Topic: Why you should clean your weather station

[weatherdoc]

I hadn't cleaned my Davis VP2 weather station since September 2023. Normally I clean it twice a year but since I moved in June, I didn't do so. When I took it apart yesterday, not only was it filthy (a lot of house construction going on in my neighborhood creating dust) I found a mud wasp nest on the temp/humidity sensor board. Glad the nest was empty and now I once again have a clean VP2.

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[ocala]

I had that same issue last year but it was a hornets nest. Luckily it was cool outside so they weren't active so I was able to get rid of it with out being stung. I started using  some vinyl screen to keep them out. Just wrapped it around the plates and stitched together with thread. When I took it off this year there was no critters inside.   

[weatherdoc]

When I lived in Florida, I started using 1 Gallon Paint Strainer Bags (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3LZXMQS?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1) around the beehive part of the VP2 ISS to keep insects, small frogs, and lizards (anoles) out. Actually, had an anole got stuck in the fan, which is when I started using the strainer bags. They lasted about 6 months in the Florida sun before deteriorating and needing replacing. I have some on hand and will start using them again here in NC.