Squirrels
Squirrels, mice and other small animals that fall in and get trapped are taken out and the entry point is closed.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Willow Street, PA
A Willow Street chimney sweep can get wildlife out of the flue and install a cap so they cannot get back in. Call (223) 244-3839 to reach a local chimney sweep.
An open chimney looks like a hollow tree to a lot of animals. Birds build nests on the smoke shelf or damper, raccoons den on the smoke shelf to raise their young, and squirrels fall in and cannot climb back out. Each one brings nesting material that blocks the flue, droppings that smell and the risk of the animal getting into the house.
It is tempting to light a fire and force the animal out, but it does more harm than good. It can kill young animals that cannot leave, set the nest on fire and fill the house with smoke. Shut the damper and doors to keep the animal from coming into the house.
The type of animal decides how and when it can be removed. Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, and a sweep will advise on timing. Rules on trapping and relocating wildlife vary by state, so the method follows what is allowed in Pennsylvania. Afterward, a chimney cap with screening is what keeps the next one out.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney animal removal in Willow Street, PA can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and chimney cleaning.
Dealing with this in Willow Street, PA right now? Call (223) 244-3839 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney animal removal
Here is how a sweep typically handles an animal in the chimney.
Start with the clues
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal since each one is handled differently.
Check the rules
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young before any work begins.
Remove the animal
Depending on the animal, removal may be by hand, with an exclusion door or by giving a mother the chance to relocate her young with care taken around the damper and smoke shelf.
Clear the nest
All debris left behind is cleared out so smoke can draft freely.
Clean up
The smoke shelf and firebox are cleaned and treated for odor which helps with lingering smells.
Cap the chimney
A chimney cap with a mesh screen goes on the flue so animals cannot return so the problem does not repeat next season.
What is included
Common chimney animal problems
Bat exclusion
Bats are moved out with one-way exits timed around their breeding season and the top is sealed after they are gone.
Bird nests
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared as covered in more detail below.
Dead animal removal
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized to clear the smell.
Raccoons
Raccoon dens above the damper are cleared out without harming the kits.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Willow Street, PA
Birds nest in chimneys because the inside of a flue is dry, sheltered and hard for predators to reach. A nest of dry twigs and grass is both a blockage and a fire hazard. Nests in flues that serve gas or oil appliances are a carbon monoxide risk too, since they can push exhaust back into the house.
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, once the birds have left. A sweep in Willow Street will advise on timing, then remove the old nest and install a cap afterwards so they cannot return. Other species can often be handled sooner, depending on the bird and the rules that apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Willow Street, PA
In spring, a female raccoon looking for a safe den often climbs into an uncapped chimney to have her young on the smoke shelf. You may hear chattering, crying or thumping above the damper, especially at dusk when the mother comes and goes. Raccoons can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm, so never reach into the flue or try to handle one.
The young are often removed first so the mother can relocate them, and the chimney is checked empty before it is sealed. Trapping and relocation rules differ by state, so the method follows what is allowed in Pennsylvania. After that, droppings are cleaned up and a sturdy cap is fitted, since raccoons can tear lightweight caps off.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
In Willow Street, wildlife moves into chimneys mostly in spring and summer, when the fireplace is cold. From Willow Street out to places like Conestoga, Lancaster, Strasburg and Millersville, older chimneys without caps are the easiest targets for birds and raccoons. A cap with a mesh screen is the simplest fix, and trimming branches back from the roof helps too.
Need chimney animal removal around Willow Street? Call (223) 244-3839 for a Willow Street chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Willow Street
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Willow Street, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Willow Street
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Willow Street and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Animal Removal questions
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
An animal in the flue is more than a nuisance. Blocked flues, fire risk from nests, disease from droppings and animals getting into the house are the main concerns. Blocked gas appliance flues can spill carbon monoxide, so get to fresh air if a CO alarm sounds.
Can I light a fire to get an animal out of my chimney?
Lighting a fire is the wrong move with an animal in the chimney. Young animals cannot climb out and will be hurt, the nest can ignite, and a blocked flue can send smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. Close the damper and fireplace doors and leave the removal to a sweep.
Can chimney swifts be removed from my chimney?
Because chimney swifts are protected, removal has to wait until the birds leave for the season. The sweep can tell you when it is allowed, then clean out the nest and add a cap. Until then, keep the damper closed and do not use the fireplace.
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
The smell of decay in a chimney nearly always means an animal has died inside. The animal has to be removed, along with any nest and droppings, and the area cleaned and deodorized. Keep the damper shut in the meantime.
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
The best prevention is a sturdy chimney cap with screening on all sides. Choose a cap that is fastened securely and has mesh fine enough to stop birds. Trimming tree limbs away from the roof also helps.
More questions? Call (223) 244-3839
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Sweeping soot and creosote out of fireplace and stove chimneys of every kind, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Getting rid of the campfire, musty or rotten smell coming from a chimney whether the smell shows up in summer heat or after rain.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers so smoke goes up and heated air stays in.
Learn more
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