Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Moor Grange? Here's What to Do
Poking, blocking and using aerosols are the usual first reactions to a loft nest, and each of them makes things worse. Here is what happens and what to do instead.
A can of insect killer and a stepladder
It is a quiet Sunday and you have decided to sort the wasp problem yourself. You have found a can of insect killer in the cupboard, borrowed a torch and hauled the stepladder to the landing. Everything seems straightforward. It rarely stays that way.
Wasps in a nest act as one body. If you are in Moor Grange or anywhere else with this plan in mind, the next few paragraphs explain why it is better to stop at the foot of the ladder.
The urge to act is understandable. Wasps in the house are alarming, and a nest overhead feels like something you ought to be able to fix with a few minutes of effort. The trouble is that a nest is not like a single wasp. It is an organised colony with thousands of defenders, and it responds as a group to anything it senses as a threat.
Keep that in mind and the rest of this article makes sense: the safest tools you have are patience, a closed hatch and a phone.
Four things that go wrong
People who try to deal with a loft nest themselves tend to run into the same few problems.
- Poking or knocking the nest. Vibration alerts the colony, and a cloud of defending wasps can leave the nest in seconds.
- Using an aerosol from the hatch. You are on a ladder, in a confined space, with limited visibility, and the wasps are between you and the exit.
- Blocking the entrance. Wasps trapped inside will look for another way out, which can be through the ceiling and into the room below.
- Leaving the hatch open. Wasps use it as a route into the house, and the heat and airflow may encourage them.
A nest can hold anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more at the height of summer, so even a small proportion going on the attack is a serious matter.
There is also the problem of what you cannot see. A loft is dark, cluttered and full of corners, and a torch only lights a small patch. You might think you have found the nest when it is in fact a second one, or the main body of the colony is somewhere else entirely, hidden behind boards or insulation.
Even a successful attempt at the hatch may leave a few angry survivors in the house, and you will not know how many until they appear.
The risk of a fall
People underestimate the danger of the ladder itself. Add stinging insects to a narrow stepladder and an awkward loft opening, and a fall becomes a real possibility. Wasps do not need to sting you for you to be hurt; panic is enough.
That is the reason we tell people to stay on the ground floor, keep the hatch shut and call someone who does this every day. Our technicians are trained and fully insured, and they have the equipment and experience to work in a confined space.
Anyone who has been stung before should be even more cautious, as repeated stings can build up a stronger reaction in some people. If that applies in your home, make sure those people stay well away from the loft and the landing.
It is sensible to ask a friend or family member to stay near the bottom of any ladder if you really must go onto the landing for something, but the best plan is to avoid the area altogether.
What to do instead
- Close the hatch and tape the edges if there is a gap.
- Close the doors of rooms under the nest and keep children and pets out.
- Do not seal the entrance outside.
- Shut windows nearest the roofline in the heat of the day.
- Cover food and drink and keep bins closed.
- Write down what you have seen and where.
That is the whole job. It costs nothing and puts you in the best position for the visit.
One more point: if you are a landlord or a tenant, a DIY attempt can leave awkward questions about damage or safety. Check your agreement or policy before doing anything yourself, since what is covered depends on its wording.
Booking a treatment
You can reach us on 0113 347 0014, or through the booking form on the contact page. We cover Moor Grange and the surrounding Leeds area, with same-day service seven days a week, for domestic and commercial customers.
The price is a fixed £90 for the nest, with no call-out charge, confirmed on the phone before the visit. Should there be another nest at the property, that is £35 more. The visit is one visit guaranteed, and we do nothing until you have agreed.
If someone at home is allergic to wasp stings, tell us when you book.
Our technicians deal with loft nests regularly, so you can describe the situation plainly. You do not need technical language, only an honest account of what you have seen and heard.
If you have already tried something
Plenty of people have. If you have already used an aerosol, blocked a hole or disturbed the nest, tell us honestly when you phone. It helps the technician understand what to expect, and nobody will judge you.
Move away from the area, keep the hatch shut and make sure everyone is out of the affected rooms. If you have been stung, wash the area, take out the sting if visible and use a cold pack. Call 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, dizziness or a widespread rash.
Once the nest has been treated, clear dead wasps with gloves and bag them. If you want the empty nest taken down, put the question to us at booking.
Whatever happens, do not go back to the hatch to see how things stand. Let the technician check and tell you.
Wasps on your property in Moor Grange?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.