Bees can be a pain if they get into your house, especially if there’s an infestation.
If you don’t want to harm them but need to get rid of the beehive, this is the right guide for you.
How to tell if you have a bee infestation
The first sign of a bee infestation in your home is seeing one or more bees in your home regularly.
It’s normal for one or two to get in through a window, but if you notice them in your home a lot more than usual, it could be because there’s a nest in or on the outside of your house.
Other signs of a bee infestation include:
- dark spots or stains on walls and ceilings
- the sound of buzzing
- small piles of sawdust on the ground (from burrowing in the walls)
If you haven’t found a nest but think there might be one in your home, call a pest control service to confirm whether you’re right.
What to do if there’s a bees’ nest in your home
The first thing you should do is close off the room that it’s in to stop the spread of bees. If the nest is outside, close the windows to stop them getting inside.
Do not try to destroy the nest before the bees have been fully relocated. This could harm them and make them sting as a defensive measure.
How to get rid of bees or a beehive
If you want to get bees or a bees’ nest out of your home but don’t want to hurt them, there are a few methods you can try.
Hire a nest removal and relocation service
While some bee removal services use toxic chemicals to remove bees from the home, not all do.
These services will safely remove and relocate the bees’ nest to a place where they will not be a pest.
Call a beekeeper
You can try calling a local beekeeper to see if they’re able to remove the bees from your home safely.
This could be a good option because the beekeeper will likely charge a smaller fee than a professional service, as they get to take the bees back to their own hive.
Use at-home remedies
If you want to keep the bees’ nest controlled or avoid future infestations, there are some at-home methods you can try.
Bees can be kept away or gotten rid of by using certain scents, including:
- citronella
- cinnamon
- garlic
- peppermint
You can often find spray versions of these scents, or you can try buying the essential oil version and putting it in a water diffuser.
Keep bee-repelling plants
Some plants repel bees and can be useful when kept in your house. These include:
- basil
- geranium
- mint
- wormwood
- peppermint
- citronella
Can I remove a bees’ nest on my own?
It’s not a good idea to try and remove an entire bees’ nest on your own without the right experience and equipment.
Disturbing the nest can cause the bees to sting you defensively or escape to another room of the house.
For big jobs like this, you need to call a professional.
Is it illegal to kill bees in the UK?
It’s not illegal to kill bees in the UK, but they’re very important for our environment.
Bees help keep plants and animals alive, so try to avoid killing them where you can.
Can bees affect plumbing or heating?
A bee infestation can sometimes happen in a pipe, like a bathroom overflow pipe or your outside guttering. While this is rare, it can cause a blockage and lead to leaks.
Bees can also create nests in vents and air conditioning units. If they find a space that’s suitable for their nest, there’s a chance they’ll build one there!
