Updated on 31/07/2025
When bees begin to make their nests in early spring, they will actively search for a safe enclosed space like a cavity in a tree, for example. Another common cavity bees like to build nests in is chimneys.
While the bees might think they’ve found an amazing new home, but in reality, they’ve built their nest in your chimney! It’s a surprisingly frequent occurrence across the UK, though their presence can lead to extensive damage and safety risks, so it’s vital to know how to get rid of bees in a chimney.
In fact, it’s becoming more of a common problem, with news outlets reporting a surge in bees nesting in chimneys in 2025. While bees are an important part of our ecosystem, it is vital that homeowners do everything they can to deter bees from nesting in their chimneys, and that if they find them, they deal with them correctly.
At Pest-Tech, we’re experts at controlling bee and wasp infestations, and we’ve dealt with plenty of bees nesting in chimneys across Maidstone and the surrounding areas of Kent. So to help you understand the hazards and identify the signs to look out for, we’ve put together a guide exploring how to get rid of bees in your chimney.
Why Are There Bees In Your Chimney?
Wild bee colonies often seek shelter when considering where to build their nests, and will look for a nesting site that is dark, confined, away from humans and other animals, and close to a potential food source.
There are over 270 different types of bees in the UK, but the ones that usually live in large colonies are honey bees and bumblebees.
Chimneys often fit the bill, so scout bees search chimneys and other areas for comfortable places. Once they find an easily accessibly chimney, the colony will join them and start building their nest.
If you have garden flowers and lots of foliage, bees will be attracted to the area, which can increase your chances of bees nesting in your chimney. While bees pollinating your flowers is good for your garden, they may find a new nesting site in your chimney or another part of your property, which can lead to a bee problem for you and your family.
Signs of Bees in Your Chimney
Here are some telltale signs that you have bees in your chimney:
- Large number of bees coming and going from your chimney throughout the day
- Bees inside your home
- Dead bees around your fireplace
- Increased bee activity around your home
- Buzzing noises from inside or near your chimney
- A buildup of honey or beeswax
When you first see signs of bees around your chimney, it’s often too late; the nest has already been built, the eggs are hatching, and a healthy colony is in full swing. At this point, it’s vital to act fast and remove the infestation as soon as possible to prevent any more damage from occurring.
If you’ve noticed signs list these in your home, then it’s time to contact the professionals. Call your local Pest-Tech technician now on 01622 296055 to organise your bee control treatment.
Dangers of Bees in your Chimney
Despite their relatively placid nature, bees can cause considerable damage to your home when they decide to nest in your chimney. All bee nests, whether active or not, pose a serious fire hazard, especially when located in your chimney! Honey and beeswax, the two products bees create, are both highly flammable substances.
If you suspect bees are living in your chimney, please avoid starting any fires. The honey and beeswax will exaggerate the chimney fire, and it will be out of control in no time, resulting in extensive damage to your roof, chimney and the rest of your property. In addition, lighting a fire whilst there are bees in your chimney will generate panic in the hive. When they feel threatened and frightened by smoke and fire, bees will attack, so it’s highly likely they will enter your home and sting you.
Bee stings can be painful but, in some instances, they can also be deadly. A severe allergic reaction can result in an anaphylactic shock that will require emergency medical attention, so it’s always best to keep your distance and avoid angering them. Bees nesting in your chimney also creates significant risks for your neighbours and even people walking by, increasing their chances of being stung.
Failure to remove the bees nest in your chimney can result in the honey and beeswax from the hive seeping into your home’s structure. Over time, the moisture from these substances will cause mould and rot that will be expensive to fix. As well as damage to your home, the sweet substances also attract other pests to your property.
Insects, including ants, wax worms and bee moths, will smell the honey and beeswax from a great distance and find their way into your home in no time at all. This then leaves you with another pest infestation to resolve!
It’s clear to see that it’s essential to get rid of the bees in your chimney as soon as possible to avoid damage to your home and further risks to you and your loved ones. So if you’ve noticed bees in your chimney, it’s time to seek assistance. Contact our friendly team at admin@pest-tech.org or call 01622 296055 to book your site survey today.
Removing Bees From Your Chimney Stack: How It’s Done
Completely removing a bee infestation from your chimney is much more complicated than simply removing the bees nest in your chimney stack. It’s a complex process that should only ever be executed by a trained professional.
Removing the nest is one part of the solution, but this leaves behind honeycomb, pheromones and scents that will attract new bee colonies and other pests to your home. So, to fully solve your pest problem, it’s vital to remove the bees and their nest, along with their honeycomb, before thoroughly disinfecting the chimney to receive all scents left behind. The chimney can then be proofed to prevent the problem from reoccurring in future.
Many homeowners think of reaching out to their local Bee Keepers Association upon discovering an infestation, and while they can provide you with plenty of useful information, they are not insured to work at height, which means they cannot get rid of bees in your chimney. However, our pest control technicians regularly work with these beekeepers to find suitable locations where the bees can be rehomed successfully following our expert removal.
Pest control isn’t always about killing vermin, and while bees aren’t protected in the UK, the team at Pest-Tech firmly believes that bees are a key part of our eco-system, and that they shouldn’t be harmed. We strongly believe in allowing bees to survive, which is why we choose to relocate their nests rather than spraying an insecticide and calling it a day. The species are in decline, so we actively try to save the bees while carrying out our bee removal services. We will work with local bee keepers to integrate the bees into an established colony or put them in new bee hives so they can thrive aren’t harmed.
Can You Prevent Bees Nesting In Your Chimney?
While it is impossible to completely stop any pests from making your house their home, there are simple techniques you can use to reduce your chances of future bee infestations in your chimney, including:
- Create Physical Barriers: Create physical barriers to stop bees from being able to enter your chimney. Chimney caps or top-sealing dampers can be used to block the chimney from the outside. Indoors, you can cover the fireplace or air vent using a breathable cover to prevent bees flying up the chimney.
- Use Insulation: Earth wool loft insulation can be used up the unused chimney or behind the air vent. This solution creates a damp environment that bees are not fond of, and they will leave or die in the chimney. There will be sufficient air passing through to keep the chimney dry and avoid structural damage, but the space will be damp enough to deter bees.
- Seal Gaps: Even with physical barriers, if your chimney has gaps in its brickwork, then flying bees will be able to get inside and make themselves a home. Make sure you regularly check for damage to your chimney and fix it quickly to prevent bees from entering.
How To Get Rid Of Bees Nesting In Your Chimney
As this article highlights, removing bees from your chimney is not a task that can be carried out successfully using DIY methods. So instead, it’s best to leave it to your local Maidstone-based pest control professionals here at Pest-Tech. Our team have expertise removing bees from chimneys and also getting rid of bee nests from wall cavities, so wherever they are, we can help.
We will conduct a full site survey to assess the extent of the infestation before creating a bespoke treatment plan tailored to your home and your circumstances. With the bees removed from the property, we will bee-proof the target area to ensure the problem doesn’t reoccur and more bees can’t enter your space.
Call 01622 296055 or email our team at admin@pest-tech.org to book your survey as soon as possible to minimise the damage caused by bees nesting in your chimney.
Here at Pest-Tech, we’ve carried out hundreds of successful bee removals for homes and businesses across Maidstone and the surrounding areas of Kent, so you know you’re in capable hands.