Why Are Wasps Flying Into Your Great Yeldham Home? Common Causes and Solutions

Proofing a home against wasps is worth doing, provided it is done once the nest has been dealt with and not while wasps are using the gaps.

Why proofing helps

Wasps enter buildings through openings, and the fewer there are, the fewer opportunities. Proofing will not stop all wasps, but it makes it harder for a queen to find a site in spring and for foragers to stray in during summer.

It is a job that suits a dry day in autumn or winter, when wasps are inactive, and it needs only simple materials.

A side benefit of proofing is that it helps with other things, including draughts, damp and other pests. The cost is modest, and the work can be done in stages over several weekends at a leisurely pace.

If you rent, check the agreement before making changes to the outside of the building. Some work may need the landlord’s permission, and some may be their responsibility.

Where to look

Walk around the house with a notebook and check:

• The gaps around pipes and cables where they pass through walls.
• Cracks in render and pointing, particularly high up.
• Air bricks and vents without mesh.
• Fascia and soffit joints and the corners of the roof edge.
• Gaps around window frames and door frames.
• The tops of walls where they meet the roof covering.
• Weep holes, extractor outlets and dryer vents.

Note the size and position of each, and mark those that are high up or hard to reach.

Take photographs of each gap before you start. They give you a record of the work, and they help you remember what needs doing next. If you are not sure whether a gap is serious, treat it as such.

Use a torch at dusk to find gaps in a dark corner. Light leaking from inside to outside shows where air and insects can pass. A second person inside the house can help by shining the torch while you stand outside.

Divide the survey into zones: roof edge, upper walls, lower walls, windows and doors, then the inside. Tick each off as you go. A methodical approach avoids missing the smaller gaps that wasps find so easily.

Materials

Fine stainless mesh or wire gauze fits over vents and air bricks. Exterior sealant fills small cracks around frames and pipes. Brush strips and draught excluders seal door bottoms. Repair mortar or filler deals with cracks in masonry. Choose products suited to outdoor use, and follow the instructions.

For work above head height, ask a builder or roofer. Do not use a ladder alone.

Sealants shrink and crack, so check their condition each spring. Mesh may rust or become dislodged, so run your hand over it gently to check it is secure. Replace anything that has loosened.

Copper wool is sometimes used to stuff gaps around pipes because rodents dislike it, and it can hold mesh in place. Do not use it where wasps are active, and do not rely on it as the only barrier.

When not to proof

Never block a gap that wasps are using. If you see traffic in and out of an opening, leave it alone. Sealing a live entrance traps the colony, and the wasps may chew or push through to another route, often into the house. Wait for the nest to be treated and activity to stop.

Even in late autumn or winter, check carefully. Be sure no wasps are moving before you start.

The best time to start is after the first frosts, when you can be fairly sure no wasps are active. Even then, if you see a wasp near an opening, stop and wait for a colder day.

Do not forget old nests. An empty nest in a cavity can be left in place, but if it is accessible and you wish to remove it, ask the technician at the time of booking whether it can be taken down.

After the work is done, walk the house again and look from a distance on a warm day the following spring. A few minutes of watching in May can tell you whether anything has been missed.

Proofing indoors

Inside the house, look at gaps around loft hatches, around pipes beneath sinks and radiators, and at the edges of ceilings. Seal with flexible filler or foam suitable for interior use. Fit a draught seal to the loft hatch.

Fit mesh to windows you open in summer, and keep doors closed when not in use.

Fit a mesh or brush strip to the loft hatch, and keep the hatch closed. Ensure the loft is well ventilated, but that vents are screened. A dry, uncluttered loft is less appealing to a queen than a damp one full of boxes.

Remember that conservatories, porches, extensions and outbuildings count as part of the house for this exercise. The joints between old and new sections are especially likely to have gaps.

If a nest turns up

If you find a nest in the course of the work, or notice wasps, stop at once and move away calmly. Wasp Nest Removal Essex charges a fixed £90 per nest, one visit guaranteed, and £35 for each additional nest at the same property. The business is fully insured, works seven days a week and offers same-day service for domestic and commercial customers.

In Great Yeldham, ring 01245 327274 or use the booking form on the contact page. Mention any allergy to wasp stings. You can ask whether the empty nest can be taken down.

Do not be disheartened if wasps still turn up. Proofing reduces the chance, but it does not remove it. The aim is to make a nest less likely and to find any problem early.

If you would like a professional view on what to fix, a builder can look at the roofline and walls for you once the wasps have gone.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Great Yeldham