Careful chimney animal removal for Lake Mann Gardens homes

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

A bird in the firebox

A bird that drops into the firebox often ends up behind the glass doors or on the grate. Keep the doors closed, dim the room and keep pets out. A frightened bird that gets loose in the house can injure itself against windows. Where it is safe, a bird can sometimes be guided out through a nearby exterior door. We then find the opening at the top so it does not happen again. An injured bird can be taken to a wildlife rehabilitator, who is better placed than we are to care for it.

A screen that can be cleaned

Screens collect soot and creosote on wood-burning chimneys, and a clogged screen restricts the flue. The residential code requires the arrestor to be accessible for cleaning and the screen or cap to be removable so the flue can be swept. We fit caps that meet that requirement and look at the screen during every inspection, so a clean cap keeps doing its job. A screen that clogs quickly can also point to a draft or burning problem worth a closer look.

When the work runs into a second day

Some animal jobs cannot finish in one visit, for example when the cap has to be ordered or a protected nest sets the timing. When a chimney is left open at the end of a work day, our crew covers it before leaving so rain and animals stay out overnight. The damper stays closed, the fireplace stays off, and we tell you when we plan to be back. Nest material we have already removed leaves with us that day.