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. Unfortunately, bees might think they’ve found a new home, but in reality, they’ve built their nest in your chimney! It’s a surprisingly common 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.
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.
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
- 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 the infestation 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 beehives, 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 fire, and it will be out of control in no time, resulting in extensive damage to your property. In addition, lighting a fire whilst there are bees in your chimney will generate panic in the hive. When they feel threatened, 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, can 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
Completely removing a bee infestation from your chimney is much more complicated than simply moving the nest. 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 hives 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.
Here at Pest-Tech, 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.
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.
Professional Bee Removals
Evidently, 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.
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. Following the removal, we will bee-proof the target area to ensure the problem doesn’t reoccur.
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.