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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

The Purpose and Function of a Chimney Cap

Have you ever turned your gaze upward to take a look at chimney tops in your neighborhood? Perhaps you’ve noticed that many chimneys are topped with a chimney cap, a mini roof-like structure. You might also have noticed that some chimneys are unprotected from above. So what is the purpose of a chimney cap, and why is it so important?

Keep Water Out

The No.1 function of a chimney cap is to keep water out of your chimney. Without some level of protection, water will run down the walls of your chimney. Once inside, it can damage all of the elements of your fireplace chimney. The water running down the walls of your chimney can create chimney leaks that affect the rest of your home, causing water damage to your home’s surrounding structure. The best way to protect your home from water damage, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, is to protect your chimney with a chimney cap.

Create a Barrier for Animals

Whether they’re seeking the warmth and shelter of your chimney’s interior or mistakenly stumble down your chimney flue, birds and animals have a way of finding their way in. Once inside your chimney, birds can create blockages that prevent smoke and carbon dioxide from exiting your chimney. They also can build nests, leave behind waste or even die in the chimney, create damage, leaving debris and filling your home with terrible smells. A chimney cap, outfitted with a barrier screen, prevents animals from entering your chimney, whether intentionally or accidentally.

Prevent Drafts

Your chimney is essentially a door to the outside of your home. Just as smoke can travel up and out of your chimney, cold drafts can find their way down. At a minimum, those drafts can chill your home, making it feel uncomfortable and cold. At their worst, sudden downdrafts can cause smoke, fireplace embers, and even logs to come pouring out of your chimneys. A chimney cap can prevent downdrafts, saving your home from unpleasant drafts and dangerous bursts or air that can send the contents of your fireplace flying.

Keep Out Debris

The wind that blows down your chimney and into your home also can send leaves, twigs and other debris into your fireplace. That debris can form blockages in your chimney that prevent smoke and gases from exiting the chimney or pose a fire hazard. A chimney cap blocks debris from being able to blow into your chimney.

Gaze up at your rooftop and see if a chimney cap protects your chimney. If it’s not, call Your Chimney Sweep to schedule an appointment today! We can install a chimney cap to keep your chimney, and your home, safe from water, animals, drafts, and debris.

By Joe Sauter on March 23rd, 2018 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment