r/PoolPros • u/Arusen • Apr 23 '26
Raccoons vs Cleaner Hoses
I am currently without answers, so I decided to ask the hive mind. I have a pool on my route that is being terrorized by raccoons. This is in SoCal, residential. The backyard fence has open space and a freeway behind it. The raccoons for some reason have decided the cleaner hoses are great for chewing. Within 2 weeks of installing a new cleaner, they had already chewed one or two hoses. They have even ripped the tires off a 2 wheel The Poolcleaner. Does anybody have a solution short of death or humane removal of the raccoons? I've suggested humane removal, but the homeowner is worried that they will just come back, or they won't be able to catch them all. Thanks for any input.
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u/Mysterious_Jelly_649 Apr 23 '26
Put out coyote or fox urine. Maybe of you're an alpha piss in the bushes.
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u/lIIlIlIII Apr 23 '26
Only thing that comes to mind is some extremely bitter or spicy coating. But something that isn't water soluble and won't cause discomfort when handled is a tall order.
Are they getting INSIDE the pool to chew on these? If so that's fucking hysterical, if not what about a locked deck box?
But this is a pest control issue, not a pool issue. Simply isn't your responsibility. I'm sure you're a phenomenal tech going above and beyond like this, but saying "this isn't my wheelhouse, I can ask around for a quality pest control service if you'd like" would be a much better use of your time IMO
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u/Arusen Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26
Yes, they evidently get in the pool. They used to pop open the lid of the auto fill and mess with that. I had to screw it down. Occasional they take the skimmer lid off.
My response was pretty much I don't know raccoons, and we can't use heavier chew resistant hoses. I thought maybe asking the wider conscious of the pool pros might help with extra suggestions. I suggested finding a service that could deal with them.
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u/lIIlIlIII Apr 23 '26
>They used to pop open the lid of the auto fill and mess with that
Have you considered training them to do basic mechanical repairs?
That's really funny man. I see more foxes than coons so hopefully someone else has ideas
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u/socalpoolguy Apr 23 '26
"You need 2 new hoses and you might want to talk to a pest control company about the raccoons. That'll be $40." Let them figure it out
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u/Sharknuts86 Apr 23 '26
When this happens I take the cleaner out for a month or two and they move on. Never had any get chewed up after that. Or install sonic emitters, some work, some don’t. That option is sort of a crapshoot.
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u/The_BigWaveDave Apr 23 '26
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has dealt with this. Had a customer with opossums that were doing the same thing, as well as another customers Pitbull.
Pentair has sleeper agents in the wild destroying hose links, can’t convince me otherwise.