Well that was unexpected

Had a 6500sqft house today with copper gutters and homeowners out of town. Took my time, started in the back and did the front last because the sun was just baking it and I needed to babysit my mix. Started washing the shutters and hundreds of boxelder bugs started crawling out and climbing towards the gutters…

I haven’t slept too well this week because i’ve been too busy so I took a picture to make sure I wasnt hallucinating and unfortunately they were real. I finished up rinsing trying to knock as many as I could down but I really had no idea what to do. I couldnt leave all these bugs on the house so I spent the next hour and an extra 5 gallons of bleach playing space invaders.

Has this ever happened to anyone? I had no clue what to do and I couldnt bare to imagine the owners coming back and seeing their house covered in little black bugs. I’m going back after my jobs tomorrow to see if there are any survivors or stains that the wounded might have left behind.




Those pictures are just one side of the house. All of the fascia on the front was littered with them

1 Like

Job for pest control. Nice of you to try

1 Like

Yea. Only issue was them being out of town and out of contact. Pest control is gonna have to take care of that before I go back but I hate to leave a house unfinished.

Go finish washing the house and leave an invoice. Bug control is not our bailiwick and they’ll go back to doing what they do thirty minutes after you leave

3 Likes

The only other issue was their probable negligence of pest control for who knows how long. Nacho problem

In my neck of the woods I see a lot of brown bats behind shutters. I know they are there as soon as I start washing and a lot of brown comes out from behind the shutter. They are protected, so don’t kill them. When they come out they normally will try to find someplace nearby and shady to hide, so don’t be surprised if they just fly to the next shutter.

If I wash the front again and the bugs aren’t gone it’ll just leave more bug juice. Kind of a never ending whack a mole. I quoted this house at the top of my range so I don’t have a problem with an extra trip to keep them happy. I do a lot of work for them and we have a good relationship too so maintaining a top tier service is very much worth it

1 Like

You didn’t mention bug juice. Are they leaving stains or something? Another reason to not wash houses.

First freezing nite they’ll be gone

Oh yea I forgot that part. There were a couple spots where they had left some brownish stuff. SH gets it right up. I just slept for 10 hours to regain my sanity when I go back there today. They have the pest guy coming this morning

If you don’t wash roofs and you don’t wash houses…WHAT ARE YOU WASHING??? :joy: Are you pure commercial at this point?

Mainly just apartments. I haven’t worked but two days in the last two weeks but yesterday I did 11 houses that I kept putting off. I didn’t even bother the guys, let them keep on keeping on with apartments. Wednesday was the three year anniversary of son passing and I needed to get out and do something to keep my mind occupied. I do about one house for every 25 that call and usually just for old customers.

3 Likes

Sorry for your loss. Yesterday was my mom’s 6th year deathaversary. I definitely understand the needing to be busy on those days.

Sad to hear about your son man, I couldn’t imagine losing one of my kids. Was he your only child or do you have others?

Today would have been Justin’s Birthday. Much to my chagrin he was an IHOP kid and I’m a Waffle House guy. We’re having his 24th birthday party at IHOP today at 4. His baby brothers are 18 and 16 and are the reasons my wife and I keep keeping on.

11 Likes

wow, been 3 years already. It seems time has gone too fast.
i will be taking a knee for him and your family today.
Blessings

2 Likes

God bless you and your family

1 Like

My heart breaks for y’all today. I met your youngest last week when he filled up my SH drum. He’s a great kid with a great dad. I’ll be praying for you and your family this week

2 Likes

The baby boy could stand under a clothes line in a rain storm and stay dry, as long as it was tall enough.

1 Like

@Innocentbystander Thinking of you and your family on this day. I am certain there are many great times and stories to remember and share. I would be on the “Waffle House” team. Can’t go wrong with hash browns with a slice of cheese on top! My thoughts and prayers are you you and your family.

2 Likes