How to prepare for a new oven install after mouse infestation?

October 31, 2020 11:01 PM

We've been fighting a mouse infestation at our house and we're succeeding on multiple fronts, but the oven is really gross to the point that I haven't even fired it up in months. It's a crappy rental-grade gas oven and I decided to upgrade it with a new Black Friday sale oven. What do I need to do to be ready for an install? I am sure it's going to be pretty nasty. Do I just need to be ready to scrub the floor when they pull it out or are the installers going to be jerks if they see mouse poop?
posted by anonymous to Home & Garden (9 answers total)

Can you pull it away from the wall right now and clean under/behind? Whether it's gas or electric they build in enough slack in the connection so that it can be moved from the wall.
posted by muddgirl at 11:19 PM on October 31, 2020 [5 favorites]

I would try to pull it out and clean ahead of time. We had a new dishwasher installed and when they pulled out the old one, there were a couple of pieces of something on top of it that looked like mouse droppings. The installers backed up and said they couldn't touch it and unless I'm making things up, I think they implied they are basically supposed to not complete the job until it's been professionally cleaned. In my case it was a small amount and not even clearly droppings, so I cleaned it up and they finished the job.
posted by JenMarie at 11:47 PM on October 31, 2020

If your range isn't extremely old there should be a shut off valve behind the range. Turn that off before moving the range (the handle on the valve should be perpendicular to the pipe (On is handle in line with pipe)) because old flex can crack creating a gas leak when the range is moved.

If you are remotely handy once you pull the range out (and leaving the valve off) you can disconnect the flex from either the range or the pipe. You just need a crescent wrench large enough to fit over the large fitting on the flex. The range can then be slid well out of the way allowing you to do a through job cleaning the floor/walls. Besides the mice leaving you'll probably have to deal with some grease or other cooking residue.

You'll want to get it cleaned up ahead of time if you can. Not because the installers are likely to be jerks but because it'll take more than a couple minutes and the installers aren't going to want to wait around. They'll appreciate it if you wash the sides of the old range so their equipment doen't get dirty.

PS: in my jurisdiction a gas permit is required to hookup a new range but you don't need a permit to disconnect.
posted by Mitheral at 12:21 AM on November 1, 2020 [3 favorites]

If there's a drawer below it, that should be removable with some wiggling and would give you access to at least shop vac ahead of time.
posted by teremala at 3:51 AM on November 1, 2020

Our mouse problem was behind the dishwasher. The insulating blanket that covered it was full of mouse dropping and DCon. On the good side, the mouse entry point was also revealed. The installers shrugged and said it happens all the time. They delayed the installation of the new unit so we could have time to get a pest control guy in to fix the hole, and came back a few days later o do the install. This was a local company, not a big chain.

You will probably encounter a lot of mouse droppings, most of which have dried enough to be easily vacuumed. You want wash the area after the visible evidence has been removed.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:22 AM on November 1, 2020

Think about getting an air shim to help with leveling the new oven after installation.
posted by zamboni at 5:23 AM on November 1, 2020

Our house is in the woods, so we know mice. Every project is an opportunity to, well, fortify. We stuff And wedge steel wool any place that a mouse may seek entry. For the stove, the allowance for the power cord was too generous. We pull out our non-gas stove on rare occasions, but it can be done. Yours will not be the first house or first time that your contractor’s work intersects with mouse control. Once you know they are coming (are they confirming the night before?) That’s when you get cleaning done.
posted by childofTethys at 8:52 AM on November 1, 2020

Had a new dishwasher installed a few weeks back in a house I’d just fought (and won for the moment) a battle with mice in. I cleaned what I could ahead of time (under sink etc), had all my cleaning supplies in place (and a hand vac). I told the installers it may be a bit yuck behind the dishwasher ahead of time when they arrived and they were fine. They pulled the old dishwasher, I spent 5 minutes cleaning the area and then they installed. No issue or problem.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 9:29 AM on November 1, 2020

I would pull it, following Mitheral's very good instructions above, and prepare to clean and sanitize the hell out of the space where it was. It might - it probably will - be bad under there. Wear a mask. I have used bleach in the past and not died of the fumes but I guess maybe you want some bleach free disinfectant. Whichever, you want to get it wet before you clean it, even though that is gross, but it means you won't be inhaling mouse dropping dust which can be toxic. I told you it was going to be bad. I have done this job twice now and both times I just screamed my head off all the way though it. Mice LOVE ovens. In fact, under the range is where I have always found the holes that they are getting in and you may also have that delightful discovery ahead of you. But at least if you have moved it out and cleaned ahead of time you don't have any nasty surprises waiting and you can stuff any holes you find with steel wool.
posted by mygothlaundry at 4:39 PM on November 1, 2020 [1 favorite]