Chimney animal removal by local pros in Bithlo

Listening for what is in the chimney

The sound tells us a lot before anyone climbs a ladder. Write down what you hear and when, and share it when you call. Timing, sound and anything that has fallen into the firebox usually narrow the list down.

• Scratching or thumping, often at night, can point to a climbing animal
• Chirping that rises when adults return can mean nestlings
• Fluttering near the damper suggests a bird or bat in the smoke chamber
• Light scurrying in daylight can point to squirrels

What happens when swifts are nesting

When swifts are raising young in your chimney, the work waits. Keep the damper closed so no bird drops into the room, and keep the fireplace off. After the birds have left for the season, we remove the nest material, clean the flue and fit a screened cap so the chimney is closed before they would return. The written plan gives you both steps so nothing is forgotten in between. If a young bird falls into the firebox in the meantime, keep the doors closed and ask us or a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.

An uncapped flue is an open door

A masonry flue with no cap is open to rain, debris and any animal that climbs or flies to the roof. Many animal problems we see start this way. Capping an empty, clean flue with a screened cap is usually the fix that keeps the chimney empty, and it keeps rain out of the flue as well. We confirm nothing is inside before the cap goes on. An uncapped flue also takes in rain, which is why capping helps the chimney long after the animal problem is solved.

Rats and mice are usually a different problem

Rodents generally enter a house low, through gaps at the foundation, soffit or roofline, and rarely by the chimney top. If what you hear sounds like small, quick scurrying in the walls or ceiling, the chimney may not be involved. We check the chimney and tell you whether it is part of the problem, and when it is not, we say so and suggest a pest control professional. If rodents are in the attic near the chimney, the chimney work still waits until the attic problem is handled.