Chimney Wasps

Got a wasp problem in your house? Looking to prevent one? Below, we will address a few tips and tricks to rid your house of these garden predators.

Dangers of the Wasp

We don’t deny the benefits a wasp can bring, but a house wasp is, to say, less beneficial…

A nest of wasps inside your chimney can present a stinging hazard and dangerous threat to your family (and pets); the threat is worse if someone has a wasp allergy, as a sting could cause an anaphylactic–severe, potentially fatal–reaction.

Another danger is the nest itself. The nest is made out of paper-like material, and, if that material is in the chimney, you can probably guess what can happen: a chimney fire. So, this paper wasp nest can threaten more than just your family; the chimney nest threatens structural damage.

How to Remove a Nest

If you wish to deal with the wasps yourself, be careful. Take every precaution possible.

Wasps become less active in temperatures lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and they are less active at night and early in the morning. These times are ideal to lessen the danger (though, do not undermine their threat), opening an opportunity to peek into the chimney. Get a powerful flashlight and orient the position of the hive. The hive will more than likely be at the top of your chimney vent.

First of all, if you hear buzzing, the chimney may host a beehive instead of a wasp nest–wasps are much quieter. If you verify they are bees, do not attempt to deal with them. Call Bee Safe Bee Removal to do that job; the hives are difficult to deal with and will attract future problems if not properly removed. If they are wasps (and you are brave), continue on.

You’ll then wear protective clothing. You’ll want at least one extra layer of clothing (extra long-sleeve shirts, pants, and boots are preferred for maximum coverage), plus you will want gloves, safety glasses/goggles, and a mask to protect uncovered areas from wasps and yourself from the spray.

If you’re properly covered, you can take the bold step and go for the hive. You will need a ladder tall enough to access your vent from the outside, unless the hive is near the bottom of the chimney (a rare, unlikely case). Then, thoroughly douse the nest with a strong projectile wasp spray. After application, let them perish for a day then check again. If some are alive, repeat the process until they no longer “pose a problem.”

With the pests disposed of, get a broom or dust stick and get the nest out.

Call a Professional

Wasps are scary. Trying to deal with them is not for everyone, nor is it wise to (especially if you have allergies, then please don’t).

Give us a call, and let’s just talk and give an estimate. We are certified and will gladly dispose of this threat to you and your family. Wasps are much more aggressive than other stinging insects, and they need to be dealt with immediately to avoid issues.

Why in my Chimney?

To help explain prevention, we must understand why they nested in the chimney to prevent future cases (in and out of the chimney).

Wasps look for secluded places of safety and comfort. Your chimney sounds perfect to the average wasp. The wasps will fly into your vent and build their nest near the entrance, where the exit is close while providing protection.

Prevention

The best method is to get a fireplace vent/mesh screen. Blocking the chimney with any other material renders the fireplace useless, but the mesh screen allows smoke to pass through while filtering out unwanted guests.

There are top-fitting dampers out there that work too. These dampers can be opened and closed. Naturally, you would keep it shut (which also provides insulation) unless you start a fire, in which the smoke would prevent wasps from entering. The damper and mesh screen both fulfill their purpose well with proper usage.

Though, the vent may not be the only entry point. Wasps love the gaps in your chimney. You’ll want to make sure any gaps are sealed with caulk to deny entry.

A final step you can take is to set up a decoy nest. Wasps do not build their own nests within 200 feet of another wasp nest. Setting up decoys around your property simply abuses science and natural tendencies of wasps to shew them away.

Customer Location:

Horseshoe Drive, Dallas TX 75209

Yellow Jackets on Horseshoe Drive

On August 24th, 2020, Bee Safe Bee Removal was contacted to investigate a retaining wall of a residential home that had heavy wasp activity. The wasps were yellow jackets that made an in-ground nest near the wall.

A nest can hold several thousand wasps, if it is underground it will be harder to successfully remove. That is why it is important to call Bee Removal Specialist one of the best pest control team s in the Corpus Christi area.

Even though they resemble bees, yellow jackets can be more lethal due to their bite and ability to sting repeatedly. Try to wear protective clothing if you must go near the nests in the ground, but do not provoke flying insects. They are looking for a food source, but if they feel threatened, they will attack and that could be life threatening. This is especially important if you or a loved one have allergic reactions to a yellow jacket sting.

The process of removing yellowjackets

To begin the yellow jacket removal, the experts began by putting on their safety gear. This included a bee suit and gloves for protection. They treated the in-ground holes with pesticide dust. After the yellow jackets were exterminated, the removal team began to dig for the nest.

The large nest was pulled out with an extracting tool, it was destroyed to prevent future yellow jacket infestations.

At Bee Safe Bee Removal, we offer affordable yellow jacket extermination in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area. We guarantee the removal of any flying insect that has made a home in your property.

Wasps are pests that every Texas homeowner has to deal with at some point in time. These threatening insects like to make their nests in hollow spaces near or in your home. Unfortunately, unlike the honey bee, wasps will survive after stinging you. A single wasp can attack a person multiple times. This is why it’s essential to practice safe and effective wasp control.

If you are allergic to wasp venom, then having wasps around your home is a real danger. Spraying bug spray may kill them, but it also adds pollutants to the air and doesn’t guarantee that they won’t be back next season. Here are five forms of wasp control that will help you keep the environment safe and keep wasps away.

5. Use Plants as Wasp Control

You may think that your landscaping may be what is attracting Yellow Jackets and other wasps. While this can be the case, you can naturally repel wasps by planting suitable foliage in your yard.

Some plants that deter wasps include:

• Spearmint
• Thyme
• Citronella
• Eucalyptus
• Wormwood

When you plant these greens, make sure to move hanging, bright, sweet-smelling flowers from areas where you don’t want wasps to hang out and form a nest.

4. Peppermint Oil

Much like spearmint, peppermint is also a significant deterrent for wasps. According to the Journal of Pest Management Science, a few drops of peppermint oil can keep wasps away from your home. After sprinkling a few drops of oil on a cotton ball, you can place the pads around the outside of your home, where wasp’s nests usually occur.

These areas can be found in:

• Empty sheds
• Garages
• Playground equipment
• Attics and more

Knowing the type of wasps you are dealing with is key to placing the cotton ball repellent around your property.

3. Hang a False Nest

Wasps are naturally unlikely to build a nest near another nest that they have created. One way to move wasps away from your property while you wait for a local wasp control professional is to hang a false nest near the house and away from your family. Materials for a fake nest are easily found in many hardware stores. The look of an actual nest may not fool all wasps, but most of the time, this method can be successful in keeping them off your property.

2. Non-Toxic Sprays

If you must insist on spraying a nest, try out a natural insecticide. These are made from 100 percent natural ingredients and can be used in the same way as a standard poisonous spray. Most of these are made with essential oils. So, not only will your home be free of wasps, but it won’t smell toxic!

1. Call Bee Safe Bee Removal For Texas Wasp Control

DIY methods for wasp control can be effective but also extremely dangerous for you and your family. We recommend staying away from a wasp’s nest and refrain from trying to smoke or drown it out. By not contacting a professional for complete wasp removal, you are putting yourself at risk.

Bee Safe Bee Removal handles wasp control throughout the state of Texas. We will even schedule you for regular preventative maintenance should you want it. Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment.