Avoiding Wasps

I've seen grown men act like sissies around little critters like mice, spiders, and leeches.  Not me though.

Waspnest
 

I act like a sissy around wasps.  I get stung every year.

This year it happened while I was inspecting a fireplace; I reached up inside the flue to close the damper, and a wasp stung me on the arm.  That's right, a wasp made it's way down the flue because it knew I was inside the house and it had it out for me.  Now I'm a little paranoid every time I reach up inside a fireplace.

Last year I got stung while riding an ATV.  I was flying along a trail and the wasp went right inside my helmet and stung me on the forehead.  That wasn't just painful, it was also dangerous.

The year before that, I got stung while inspecting an electric panel; I didn't notice the wasp nest below the panel, and I just started opening it.  Shame on me.  I got the heck out of there in a hurry, and I was lucky to get away with only one sting.

The year before that, I got stung while walking up a driveway to the house I was about to inspect.  I got stung on the side of my neck, right under the collar of my shirt.  I dropped my ladder and tool bag, ripped my shirt off, and started furiously batting at my neck and back.  Thankfully, my clients hadn't yet arrived to see the goofy display I put on, but it must have been a pretty funny sight for anyone looking out their window.

On and on the list goes.  To lower my risk of getting stung, I try to follow these rules when inspecting houses:

Wasp Nest Under Gutter

  •  I bang on gutters with my ladder before climbing on the roof.  Wasps are very sensitive to vibration; if there's a wasp nest nearby, they'll quickly swarm the area.  I forgot to do this a couple weeks ago, but luckily it was still early in the morning and the wasps were all still sleeping, so it was uneventful.  I did manage to get a good photo though – click the photo at right for a close-up. 
  • I'm cautious about every attic space that I enter.  I've had to scramble out of a couple attics before, and it's not easy.
  • I'm cautious every time I go underneath a deck.  This is a notorious location for wasp nests.
  • I don't touch old logs.  One of my dad's clients kicked an old log during the inspection and got stung about thirty times and had to leave the inspection to get treatment.  
  • Waspinvent  I carefully inspect roof caps, roof vents, and combustion air intakes for wasp nests from a distance before sticking my face in there.  I find wasp nests in these locations all the time. 
  • I stay a healthy distance away from gable-end vents.  It's rare to not find wasp nests here.

The good news about wasps is that they're not generally angry – they just like to be left alone.  

Reuben Saltzman, Structure Tech Home Inspections - Email - Minneapolis Home Inspections

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Written By

Reuben is a second-generation home inspector with a passion for his work. He grew up remodeling homes and learning about carpentry since he was old enough to hold a hammer. Reuben grew up thinking he was going to be a school teacher because he enjoyed teaching others so much. In a sense, that’s a lot of what home inspections are about, so Reuben truly does what he loves. Sharlene has worked with Structure Tech since 2000 and Reuben has been contributing to her blog since 2008.

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