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Have Bees Moved Into Your Chimney?

Bees getting into chimneys is a not a rare occurrence for homeowners and chimney sweeps. We are the ones people tend to call about the issue and there are some important ways chimney experts can help, but there is someone else you need to call first. If bees have been seen in and around your chimney, don’t delay in taking action. Specifics on what to do about bees in your chimney follow.

Keep These Things in Mind

Inspectional Chimney InspectionWe humans depend upon bees for our food supply. About 80% of all U.S. vegetable, fruit, and seed crops are pollinated by honeybees. They are also the world’s only producers of honey and bee’s wax. If you have bees in your chimney, you need to call a bee removal company because Africanized bees are in Texas, and they can be dangerous. If possible, find a local company that offers beehive relocation rather than extermination.

When Do Bees Swarm?

Although more common in spring and fall, bees usually swarm from March through October. During the heat of the day is when they tend to swarm. If you see bees around your fireplace, it is only good to discourage them by lighting a fire in the fireplace if they have not started building a hive.

 

Once there is a hive in a chimney, lighting a fire creates a devastating mess of liquified honey and wax that will forever strongly attract bees in the future. In addition, if the chimney flue is obstructed, lighting a fire will cause toxic fumes to enter your home and potentially cause health issues.

What to Require of Bee Removal Experts

When bee removal experts arrive at your home, be sure they understand that the beehive must be removed through the top of the chimney. This is true whether the bees are moved or exterminated. Problems are multiplied when beehives fall down on the fireplace damper or onto the smoke shelf of the chimney system.

Chimney Sweeps

Professional Chimney SweepOnce the bees have been removed from your chimney or exterminated, the struggle is not over, unfortunately. Bees leave behind pheromones that cannot be erased with even the best chimney cleaning equipment and supplies. Those bee pheromones will attract bees in the future. Chimney sweeps can take steps that will help prevent bees from getting into the chimney system.

Chimney Masonry

If your chimney is in a state of disrepair, there is a good chance bees can enter through openings in the masonry. A well-maintained chimney, on the other hand, is sealed sufficiently to keep moisture out, which prevents bees from entering at the same time. With your chimney and flashing in a state of good repair, all that should be left in preventing the return of bees is dealing with the top of the chimney flue.

Top Sealing Damper

If you only have the standard damper located near the firebox in your fireplace, bees are able to freely enter the flue and build hives in your chimney with no problem. A top-sealing damper can change that. A top-sealing damper is installed at the top of the flue pipe. It is your best defense against bee invasions, though total prevention cannot be guaranteed. Top-sealing dampers can typically only be installed on masonry chimneys.

Contact Guardian Chimney Sweeps

If you have bees in your chimney in Houston, Conroe, or the surrounding area, contact us at Guardian Chimney Sweeps for help with chimney masonry repair, chimney cleaning, and top-sealing damper installation. We also provide chimney inspections, chimney cleaning, and the full range of chimney maintenance and masonry repair and rebuild services. But first, call a bee removal service! We are here to provide you with the best in chimney services. Contact us by email at guardianchimneysweep@yahoo.com or by calling one of the numbers below.

Tollfree: (888) 306-6069

Conroe: (936) 271-9781

Houston: (713) 401-2011