STERNSHIELD Rodent Drain Guard 4" / 110mm Full Stainless Steel & UK Manufactured

Fitted in outside waste pipe that runs to Soakaway which previously had a rat problem as a just in case to prevent travel towards the house. Very sturdy.

Although quite expensive, it seems to be a well made item and works as it should. Fast delivery turning up a day earlier than expected.

Re: Roshield trap with the sharp teeth on the flap. It is early days yet to determine whether or not the rat infestation has been solved, but there seems to be an advantage in this trap design in contrast to others - that is the open-end of the trap does not seal when the trap flap is in normal position. This means that even a small trickle of water is not impeded in the drain, and also air can enter the drain, that might prevent odour build up in the drain pipe (not sure if this really matters but it feels better thinking about it). The gap around the teeth certainly is a few mm and seems reasonable to accept the claim that the rats can't enter the pipe, unless they are intelligent enough to work together so that one rat holds the flap up while another sneaks in the pipe, don't know but hope not. The flap itself seems to work smoothly, but am monitoring it in case it gets stuck open. I did lubricate it with 3-in-1 oil before installing. The casing fits snugly into the pipe end, noting that I had to use a hammer to gently tap it into position, hoping thus that I never have to remove it! We'll see.

Had this fitted by a plumber, to make sure there was no amateur error in installation. Live on a old Victorian terrace property so the pipe work in the drain was rather tricky, as in it curved. He had to hammer it in with a block of wood to get past the curve. Assured it opened enough, but looking at it myself a month later, not so sure.Reason I had to look at it a month or so down the line is due to the fact the toilet was slow to flush and could hear a 'gluck gluck' kind of sound. Very much blocked.Through using a stick to slide out waste mush and gently push the flap back and forth to agitate more mush through, the blockage eventually cleared with a torrent of backed up water.Had to do this again a month or so later. This is with the use of two people.We only flush waste and toilet paper down, so it's a manageable problem. This stuff breaks down to mush and passes through the less than ideal gap with agitation. If you were to flush wet wipes, kitchen role, hair etc... you'd probably need a plumber.I will also note, the mush doesn't smell bad as you may think, it's easy to just think of it as mud you wouldn't touch with your bare hands.Although it's a pain to have to now do each month, it's better than rats chewing through the flexi pan at the back of the toilet and having to fork out more and more money replacing it.So if you are prepared to do the maintenance in exchange for no rats, get it.If we move and the next owners don't wish to do the maintenance, I'd advise they get the flap removed as I'm pretty sure the tube is far too wedged in there to ever get out.

Installed this after a terrifying incident during heavy rain, where I had a giant rat trying to leap out of my toilet bowl in a first floor bathroom. I have a septic tank and had been overrun with rats last summer on my rural property. Installed this myself (could not have been simpler) and that was the end of it. Not only was there no repeat, but this year I have barely seen a rat on the property, so can’t help thinking they were using the drains to access more than the sewer system. Very expensive but by the time you’re driven to this extreme, I guess they know they’ve got you over a barrel, but does seem well made and that made installation quick and easy - which is the kind of installation you hope for when you’re standing in a sewer…

Now taken out due to getting clogged up with loo roll and blocking the full drain. Get a professional installed instead and save the call-out fee to find this has blocked everything!

I bought two for my drained as my house became a regular haunt for Rats following some extension work on my house. It appears they chewed through some disused pipes and got into the ceiling space in my extension. I called Pest Control services and was quoted over £280 for one drain trap. I bought two of these for £110 and fitted them myself easily and no visitors since. Fingers crossed as it has only been a few days so far.Good value for money, well made, and easily fitted.

High quality, easy to fit. Solved my rat problem! Very grateful!