Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Swinnow? Here's What to Do
Aerosols, smoking out and sealing up are the usual loft nest mistakes; this guide explains why they go wrong and what to do instead.
Why DIY is the wrong answer for a loft nest
A wasp nest in a loft should be left to a trained technician. Attempts by householders to use aerosols, smoke, seal or knock it down tend to make things worse, because the nest is out of sight, hard to reach and defended by thousands of wasps. The better course is to keep clear, close the hatch and book a treatment.
The loft is a difficult place for a nest at the best of times. It is cramped, dim and often boarded or insulated, so you cannot see the nest properly or move away fast if wasps come at you. The ladder is a further hazard. A fall from a ladder while being stung is a much worse outcome than a wasp sting.
None of the following ideas is new, and all are tempting. Here is why each goes wrong.
Wasps also behave differently when they feel threatened. Guard wasps at the entrance will chase a person for some distance, and a colony will release a scent that calls others to help defend it. That is why a failed DIY attempt tends to end with more wasps in the air, not fewer.
Common mistakes and what happens
These are the usual attempts, and the problem with each.
- Using an aerosol in the loft: it does not reach the nest, irritates the wasps that are flying, and can leave residue in a space you may later use.
- Blocking the entrance: the colony is still inside, and the workers look for another way out, often through the ceiling or around a light fitting.
- Poking the nest with a pole or stick: it sets off the whole colony, and wasps will come out in numbers.
- Smoke or fire: an obvious fire risk in a timber roof, and not something anyone should try.
- Using wasp traps: they catch some foragers but have no effect on the nest.
If you have already done any of these and wasps are now appearing indoors, keep calm, close the doors to that room and phone.
It is worth saying a word about professional-looking products sold in shops. They are designed for use outdoors and for dealing with individual wasps, not for treating a nest that is inside a roof void. We cannot comment on specific products, but using any of them in a loft is not recommended, and the technician will not need you to have done so.
Homemade remedies and online advice
There is plenty of advice online about household products, home-made mixtures and smoke. None of it is a substitute for professional treatment, and some of it is dangerous. Pouring liquids through a ceiling can damage the plasterboard and your wiring, and leaves nothing in the nest that you can rely on.
Another suggestion is to wait until night and go up when the wasps are quiet. Wasps do not simply go to sleep, and being in a loft in the dark with a torch among them is not wise. Disturbed wasps will still come out.
If a technician is prepared to do the job for a fixed £90, the saving from doing it yourself is hard to justify against the risk.
Do not let a reasonable wish to save money push you into a risky job. The price for a treatment is fixed and agreed in advance, so you know exactly what you are paying before the visit.
What to do instead
Take these simple steps while you arrange the treatment.
- Keep the hatch closed and stay out of the loft.
- Leave the entrance outside alone.
- Keep children and pets away from the landing.
- Open a window in any room where a wasp has strayed.
- Note where wasps are going in, and phone.
If a sting happens, rinse the skin, lift out the sting if it is visible and cool the area with a cold pack. Call 999 if there is swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. Tell us about any allergies when you book.
Remember that wasps will be most defensive when the colony is large, which is from July to September. If you are tempted to wait until the weather cools, you will be waiting through the part of the season in which the nest grows and the risk of being stung increases.
If the nest is in a loft you share with neighbours, such as a terrace roof void, let them know before the visit, since wasps do not stay on one side of a party wall.
The visit, and the price
The price is a fixed £90 per nest, confirmed on the phone before a technician comes out. There is no call-out charge, and no work is done until you agree. Another nest at the same property would be £35. The technicians are trained and the work is fully insured, with homes and commercial premises both covered.
The technician will check access, carry out the treatment and answer questions, including whether the empty nest can be taken down. You are not left to work out the next steps alone.
We cover Swinnow and nearby villages, are open seven days a week, and offer same-day service.
Our technicians deal with loft nests regularly enough to know what to expect, and you can ask them anything about the nest, the entrance and what to do afterwards. Questions are welcome at the booking stage too.
Afterwards
After the visit, dead wasps may be found near the hatch. Use gloves and a brush and pan or vacuum to clear them, since a wasp can sting even when it looks lifeless. Keep the hatch closed until you have been told it is fine to go up.
If you want the gap repaired to stop a queen settling in next spring, ask a builder or roofer. If you are ready to arrange a visit, ring 0113 347 0014 or fill in the online form on the contact page.
Wasps on your property in Swinnow?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.