Local chimney animal removal for Stoneybrook East homes

Removing a dead animal from the chimney

An animal that dies in a chimney announces itself with odor and sometimes flies around the fireplace. Removal means locating it, which may be on the smoke shelf, in the flue or inside a chase, and taking it out without scattering debris into the house. We then clean the area it occupied and look for how it got in, so the cap or repair can close that route. Removal from inside a factory-built chase can need access at the top of the enclosure, which we explain before starting.

Debris on the smoke shelf

The smoke shelf is the ledge behind and above the damper in a masonry fireplace. Anything that falls down the flue lands there, including nest material, droppings and the occasional animal. It is hard to see from the firebox, so debris can sit there for years. Our cleanup reaches the smoke shelf and clears it, and we tell you what we found there. What sits on the shelf often shows which animal used the chimney and for how long.

What to tell us when you call

A few details from you help us plan the visit and bring the right equipment to your Stoneybrook East home. You do not need to climb anything or look up the flue. If you have seen an animal on the roof or near the chimney top, describe it as well as you can.

• What the sound is like and what time of day you hear it
• Whether anything has fallen into the firebox
• Whether the chimney has a cap you can see from the ground
• Whether the fireplace is wood-burning, factory-built or unused

Keeping children and pets away

An animal in a chimney is frightened, and a frightened animal may scratch or bite if it gets loose or is cornered. Keep children and pets away from the fireplace and close the room if you can. Pets are drawn to the sounds, and a dog or cat at the fireplace doors can panic a bird or bat inside. Our team handles the chimney side, up top and at the firebox. If a pet has already had contact with a bat or raccoon, call your veterinarian for advice.