Our Company Blog

We remove birds and other small animals from your chimney

What’s that scratching, scraping or chirping noise coming from your chimney? If you hear movement in your chimney, chances are there is an animal in your chimney. So how do you deal with animals in your chimney?

Animals in chimneys are more than a nuisance. Even when the chimney isn’t in use, animals cause problems. Animals and birds damage your chimney lining. They also bring in debris or build nests that entirely blocks the chimney opening. Animals and birds also introduce diseases to your home. Animals and the debris they bring into the chimney can fill your home with horrible odors.

What to do about an animal in your chimney

If an animal is in your chimney, call our professionals right now. Larger animals require a professional animal control technician, but birds and small animals such as squirrels, can be removed by Your Chimney Sweep!

If you suspect an animal in your chimney, first you need to close the damper to prevent the animal from entering. Then, call in a professional, because our chimney technicians are trained to remove birds and animals safely. Once the animal is safely removed, your chimney needs to be swept and inspected to ensure no debris or damages are left behind.

About chimney swifts

However, there is one type of bird that cannot be removed from your chimney: the chimney swift. Chimney swifts are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Act, which makes it illegal to disturb their nests. They find homes on vertical surfaces of chimney flues in late spring or early summer, and they vacate their nests in the fall. They have cigar-shaped bodies and square tails, and they flap their wings swiftly, like bats. If swifts are nesting in your chimney, you have to wait until they leave in the fall. Then you should call our professionals to get your chimney swept and inspected.

If you have an animal or bird in your chimney, call Your Chimney Sweep for help! We can assess the problem, safely remove the animal and sweep and inspect your chimney to make sure it’s safe to use this fall. We can even outfit your chimney for the perfect chimney cap to keep birds, bats, and animals out for good!

Remove animals in your chimney

Spring is when most animals and birds are looking for places to nest. As a result, some animals might enter your chimney and make their home there. So what’s the problem with animals in your chimney? And what should you do if an animal has made your chimney their home, or is accidentally trapped inside it?

The dangers of animals in chimneys

Once inside your chimney, animals can cause all sorts of problems. They can damage the components inside your chimney including the chimney liner or chimney damper. Animals can also cause blockage in your chimney, with their bodies or with the nesting materials.

A blockage in your chimney can ignite a dangerous chimney fire. It can also prevent smoke and carbon monoxide from exiting your chimney. Some animals might even bypass your smoke shelf and chimney damper to enter your home, which can then cause serious damage to your property. In addition to causing a blockage in the chimney, the animals that inhibit it can fill it with disgusting smells.

What to do about animals in your chimney

If you have a bird or animals in your chimney, it’s time to call in the professionals. Some animals like chimney swifts are protected, and their nests must stay in your chimney until they decide to move out by choice. Whereas, other animals can be safely removed by a professional. Once an animal has been removed or leave your chimney, it’s crucial to have it properly cleaned and inspected professionally. A chimney sweeping will remove any debris or nesting materials left behind, while the inspection will spot any damages left behind by the critters.

How to prevent animals in your chimney

When it comes to animals in your chimney, it’s best to prevent an animal from the chance to enter your chimney from the start. First, we recommend a sturdy chimney cap affixed with a metal guard, to prevent birds and animals from finding their way into the chimney. You can also fit your chimney for a top-sealing chimney damper, which seals the opening of your chimney to prevent animals or water from entering your chimney at all.

However, if an animal has already found its way into your chimney, call Your Chimney Sweep to schedule an appointment now. Our technicians can remove animals from your chimney, and can also clean and inspect it to find a solution to prevent any future animal invasions!