Dead animal removal
When an animal dies in the flue, it is taken out and the smoke shelf cleaned so the odor fades.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Perkasie, PA
A chimney sweep in Perkasie can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Call (267) 452-8534 to reach a local chimney sweep.
To birds, raccoons and squirrels, an uncapped chimney is a dry, sheltered den. Birds build nests on the smoke shelf or damper, raccoons den on the smoke shelf to raise their young, and squirrels fall in and cannot climb back out. They leave nests that can block smoke and catch fire, droppings that smell and parasites that can spread.
Do not try to smoke an animal out by lighting a fire. It can kill young animals that cannot leave, set the nest on fire and fill the house with smoke. Keep the damper and any fireplace doors closed so the animal stays in the chimney, and keep pets away from the fireplace.
Removal depends on what is in the chimney. Chimney swifts are protected under federal law as migratory birds, so an active nest stays until the birds leave for the season. Raccoons, squirrels and bats each have their own methods, and wildlife rules in Pennsylvania can affect how they are handled. Afterward, a chimney cap with screening is what keeps the next one out.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Perkasie chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Dealing with this in Perkasie, PA right now? Call (267) 452-8534 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney animal removal
Getting an animal out cleanly takes the right timing and a few steps.
Figure out what it is
Sounds, droppings, timing and a look up the flue tell the technician what is living in the chimney since each one is handled differently.
Plan the timing
If chimney swifts are nesting, the sweep will advise on when the nest can come out and you hear what to expect.
Remove the animal
The animal is removed using the method suited to it without harming them.
Remove debris
All debris left behind is cleared out and the flue is swept if needed.
Sanitize
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized which helps with lingering smells.
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
Animals removed from chimneys
Raccoon dens
Raccoon dens above the damper are cleared out along with the droppings they leave.
Bird nests
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared with chimney swifts left until they migrate.
Squirrels
Trapped squirrels and other small animals are removed since they cannot climb back out.
Bats
Bats are moved out with one-way exits timed around their breeding season and the top is sealed after they are gone.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Perkasie, PA
A chimney gives birds a protected, dry place to build a nest, which is why it attracts them every spring. Their nests sit on the smoke shelf, the damper or the flue walls, and the dry twigs and grass can block the draft and catch fire with the first fire of the season. Nests in flues that serve gas or oil appliances are a carbon monoxide risk too, since they can push exhaust back into the house.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A sweep in Perkasie will advise on timing, then remove the old nest and install a cap afterwards so they cannot return. Other birds follow different rules, and the sweep can tell you which apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Perkasie, PA
An uncapped chimney is a favorite den for raccoons, especially mothers with kits. Noises at dusk and dawn and the sound of young calling are typical. Raccoons can carry disease, and their droppings can hold roundworm eggs, so leave removal to someone equipped for it.
Removal often means taking out the kits so the mother can carry them off, or using a one-way exit once the den is empty. Wildlife rules in Pennsylvania can limit trapping and relocation, which shapes how the removal is done. After that, droppings are cleaned up and a sturdy cap is fitted, since raccoons can tear lightweight caps off.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
Animal calls in Perkasie pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. From Perkasie out to places like Sellersville, Telford, Souderton and Quakertown, older chimneys without caps are the easiest targets for birds and raccoons. Capping the flue is the main defense, along with keeping tree limbs off the roof.
For chimney animal removal in Perkasie, PA or nearby towns like Sellersville, Telford, Souderton and Quakertown, call (267) 452-8534 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Perkasie, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Perkasie and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
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. A blocked flue on a furnace or water heater can also send carbon monoxide into the house, so keep CO alarms working.
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
Capping the flue with a mesh-sided cap stops most animals. Choose a cap that is fastened securely and has mesh fine enough to stop birds. Cutting back branches that reach the roof makes the chimney harder to reach.
How do I get rid of a dead animal smell in my chimney?
A strong, rotting smell from the fireplace often means an animal has died in the flue or on the smoke shelf. Removing the animal and cleaning the smoke shelf is the only real fix. Keep the damper shut in the meantime.
Will smoke drive an animal out of the chimney?
Lighting a fire is the wrong move with an animal in the chimney. Young animals cannot climb out and will be hurt, the nest can ignite, and a blocked flue can send smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. Close the damper and fireplace doors and leave the removal to a sweep.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
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.
More questions? Call (267) 452-8534
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from masonry and factory-built chimneys, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Tracking down the creosote, moisture or animal behind a smelly fireplace with sweeping, deodorizing and a fix for the cause.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Repairing dampers that will not open, close or seal so smoke goes up and heated air stays in.
Learn more
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