Spent three hours on a simple flue cap because of a hidden wasp nest

I was doing a routine cleaning on a house in Springfield and went to remove the standard flue cap. It wouldn't budge, and I thought it was just rusted on. After an hour of gentle prying, I finally got it loose and a whole nest of dead wasps fell out, completely packed into the mesh. They had built up so much gunk it was basically glued shut. The cleaning itself took 20 minutes, but dealing with that mess took the rest of the morning. Anyone have a good method for checking for that kind of blockage before you start pulling?

3 comments

3 Comments

richardfox3mo ago

Tap the cap first, listen for a crunchy sound.

palmer.henry3mo ago

Richard's tap method works pretty well. I also use a small inspection mirror to peek inside before touching anything. It saves a lot of trouble.

dakota_rivera2d ago

Yeah the mirror trick is a lifesaver. I always give it a good look before I go poking around in there. Beats guessing and damaging something you could've easily avoided.