Eliminating Bees in the Chimney

Summertime is here! Those pesky creatures are back and looking for a home. Just like you and your family love your fireplace, bees love living in it. If bees are starting to get into your home through the chimney, it might be time to take action. Eliminating a bee hive is best done when the hive is still very small. As the hive grows, removing it becomes harder and may cause damage to the chimney.

Here are 4 steps on removing and keeping the bees out of your chimney:

Step 1: Stop the bees from getting into the house. Close the dampers on your chimney to reduce the amount of access bees have to get in. You can also purchase a chimney balloon, which helps protect your living space. This can be bought at any local hardware store or online. Not only are chimney balloons effective at keeping bees out in the warm summer months, but they’re great for keeping the heat in during those cold winter months.

Step 2: Kill the bee hive. It is usually best to do this later in the afternoon or at night when the bees aren’t active. Always remember to wear protective clothing and eye wear when handling any type of hive or nest. When you’ve found the hive, spray it with chimney-safe insecticide to eliminate the bees. You may need to do this several times. If you are unable to find a spray that is safe to use in your chimney, look into hiring a professional exterminator.

Step 3: Remove the hive. If it’s unreachable, hire a professional chimney sweep to help. The whole hive must be removed to insure that the bees will not come back. They should also inspect the flue for any damage the bees may have caused.

Step 4: Lastly you will want to protect your chimney from future infestations. By installing a protective screening at the top of the chimney, it will prevent bees or other critters from entering and can be installed by a certified chimney sweep. This will save you time and money in the future, and is the best way to stop the problem from reoccurring.

At ChimneyTEK, we have built our business on helping our community with every chimney ailment imaginable. Our experienced staff provides thorough chimney cleanings and inspections using the best tools and supplies available. Keeping your chimney healthy and safe to use is our number one goal.

Contact us for more information.