Beekeeping is definitely a very enjoyable and rewarding hobby but there are chores that must be done every spring. This winter was definitely one of the worse for my hives, losing about 65% of my hives, many still with over 20 pounds of honey I left them to in the Fall to overwinter. After the hive dies or absconds we as beekeepers must clean out the dead hives because the pests like wax moth or small hive beetles get to them. Last weekend we cleaned out four large hives. Scrapping out all the wax from the woodware, especially old dark wax, is very time consuming but needs to be done, preparing for the swarm season. Now we are ready to fill these boxes again!
Los Altos Honey Bees 
Will your new bees use old comb? Just wondering if sickness is not a issue, if the comb could be used to jump start a new hive?
They would but I noticed after a while they prefer not to use them.