metal screen (instead of plastic) because of the heat factor in the hot water heater area. The project took 2 beers due to heat factor outside. The screens have lasted ALL summer!!!!!

[wolfe10]

Duct tape will melt and leave a mess even without the heater on!

Just open the door and shut the nylon screen in it, leaving a little sticking out around the perimeter of the door.

[rexlion]

I was planning to duct tape some nylon screen over my WH door's opening. I would not have thought that it would get hot enough to melt it. Does anyone have firsthand experience to say whether it will be too hot?

That mothball idea sounds easy enough, maybe I should do that instead. Never thought of it before.

[TECMike]

Thanks, Wolfe. That too, is a great idea which I will certainly use. Spring and Summer seem to be time for those critters to be most active.

They can sure do some damage which is unknown until the water does not work properly.

Looks like we are finally going to get some cool weather here in Texas!

[wolfe10]

Assume you are being invaded while the RV is being stored, not used.

If so, go to any hardware store and buy a piece of cheap nylon screen. Open the door and close the screen in it. it will cover the main openings and serve as a gasket around the door.

Obviously remove it before firing up the heater.

[pigman1]

A half dozen moth balls in the bottom of the compartment worked for me.

[TECMike]

Great idea, Old-Biscuit. Think that will work for me!

[tvman44]

A gasket around the door should be fine. If there is a fire that cannot make it any worse. 🙂 I would not be concerned about a gasket around the door.

[Old-Biscuit]

Get some Red High Temp RV silicone gasket maker. Run a nice clean bead of it around the inside of access door (where door would mate with WH frame).

Let the bead dry completely. It will be a solid bead when dry but have some flex in it. Then after dry close door. The bead should seal area around door and frame.

Make sure bead is DRY.
And clean the area with alcohol prior to running bead on door.



Don't have a steady hand.......then use some weatherstripping.
Edge of door & frame doesn't get hot.....exhaust vent gets warm but not enough to catch weatherstripping on fire. Might dry it out over time......just replace.

Use two ball-peen hammers to take the warp out (one to hammer with, one to back up hammering)

Get a new door.

[gotsmart]

If the cover door is not warped, an insect screen over the vent opening should be sufficient. Insect screens are available for water heaters, furnaces, and refrigerators. Some screens are make and model specific. Example:
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/flying-insect-screen-for-atwood-6-10-suburban-6-water-heat...

If the cover door is warped enough to let the bugs in, even with a screen on the vent, then the cover door will need fixing.