Jeer: Chimney work fails to keep wasps from entering home

The jeer: Jeers to Southeastern Services Co. I called them out to clean my chimney due to a wasp nest. After they arrived, they made excuses why they could not get on the chimney, so they caulked around my damper - saying this would solve the problem - and charged us $120.

We still have wasps coming in our home through the chimney. I have called the company multiple times with no replies.

- Ashley Bullard, Salemburg

About Bullard: Bullard said the someone from company came to her house the day after Thanksgiving to do the work. "We still have the problem," she said.

The other side of the jeer: Rick Taylor of Southeastern Services responded by email:

"I talked to the employee who went to the Bullard home, and it was a cold morning with a two-story steep roof. There was frost still on one side, so a roof climb was out of the question and is not as common as in prior years for chimney cleaning if all can be inspected.

"According to my employee's statement and written notes of the service, the Bullards had gas logs in the home with a large quantity of dead wasps or hornets. My employee was told the damper was previously sealed and opened (the) damper quite easily. No wasp nest was seen, but a few live ones were. My employee had no way to contain wasps to the fireplace area if the nest was dislodged and fell during cleaning.

"The Bullards have a very small child who was in the room along with both parents and our employee, thus to chance a nest of unknown size falling into (the) living area and swarming was not the way to approach this problem either. My employee sealed the damper all around and inspected areas for access holes. My employee did what he thought was best, and if I had been there I would have done the same thing.

"We make our employees' and customers' safety a top priority. We have been in business close to 30 years and have never had a lost-time injury or damage to any property. We did receive a call from Mrs. Bullard and lost the call and called what we thought was her number to try to resolve this. We are not licensed exterminators, thus can't spray any chemicals to try to cease wasp activity. We warranty all our work and have many satisfied customers, but, again, we make safety our top priority."

- Rodger Mullen

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Jeer: Chimney work fails to keep wasps from entering home