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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

We remove birds and other small animals from your chimney - Indianapolis IN - Your Chimney SweepIf 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!

By Joe Sauter on August 28th, 2018 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment

Dealing with chimney swifts

Each spring brings an interesting prospect to your chimney: The possibility of chimney swifts nesting. So what exactly are chimney swifts, what problems do they cause and what can do you if the find their way into your chimney?

Dealing With Chimney Swifts - Indianapolis IN - Your Chimney Sweep

What are chimney swifts?

Chimney swifts are migratory birds that find their way into North America each March after wintering in South America. They nest in May through August, before returning to warmer weather each November. They are often mistaken for bats because of the jerky movements they exhibit when flying and eating bugs. Unlike other birds, chimney swifts cannot balance on horizontal tree branches, so they attach their nests to vertical surfaces. In the wild, that means hollowed out trees. They also love to build nests on the rough vertical inner surfaces of masonry chimneys.

What problems do chimney swifts cause?

While it may unsettle you to think of a bird nest in your chimney, chimney swifts don’t cause any damage to your chimney. You’ll likely be aware of their presence because you’ll hear a chirping noise coming from your chimney. They generally inhabit chimneys during the warm months when you won’t be building fires, so they won’t interfere with the function of your chimney. The also feed on insects, so if your chimney plays host to chimney swifts, you may see the benefit of having fewer insects in your yard this summer.

What can you do about chimney swifts?

If you notice chimney swifts in your chimney, you must play host to them until they are done nesting. Chimney swifts fall under a protected class of migratory birds, so it is illegal for swifts, their nests or their eggs to be removed from a chimney. If you want to avoid swifts in your chimney, there is a simple way to do so. Have a chimney cap, surrounded by metal caging, attached to the top of your chimney before swifts begin their migration north. With a cap in place, the swifts will not be able to make their way into your chimney to build a nest.

What can you do to encourage chimney swifts?

Chimney swifts have seen declining populations as their woodland habitats are destroyed. Because of that, many people enjoy playing host to chimney swifts to help their populations grow. To encourage chimney swifts, have your chimney swept from creosote as soon as you are done burning fires for the year and before the swifts begin to nest in May. Remove your chimney cap to allow chimney swifts to enter, and make sure that your damper is closed to prevent a baby swift from falling down the chimney into your fireplace. When the swifts have left for the year, have your chimney swept again to make sure that the remnants of their nest will not interfere with your chimney.

If you have any questions or concerns about swifts in your chimney, call the experts at Your Chimney Sweep! We’ll be able to help address your concerns to help you protect your chimney

By Joe Sauter on March 27th, 2016 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment