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Old 11-20-2021, 02:15 PM   #1
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Bees attracted to Fantastic Fan

We are having a problem with bees being attracted to our Fantastic Fans. They fly into the fan, are often injured or killed by the blade, sometimes just crawl around on the screen. We have had the problem in multiple states, but it is worse here in Arizona, perhaps because we are using the fans daily. In Texas it was yellow jackets, but now it appears to be almost entirely honey bees. Sadly, we are killing dozens every day. Has anyone else had this problem? How can we keep the bees away from the fans?
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Old 11-20-2021, 02:46 PM   #2
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Old 11-20-2021, 07:00 PM   #3
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Bees in your bonnet!

Are your fans set to blow outward or are they set to suck air into the trailer? I set ours to blow outward with a window or door open. That would make it a little harder for the bees to make it into the fan area. At least on ours, it does.

Greg
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Old 11-20-2021, 09:22 PM   #4
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Wondering if you have had something suck through those fans which is attracting them, like fumes from something you were cooking one day. Or, perhaps you sucked some sweet pollen through them from a nearby tree.

My first thought would be to remove the screens and fan blades and get everything as clean as can be, removing any traces of anything which might be attracting them.
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Old 11-20-2021, 09:29 PM   #5
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Yep. Same here but just this week at Dinosaur Valley SP in north-central Texas. Honey bees when the fan was off and no other fan was on. It was ahead of a cold front so maybe they were looking for warmth. Flies were very active too. After the temp dropped 50 degrees both the bees and the flies stopped being a nuisance.
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Old 11-21-2021, 12:00 AM   #6
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After seven years with our trailer, we ran into this problem. A neighbor in an SOB had 100 or get into the interior or his SOB, and many in his fridge compartment. We had aboiut 30 killed in our front Fantastic Fan in one day. We already had a fan cover with insect screen on our rear fan, and that worked fine. So we obtained a second cover for the other fan.

I believe this is the model we have
https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Vents-an...FVU1500WH.html
I think the insect screen is an optional extra.

By the way, once you install the mounting brackets, it's not hard to remove and re-install the cover. We'll put it on for our long winter stay in our favorite Texas swamp, and remove it for other times.
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Old 11-21-2021, 09:14 AM   #7
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Is the queen along for the ride?
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Old 11-21-2021, 12:05 PM   #8
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Bees

You know, the Fantastic Fan is a "honey" of a fan. The internet is "buzzing" about it. I was "stung" by the negative comments about it. Took a nice picture from above using my "drone".
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Old 11-21-2021, 12:35 PM   #9
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Fantastic Fan covers - the option that comes with insect screens - may solve your problem. I have them on both of my FFs and they work as advertised. They also keep the fans from shutting down when it rains because they're now shielded which is nice, because sometimes I want the fans going when it's raining. I went with the FF brand cover (there are 3 color shades) because they let the fan lid open fully.
Other posters have written that they think the covers are ugly. Their proven utility, easy install, and reasonable price have made me a convert.
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Old 11-21-2021, 01:45 PM   #10
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Put some almond extract on the fan and cover. If you want, moisten a paper towel with the extract and put it over part of the screen as you blow air out. Bees hate that smell (they communicate with smells). I have used it to get bees off honeycomb before I extract the honey. Just plain old artificial almond extract.
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Old 11-21-2021, 04:54 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mollysdad View Post
Is the queen along for the ride?
Yes. But she rides shotgun, navigates, and occasionally backs the trailer into the campsite.

“All hail the queen!”
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Old 11-28-2021, 10:16 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcooper0 View Post
We are having a problem with bees being attracted to our Fantastic Fans. They fly into the fan, are often injured or killed by the blade, sometimes just crawl around on the screen. We have had the problem in multiple states, but it is worse here in Arizona, perhaps because we are using the fans daily. In Texas it was yellow jackets, but now it appears to be almost entirely honey bees. Sadly, we are killing dozens every day. Has anyone else had this problem? How can we keep the bees away from the fans?
Get Max Air vent covers, or equivalent brand, installed on roof over the Fantastic fans. Your fans will continue to operate to vent air and will stay open even in rain because they will have a screened vent cover over them. Any Airstream dealer can do it. If you’re capable of installing them you can purchase them at almost any RV location to include camping world.
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Old 11-28-2021, 11:07 AM   #13
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Or Amazon...

Cover

Screen kit
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Old 11-28-2021, 11:54 AM   #14
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I concur with the almond oil suggestion. Here's a blog for your reading pleasure.



https://www.rearvuemirror.com/guides...-bee-repellent
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Old 11-28-2021, 07:55 PM   #15
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I installed two of the covers with bug screens today. Links are noted above. They don’t fit very snugly around the sides of the fan housing. We’ll see how well they keep the bees out, but I have low expectations.
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Old 11-28-2021, 08:49 PM   #16
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Bee stuff

In addition to the screen there are some natural oils that will repel bees.

From Herr Googlemeister

While scent is the easiest way to attract these unwanted guests, it's also the easiest deterrent! Simply incorporate scents that humans find pleasant and bees find repulsive. Some of these off-putting fragrances are peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus, and thyme.Jul 18, 2019

https://www.westernexterminator.com
How to keep bees away from the pool & other backyard queries - Western Exterminator
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Old 11-29-2021, 03:45 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcooper0 View Post
We are having a problem with bees being attracted to our Fantastic Fans. They fly into the fan, are often injured or killed by the blade, sometimes just crawl around on the screen. We have had the problem in multiple states, but it is worse here in Arizona, perhaps because we are using the fans daily. In Texas it was yellow jackets, but now it appears to be almost entirely honey bees. Sadly, we are killing dozens every day. Has anyone else had this problem? How can we keep the bees away from the fans?
I had the same problem last week in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. I was honing to close the fan and saw about ten bees in there crawling around on the screen. The fan is pulling air out of the trailer and the blades are spinning and the bees crawling around under it.
Thought it was a freak thing until your post.
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