Suggestions on how to seal these gaps and holes in very tight space
Our HW cylinder is in the utility room, and the gap between the cylinder and the wall is extremely narrow. The previous owners didn't seal the gap between the floor and wall in a couple of places and there's a large hole around the pipework that vanishes into the walls. This used to be OK until last year when we had wasps nest under the utility room roof. Throughout the summer into autumn we had wasps emerging from the HW cylinder cupboard as they made their way down from the roof and out via the gaps and holes into the utility room.
Given the extremely tight space to work in, does anyone have any suggestions on a product (perhaps an expanding foam) that we could safely use to fill these gaps and stop the wasps coming down if they nest in the same place again?
I'm open to suggestions and good ideas.
Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
I have it on good authourity that wasps do not reuse the same nest.
Retrofitted 11.2kw Mitsubishi Ecodan to new radiators commissioned November 2021.
14 x 500w Monocrystalline solar panels.
2 ESS Smile G3 10.1 batteries.
ESS Smile G3 5kw inverter.
Posted by: @editoras they made their way down from the roof and out via the gaps and holes into the utility room.
... as they made their way down through what?
... the cavity/gap within the internal wall?
The risk of sealing up just the gaps at the lower end of such a route, is that you leave them to make as large a nest as they can within the wall.
Does that wall have a timber beam at the top which is visible in the loft space?
Save energy... recycle electrons!
Illbruck FM330 pro foam air seal.
or if you can get your hand in buy some Tescon Vana tape and seal the whole rooms perimeter.
You'll need to substantiate why you've identified that specific sealant @homer-boy
What attribute does it have which a generic expanding-foam product doesn't?
Tescon Vana tape is also an unusual product to find being recommended here.
It's intended for airtight seals between insulation, moisture repellent or low-humidity sheeting during construction.
Both products are expensive due to particular mechanical features identified in their specifications.
Save energy... recycle electrons!
@transparent I’ve used both for years and find them the best for air tightness seals.
the foam itself is a specific air tightness foam. Standard foam could apply but I think for the couple of £ per tin it’s better. Also the tape is seal sealing and very robust. Try eBay as you can find rolls reduced.
Well that wasn't the answer I was expecting @homer_boy !
The Illbruck foam differs from generic PU (polyurethane) for two reasons:
- it retains a specified elasticity after curing
- it has greater adhesive properties
Whilst I can think of situations where those attributes would be especially useful, I wouldn't have considered them of significance for the wall-floor gap mentioned by @editor
I asked the question because I'd expected you to raise those issues.
I've checked prices today, and the brands of PU foam which I'd generally use are currently around £55 (for 12).
The Illbruck FM330 is between £112-£120 ish.
So I'd only be buying it if I was particularly after those attributes.
Now if only we could find a foam which incorporates insecticide properties, then @editor would be happy 🤨
Save energy... recycle electrons!
@editor - I've just taken a moment to look if there are any environmentally safe ways to discourage wasps.
The answer is yes! 😎
Predators include: Praying mantis, geckos, hedgehogs and badgers.
Useful to know, but not a great help if you want to prevent a nest inside the wall.
Aversions: wasps don't like certain aromas, including citronella, peppermint and spearmint.
Those would seem to offer a better approach.
You could either stuff mint leaves into the crack at the bottom of the wall,
or alternatively put drops of citronella oil into any crevice through which you think they are entering the house.
As a general deterrent, I can't see any problem with hanging bunches of mint stems in an attic.
They'll slowly dry during the summer, and leave the loft-space smelling great!
Save energy... recycle electrons!
@editor - if you do try any of these 'natural' approaches, please write it up on My Home Farm and add a link to it from here.
There will be others wanting to know what works... and, just as important, what doesn't!
Save energy... recycle electrons!
@transparent, will do. Out of curiosity, why would be against sealing the bottom? The wasps can exit out the top of the roof. Why they choose to come down and exit into the utility room makes very little sense.
Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
If those wasps hadn't been exiting behind the water cylinder, how would you have known they were inside the wall?
Unlike bees, they don't limit the size of their nest.
How big do you think it would grow inside the wall cavity before you actually began to hear them?
On the plus side, wasp nests are exothermic.
So, if you wanted to, you could block the bottom of the wall, let them build as much as they want, and increase your EPC 😲
Save energy... recycle electrons!
Posted by: @transparentIf those wasps hadn't been exiting behind the water cylinder, how would you have known they were inside the wall?
Because we can see them entering via the slate roof tiles above the utility room. It's the first year they nested there, and we'd get 8-12 coming down the wall and entering the utility room... we'd open the windows and let them out. But there was a lot more entering and exiting via the roof. Maybe it makes more sense to try and seal the roof and prevent them coming in to start with.
Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
- 22 Forums
- 2,089 Topics
- 45.9 K Posts
- 49 Online
- 3,375 Members
Join Us!
Trusted Installers
Struggling to find a reliable heat pump installer? A poor installation can lead to inefficiencies and high running costs. We now connect homeowners with top-rated installers who deliver quality work and excellent service.
✅ Verified, trusted & experienced installers
✅ Nationwide coverage expanding
✅ Special offers available
Latest Posts
-
RE: Who's your electricity provider and what's your tariff?
I’d be interested to know if anyone uses the NetZero ap...
By Toodles , 37 minutes ago
-
RE: Getting the best out of a heat pump - is Homely a possible answer?
@benson, I know I sent you an IM but on reflection it m...
By Majordennisbloodnok , 2 hours ago
-
RE: Vaillant AroTherm Plus 7kW
Depends on the flow temperature; the Czech data sheet i...
By JamesPa , 4 hours ago
-
RE: Renewables & Heat Pumps in the News
Thanks @lucia I look forward to some technical facts as...
By Judith , 4 hours ago
-
RE: Renewable Heating Hub Homeowners' Q&A Podcast
Fantastic news IMHO and congratulations to @mars for ma...
By JamesPa , 8 hours ago
-
RE: RDSAP10 effect on existing heat pump EPC rating?
There is a real disconnect between how performance is ...
By Aaron , 19 hours ago
-
RE: My misgivings about installing ASHP and solar panels via the ECO4 scheme...
Some thoughts from me, having been through the ECO4 pro...
By Old_Scientist , 1 day ago
-
RE: Commencing on an ASHP Installation Process
Yes, it's "doable" if everything goes to plan, they arr...
By Old_Scientist , 1 day ago
-
RE: How not to install a heat pump
You are right. Thinking on this has evolved over the p...
By JamesPa , 2 days ago
-
@ashp-bobba ‘Wattson, how many grammes of Co2 are you r...
By Toodles , 2 days ago
-
RE: DHW SET UP with Samsung gen 5
Thats good news indeed, you are very likely almost ther...
By JamesPa , 2 days ago
-
RE: Plate heat exchanger considerations
As far as I can tell my vented system would have a peak...
By Scalextrix , 2 days ago
-
RE: Air Changes per Hour - ACH and the MCS requirement
There have been a few discussions dotted around (e.g. I...
By Declan90 , 2 days ago
-
RE: Heat Pump Servicing & Maintenance – Good Value or Rip-Off?
Having made some enquiries locally I have found a compa...
By Morgan , 2 days ago
-
RE: I don't need any heating in the summer. How do I turn my Samsung heat pump off?
Thats great Someone else is struggling with this in a...
By JamesPa , 2 days ago
-
@bart Best of luck moving forward, I look forward to he...
By ASHP-BOBBA , 3 days ago