Bee Cool Ventilators - FAQ's

Do I need a ventilator with a thermostat (turns fan on and off)?

Yes, very important it takes only a few minutes on a cool morning or evening to devastate your hive.

Do I leave Bee Cool on in the winter?

Yes, It removes both humidity and Carbon Dioxide on warm winter days both of which could be detrimental to the hive.

Are their any other benefits than increasing honey production?

Yes, less swarming, stronger colonies (important going in to winter) less humidity (heat and humidity invites pathogens and rots woodware) and reduces stress (known to shorten life span). Some evidence that it may reduce Varroa mites.

Is it fair to say that Bee Cool relieves stress on the hive?

Yes, during the height of the nectar flow there is a tremendous amount of humidity (for every 3 pounds of nectar 2 pounds is water) in the hive that the bees have to remove requiring a lot of fanning in a short period of time on top of the mad dash to get enough stores for winter and other responsibilitys. And this is being done under difficult conditions.

How Does Bee Cool help with Varroa mite control?

Varroa jacobsoni mites require prolonged, high humidity for optimal reproduction. With less heat, dampness, and CO2 in the hive, individual bees and the colony as a whole are healthier and stronger. Conditions are less conducive to the propagation of Varroa. Bees are more active and more alert for more hours of each day. A study on Varroa in Puerto Rico showed a serious mite problem on the hot, humid side of the island, but virtually no problem on the other side of the island where humidity and temperature are moderated by cooling breezes.
Link to excerpts from USDA Study on Varroa and Humidity
A Dutch method for varroa control Without chemicals!

What about tracheal mites, foulbrood and other pathogenic conditions?

No studies have been completed with Bee Cool as yet. We fully expect that the technicians and the number-crunchers will verify what common sense already suggests: Stronger, healthier, more active bees are more resistant to the whole range of adverse conditions now confronting the world's honeybee population. And it's no coincidence that mites, mold, bacteria, and virus thrive in hot, humid conditions. We will keep you informed.

Is it really cost-effective?

It's not just about increasing honey production. Virtually every known pathogen thrives in high heat and humidity. Bee Cool removes hot, humid, CO2-laden air at least seven times per minute! The bees love it!(In one hive equipped with Bee Cool, the beekeeper forgot to put on the supers, but still, the bees tunneled through their honey comb in several locations to let Bee Cool do its job!) Worker bees desperately want to keep their queen happy. They will fan themselves to death in an effort to keep the queen in egg-laying mode. When you see them clustered on the hive or bearding at the entrance, those workers (and the queen) are exhausted and demoralized. How much does it cost you to keep replacing bees and fumigating hives? And deal with swarming? And what about the time involved?

What About winter-kill?

The bees form their wintertime cluster in much stronger, healthier condition. The queen has kept on laying eggs through the hottest days so the size of the colony is much greater. Also, when sunlight does push the temperature high enough to activate the Bee Cool module, dampness and carbon dioxide are both greatly reduced. (It has been known for decades that exposure to CO2 shortens life-span for honeybees.) This protects the hive from condensation, ice-formation, and all of the consequent stress and related problems.

Will Bee Cool fit my hives?

Bee Cool is designed to work with any one of the commonly used conventional types with a removable cover, such as the Langstroth, the Smith, British National, Modified National, Dadant, Modified Dadant, and other Modified Commercial types. Also, we will gladly modify our woodenware for any reasonably large order.

What about maintenance?


Clean propolis from the fan screen periodically. (Note, this is not a big problem - bees will not intentionally plug this screen. They love the ventilation...)
We are also experimenting with a harmless vegetable lubricant to further reduce propolyzing. Incidentally, your woodenware could last years longer with regular use of Bee Cool ventilators.

Will Bee Cool disturb the brood?

No. As air is circulated around the brood, not through it, the bees will block some air flow as they regulate brood temperature. Of course, when temperatures drop, Bee Cool does not operate, and the colony can maintain temperature within the hive without interference.


Fact: A limiting factor in honey production is the bees' ability to dry nectar. From three pounds of nectar, the bees must evaporate about two pounds of water to produce about one pound of honey. Even at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and 50% relative humidity, the bees need about 1,700 cubic feet of air to evaporate each pound of water. Guess how many are needed when temperature and humidity are both over 80! Now with feeder hole and instructions in English, French, German, Italian, Arabic, and Hebrew. Bee Cool helps bees do their job. Hot, humid weather slows the honey-making process. Bee Cool protects hives from excess heat, humidity, and excess carbon dioxide. Bees work longer and harder. This is critical during seed-set. Commercial beekeepers, wouldn't your customers pay more for your services if they understood what Bee Cool can do for them? Bee Cool pulls hot, damp, stale air up and out of the hive. Fanning, clustering and swarming are reduced. (So is winterkill.) Resistance to mites (and infection) is greatly enhanced, even when mites are present in nearby hives!