Careful chimney animal removal for Florida Center homes
Birds, bats and raccoons each follow different rules. Our Florida Center chimney specialists explain yours before any work starts.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
How we price animal work in Florida Center chimneys
- Rules that apply to that animal, explained
- Specialist coordination where needed
- Smoke shelf cleared and checked
- Repairs priced as separate items
Getting animals out of Florida Center chimneys the right way
Keep the fireplace off while an animal is inside
The urge to light a fire and smoke the animal out is understandable, and it causes more harm than good. Heat and smoke can kill or injure the animal, trap it higher in the flue or drive it down into the room. Nest material burns, and a dead animal left in the flue brings its own cleanup. Keep the fireplace unused and the damper closed until the chimney has been assessed and cleared. Banging on the flue or spraying water up the chimney only frightens the animal further and can drive it into the house.
Florida's rules for bats in a chimney
Florida protects bats, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission restricts exclusion from April 16 through August 14, the maternity season, while the young still cannot fly. Outside that window, exclusion devices let bats leave but not return before openings are sealed. We explain which part of that calendar your chimney falls in and plan the cap for when the rules allow it. Outside the maternity season, the exclusion is usually done first and the cap follows once the bats are out.
Why the cap goes on last
Capping a chimney with an animal still inside traps it, and a trapped animal dies in the flue or tears at the cap. That is why the cap is always the last step. We confirm the chimney is empty by inspection and by the history of sounds, and for protected birds and bats we wait for the lawful window. Then the flue is cleaned and the cap is fitted. If you need the chimney closed sooner, we explain what can be done lawfully in the meantime, such as sealing the damper.
Stinging insects at the chimney top
Wasps and bees sometimes nest in a cap, a crown crack or a chase top. Those need a pest control professional before anyone works on the chimney, since disturbing a nest at roof height is dangerous. Once the insects are gone, we inspect the top, repair the crack or opening they used and check the cap screen for damage. A crack large enough for wasps can also let water into the chimney, so it is worth closing. Our crew does not remove active stinging insect nests, since that needs the right protective equipment.
Other work in Florida Center
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Learn more about chimney animal removalFlorida Center services
Chimney animal questions from Florida Center
Is a bat in the house a health concern?
The CDC advises contacting a doctor or the health department after possible contact with a bat, including waking to find one in the room. Do not handle it. We take care of the chimney side once the room is clear.
Can you check the chimney again next year?
Yes. We offer maintenance visits, and an annual inspection is what NFPA 211 asks for, along with clearing any obstruction before the fireplace is used. A yearly visit also shows whether the cap and screen are still sound.
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- Free inspection
- No hidden fees
- Family owned and operated
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