Bathroom extractor fan and wasps' nest

[Carruthers2]

I have a wasps' nest somewhere between the outside vent in the soffitt and the actual fan in the bathroom. There are wasps flying in and out of the soffit vent. The set-up for the fan is the fan in the bathroom, ducting (silver coloured flexible) that is lying on the loft floor and then the soffitt vent. Have been finding wasps in the bathroom for some weeks now but initially couldn't see where they were coming from.

The fan has recently started to sound much louder when it is switched on. Not sure if it's connected to the wasps.

I want to replace the fan (it's over 20 years old, was here when I bought the bungalow). I think I will get this done after the wasps have died but even after that time should I pre-warn the workman?

I tried squirting some wasp nest killer foam into the outside soffitt vent last night but it just gradually all dripped out on to the ground so that was a waste of time. I'm not sure where exactly the nest is likely to be, whether it's at the vent end or as far along as the fan.

Yuk. Can you duct tape over the grille in bathroom and they might fly out to the outside?

it would be unreasonable to ask someone to work in the proximity of a wasps nest. They might not be able to get away and could be severely stung. They might even suffer anaphylactic shock, or fall down the ladder when trying to escape.

There is a slim chance that your council might still offer a pest control service.

If not, I have used those "wasp nest destroyer" spays and they squirt a thin jet that can be aimed onto the nest, you might try that from the loft hatch (position a lamp first so that you can see what you are doing)

I imagine that as winter comes, it will get too cold for them to be active. I have an idea they don't keep the same nest in later years.