Dead animal removal
An animal that died in the chimney is removed and the odor treated to clear the smell.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Calumet City, IL
A local sweep can clear animals out of a Calumet City chimney along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Dial (708) 708-7203 to be connected with a nearby chimney sweep.
To birds, raccoons and squirrels, an uncapped chimney is a dry, sheltered den. 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.
Lighting a fire to drive an animal out is a bad idea. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can ignite and smoke can back up into the room. 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 protected under federal law as migratory birds, so an active nest stays until the birds leave for the season. Rules on trapping and relocating wildlife vary by state, so the method follows what is allowed in Illinois. Afterward, a chimney cap with screening is what keeps the next one out.
Chimney Animal Removal is often paired with chimney cap installation and chimney cleaning, depending on the cause.
Looking for Calumet City chimney animal removal? Call (708) 708-7203 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chimney animal removal process
Here is how a sweep typically handles an animal in the chimney.
Figure out what it is
A camera or light and the signs you describe show whether it is birds, a raccoon or something else which decides what happens next.
Set the approach
If chimney swifts are nesting, the sweep will advise on when the nest can come out so the removal stays legal and humane.
Remove the animal
Animals are removed by hand, with a catch pole, through a one-way exit or by letting a mother move her young while keeping it out of the house.
Remove debris
Nesting material is pulled out, since it can block the flue and catch fire so smoke can draft freely.
Clean up
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized before the fireplace is used again.
Cap the chimney
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
Raccoons
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed and the chimney is capped.
Bat exclusion
Bats are excluded rather than trapped since rules often protect them.
Bird nests
Starlings, swifts and other birds and their nests are removed with timing that respects nesting season and the flue is capped afterward.
Small animals
Small animals stuck in the flue or on the damper are removed and the entry point is closed.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Calumet City, IL
Birds like starlings and chimney swifts are drawn to open flues for nesting. A nest of dry twigs and grass is both a blockage and a fire hazard. In furnace or water heater flues, a nest can cause carbon monoxide to spill indoors, so working CO alarms matter.
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, once the birds have left. A Calumet City sweep can tell you when removal is allowed, then clear the nest and cap the chimney. Other birds may be handled on a different schedule depending on the species, so ask the sweep.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Calumet City, IL
Raccoons are strong climbers, and a mother raccoon will often choose a chimney smoke shelf as a den to raise her kits in spring. The signs are chattering and whimpering from the young and the mother leaving at dusk and returning before dawn. Never reach into the chimney or try to grab a raccoon, since they can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm.
The young are often removed first so the mother can relocate them, and the chimney is checked empty before it is sealed. Since rules on raccoons vary from state to state, the sweep follows the approach allowed in Illinois. Then the area is sanitized and a strong cap is fastened down to keep the next raccoon out.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
Animal calls in Calumet City pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. From Calumet City out to places like Lansing, Burnham, South Holland and Dolton, older chimneys without caps are the easiest targets for birds and raccoons. A properly fitted cap prevents most of these problems.
Searching for chimney animal removal near me from Calumet City or Lansing, Burnham, South Holland and Dolton? Call (708) 708-7203 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Calumet City
Winters here are cold and long, with lake effect snow in many towns and deep cold snaps that can last for days. Heating systems and wood stoves work nearly nonstop for months, which means fast creosote buildup and a lot of stress on liners, crowns and flashing. Snow drifting against the back of a chimney melts slowly and works water under tired flashing. Most chimney cleaning in Calumet City, IL happens right before the first snow.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in Calumet City know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
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.
How do I get rid of a dead animal smell in my chimney?
The smell of decay in a chimney nearly always means an animal has died inside. 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. Once they migrate, a sweep can clear the nest and cap the chimney so they do not return. While you wait, keep the damper shut and the fireplace out of use.
What stops birds and raccoons from getting into a chimney?
A chimney cap with a mesh screen is the most effective way to keep animals out. It should be fastened well enough that a raccoon cannot pull it off, with mesh small enough to stop birds without clogging with creosote. Trimming tree limbs away from the roof also helps.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Nests can block the flue and catch fire, droppings can carry disease, and raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. Blocked gas appliance flues can spill carbon monoxide, so get to fresh air if a CO alarm sounds.
More questions? Call (708) 708-7203
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Cleaning the flue, smoke chamber and firebox of wood-burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts, 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 with sweeping, deodorizing and a fix for the cause.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
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Call (708) 708-7203 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Calumet City, IL.
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