Birds
Starlings, swifts and other birds and their nests are removed with timing that respects nesting season with chimney swifts left until they migrate.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Glenside, PA
A local sweep can clear animals out of a Glenside chimney along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Dial (267) 633-0161 to be connected with a nearby chimney sweep.
An open chimney looks like a hollow tree to a lot of animals. Raccoons den above the damper, birds nest in the flue and small animals like squirrels can fall in and get stuck. 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. Young animals that cannot climb will be hurt, the nest can catch fire, and a blocked flue can push smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. Keep the damper and any fireplace doors closed so the animal stays in the chimney, and keep pets away from the fireplace.
The type of animal decides how and when it can be removed. Chimney swifts are protected, which means waiting until they migrate before the nest comes out. 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.
Many chimney animal removal calls in Glenside also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Dealing with this in Glenside, PA right now? Call (267) 633-0161 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Glenside.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney animal removal
Safe removal depends on knowing what is in the chimney and planning around it.
Figure out what it is
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal and whether young are involved.
Check the rules
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young and you hear what to expect.
Get it out
The animal is removed using the method suited to it with care taken around the damper and smoke shelf.
Remove debris
Nests, sticks, droppings and debris are removed from the smoke shelf, damper and flue and the area is cleaned up.
Clean up
The smoke shelf and firebox are cleaned and treated for odor before the fireplace is used again.
Add a cap
A chimney cap with a mesh screen goes on the flue so animals cannot return and any damage at the top is noted.
What is included
What chimney animal removal covers
Raccoon dens
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed and the chimney is capped.
Dead animal removal
When an animal dies in the flue, it is taken out and the smoke shelf cleaned before the fireplace is used again.
Squirrels
Squirrels, mice and other small animals that fall in and get trapped are taken out since they cannot climb back out.
Bat exclusion
Bats are excluded rather than trapped because they are protected in many places.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Glenside, PA
Birds like starlings and chimney swifts are drawn to open flues for nesting. Their nests sit on the smoke shelf, the damper or the flue walls, and the dry twigs and grass can block the draft and catch fire with the first fire of the season. In furnace or water heater flues, a nest can cause carbon monoxide to spill indoors, so working CO alarms matter.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A Glenside sweep can tell you when removal is allowed, then clear the nest and cap the chimney. Other species can often be handled sooner, depending on the bird and the rules that apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Glenside, PA
An uncapped chimney is a favorite den for raccoons, especially mothers with kits. 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.
A common approach is to remove the kits first and give the mother the chance to move them, then confirm the den is empty before capping. 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
Animal calls in Glenside pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. From Glenside out to places like Wyncote, Jenkintown, Oreland and Roslyn, older chimneys without caps are the easiest targets for birds and raccoons. Capping the flue is the main defense, along with keeping tree limbs off the roof.
Need chimney animal removal around Glenside? Call (267) 633-0161 for a Glenside chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Glenside
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Glenside is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Glenside know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Animal Removal questions
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
Capping the flue with a mesh-sided cap stops most animals. Choose a cap that is fastened securely and has mesh fine enough to stop birds. Trimming tree limbs away from the roof also helps.
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
A sour, rotten odor from the fireplace points to a dead animal in the chimney. Air fresheners will not help, since the animal and debris have to come out. Close the damper until it is removed.
Can chimney swifts be removed from my chimney?
Because chimney swifts are protected, removal has to wait until the birds leave for the season. A sweep will advise on timing, then remove the nest and install a cap afterwards. Until then, keep the damper closed and do not use the fireplace.
Will smoke drive an animal out of the chimney?
A fire is the worst way to deal with an animal in the flue. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can catch fire and a blocked flue can fill the room with smoke. Keep the damper closed and call a sweep instead.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Animals in a chimney cause problems beyond the noise. Nests can block the flue and catch fire, droppings can carry disease, and raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. A blocked flue on a furnace or water heater can also send carbon monoxide into the house, so keep CO alarms working.
More questions? Call (267) 633-0161
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides so water, birds and debris stay out of the flue.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Sweeping soot and creosote out of masonry and factory-built chimneys, to cut the risk of a chimney fire.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Tracking down the creosote, moisture or animal behind a smelly fireplace so the room stops smelling like an old ashtray.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Restoring the damper that opens and closes the flue or replacing them with a top sealing damper.
Learn more
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