Get Rid of Wasps in Bathroom Fan Vent
When you hop out of the shower in the morning, are you wondering what that buzzing sound is? After a little bit of investigative work, you may be wondering if there is some sort of insect making a nest in your bathroom fan vent.
Because wasps have access to these vents from the exterior of your home, they can provide a welcoming space for a nest to be built. Now comes the tricky part of determining what’s making a nest, and how should you proceed with the removal of the nest?
Why Are Wasps Attracted to Vents?
Wasps require water to live, and your bathroom vent may be a place where they can have a moist environment to thrive in. Don’t forget, your vent is generally moving warm and moist water away from your bathroom. There is condensation that can form within your duct and vent that wasps could utilize.
If a wasp makes a nest inside, they will generally abandon the nest in the fall, and they would not return in the spring months. However, the queen is who you need to watch out for. She will need a safe and warm place to hunker down for the winter if she wants to survive it.
How to Get Rid of Wasps in Bathroom Fan Vents
If you had a wasp problem outdoors in your yard, you could easily turn to a commercial wasp spray that would kill the wasps. However, dealing with your bathroom vents can be a bit more challenging. You want to avoid using a chemical-based spray.
Even though these vents pass the air back outside your home, air can still travel back through the vent on a breezy day. You don’t want to introduce chemicals into your indoor air.
There are natural and essential oils that you can use to damage the wasp colony or prevent them, but you would have to be alright with the frequent smell that could last quite a while.
The best method for removing the wasps is to take the vent cap off on the outside of the home. You’ll want to seal off the vent from the inside, so wasps don’t start to come into the home as a way to escape you once they sense your presence.
Wear protective clothing, and be prepared to encounter some wasps. Once you remove the nest, you’ll want to install a new vent cover that won’t allow wasps to come back in looking for their nest.
If you find that the wasp nest is too far into the vent structure to reach it on your own, this is when you’ll want to call in a professional. It’s important that the nest is properly removed without damaging your ductwork.
Other Insects That Can Enter Your Bathroom Vents
Pretty much any insect that can fit into your bathroom vent will contemplate making their home there. It’s generally a pretty easy space to access if you haven’t taken precautionary measures, and this is a place that is away from the elements.
Especially when the weather turns colder outside, and the queen needs to survive, the vent can provide a warm space for her.
If the opening is big enough or the vent slats have broken free, providing a larger entry point, small birds can even get into your vents and build a nest.
You’ll see this activity occur most in the spring when the temperatures first go up. Insects, birds, and even rodents will work hard to find a new home where they can settle in and reproduce.
Other Ways Wasps Can Get Into Your Bathroom
Wasps very commonly come through doors and windows to gain access to your house. If you have a window in your bathroom, make sure that the screen is intact. Make sure there aren’t any gaps starting to form around the window frame due to age or settling.
You also don’t want to leave a door open anywhere in your home. This allows a wasp to come right in whenever they please. They can make their way into your bathroom, where humidity is high, and the temperatures may be warmer there.
How to Keep Wasps Out of Bathroom Vents
The main access point for wasps to enter your bathroom vent is through the opening on your home’s side. Most homes have a slotted vent that will release air when you turn on the fan or air needs to escape.
There are some DIY projects that you can create to close off access to these areas, but you can also purchase a product that will keep wasps and other insects out of your vents.
A vent screen can replace the current vent that you have. It’s essentially a vent that is covered up by the same kind of screen that you would find in your windows. They allow air to escape, but insects and other pests won’t be able to make their way inside.
You should also go around the perimeter of your home to make sure there aren’t any other cracks and gaps that should be sealed up. Wasps are quite small, and they have the ability to make their way into some pretty tight spots. When it comes to your bathroom fan vent, even a small gap that’s formed around the edge of the vent can allow them access.
