How to Keeps Rodents Out of an Irrigation Control Box

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Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

Published On

May 5, 2023May 12, 2011

Something – we suspect a chipmunk – is chewing through the wires in our irrigation control valve box. We clean it out and fix the wires, only to have it happen again and again. Any suggestions? -Beth

You’re not alone – one of the toughest challenges in a home irrigation system is preventing damage from gnawing and nesting critters such as chipmunks, rats, squirrels, and gophers. Those irrigation control boxes are like a perfect piece of turnkey real estate for rodents – they can’t resist moving right in!

Here are some tips for keeping your irrigation system safe from pests.

Irrigation valve control boxes — The bottom and openings on irrigation control boxes must be rodent-proofed.

Rodent-Proofing an Irrigation Valve Control Box

The rodent solution is deceptively simple – you have to protect the irrigation valve control box so that they can’t get in, but that’s easier said than done! To rodent-proof your irrigation valve box, you’ll need to investigate to see if you can determine if they’re getting in through:

Holding sharp gravel — Sharp gravel can deter rodents.

- Control Box Openings: Make sure all plumbing openings in your valve control box are screened or tightly packed with coarse steel wool or copper mesh such as Stuf-Fit. If you have to cut the box to accommodate pipes or wires, take care to cut the hole exactly the right size, with no room for a rodent to squeeze through around the pipes.
- Control Box Lid: The lid of your box must be firmly sealed to keep out both animals and debris. Weigh down the lid, or wire it shut, to keep clever rodents from lifting it and scampering through.

Hardware cloth — 1/4″ wire hardware cloth.

Control Box Bottom: A lot of prefabricated plastic valve boxes don’t have bottoms, because rainwater needs to drain straight out. To keep rodents out, you’ll have to create a bottom that they won’t dig through. Try settling your valve box on a 4” thick layer of sharp gravel or PermaTill Vole Bloc, and backfilling around the box with the same material. For added protection, you can line the bottom and sides of the box with 1/4″ hardware cloth mesh, to create a permeable floor that animals can’t get through.
Control Box Sides: Most irrigation valve boxes are made of strong but lightweight plastic that withstands the stress of underground use. However, if animals are chewing through the plastic, you may want to opt for a stronger material such as concrete or cast iron.

Unfortunately, some rodents seem to devote their lives to outsmarting even the best laid plans, and you’ll need to make sure your measures are working. Keep an eye on your valve box, remove any nesting material you see, and immediately seal off any openings or evidence of chewing.