Taking care of RV flying pest invasions

September is here and it's time to take care of any flying pest infestation problems that may have occurred over the summer. A large variety of wasps, hornets, and bees seem to enjoy using RVs for their building projects. A few days ago I was inspecting my slide-out awning and was stung by a wasp. They had built two nests under the slide-out awning. They paid dearly for the offense.Before you fire up you heater you need to inspect it and clean it. If you don't, your RV could end up looking like this.I recommend using high volume compressed air to blow out your heater exhaust vent. I also recommend using compressed air for blowing out the exterior refrigerator access, water heater vent and any other openings that might have been a summer home to flying insects.One day we turned on the gas on our hot water heater after having used electric exclusively for several months. I didn't know it, but mud daubers had done their home construction inside the vent tube. I went outside and noticed a black soot streak running up the side of my new 5th wheel. I didn't take a photo of it at the time, but it looked something like this.These pests and RVs don't mix. They are a fire hazard and a nuisance. You can purchase screens in various sizes to keep pests out of these areas. These contraptions (available at RV parts stores nationwide) do work, but they are not foolproof. Whether you have a pest infestation or not, you still need to blow out the dust.

Using a leaf blower will remove most paper type wasp nests and debris off roofs and under slide- out awnings. The leaf blower is also great for blowing away cob webs.

So, before the weather turns cold and you turn on your heater get out there and check it out. It might save your RV and your life. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing