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How to Keep Wasps Out of Air Conditioners
How to Keep Wasps Out of Air Conditioners. Wasps enter a home through cracks in the foundation, holes in a window screen or a door inadvertently left open. Another overlooked culprit is your window air conditioner. When the air conditioner runs, its internal parts create heat, making the unit's inner chamber an attractive space for bees, wasps and...
Wasps enter a home through cracks in the foundation, holes in a window screen or a door inadvertently left open. Another overlooked culprit is your window air conditioner. When the air conditioner runs, its internal parts create heat, making the unit's inner chamber an attractive space for bees, wasps and yellow jackets to nest. There are several inexpensive solutions to wasp-proof your window air conditioner and keep your family and pets safe from these unwanted invaders.
Things You'll Need
Rubber gloves
Safety goggles
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirt
Socks
Shoes
Cap
Plastic tote
Flashlight
Plastic garbage or cloth bag
Brick
Outdoor trashcan
Air conditioner cover
Wasp trap (optional)
Glass jar
1 cup warm water
1 tbsp. liquid dish soap
Maple syrup or honey
Tin foil
Staples or duct tape
Mint, citronella or clove oil
Destroy the Wasp Nest
Slip on a pair of rubber gloves, safety goggles, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, socks, shoes and a cap before approaching the wasp nest.
Fill a plastic tote halfway with cold water. Set the tote on the ground near the wasp nest.
Holding a flashlight, approach the wasp nest cautiously at night. Wasps are dormant at night, which slows down their reaction time and the likelihood of stings.
Wrap the wasp nest with a plastic garbage or cloth bag. Perform this action quickly to prevent wasps from escaping. Once the nest is covered, pull the bag’s drawstring tight and yank the bag and nest away from the eave, tree or overhang it was attached to.
Submerge the bag in the cold water. Set a brick onto the bag to keep it completely under water. Cover the tote with its matching lid and leave it until morning.
Remove the tote’s lid, lift the bag from the water and discard it in an outdoor trashcan.
Other Strategies
Install an air conditioner cover when it is not in use. Choose a cover that fits your air conditioner snugly and is free of holes or tears.
Set a wasp trap near the air conditioner. Purchase a wasp trap from a home improvement or hardware store or create your own with a glass jar. Fill the jar with 1 cup warm water and 1 tbsp. liquid dish soap. Coat the outside of the jar with maple syrup, honey or anything sweet and set it next to the air conditioner. The wasps will be attracted to the trap, fall into the water and perish.
Cover the siding or outdoor window trim around the air conditioner with tin foil. Attach the foil to the siding or trim with staples or duct tape. Spread mint essential oil, citronella essential oil or clove oil on the foil. The combination of the scent and light reflecting off the foil creates a powerful deterrent.
