Raccoon dens
Raccoon dens above the damper are cleared out along with the droppings they leave.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Sharon, PA
A chimney sweep in Sharon can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney and install a cap so they cannot get back in. One call to (724) 509-7140 reaches a chimney sweep near you.
Without a cap, a chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. 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. The result is a blocked flue, odors, noise and sometimes an animal loose in the living room.
It is tempting to light a fire and force the animal out, but it does more harm than good. It can kill young animals that cannot leave, set the nest on fire and fill the house with smoke. Close the damper and glass doors if you have them, and keep children and pets away until the animal is out.
The type of animal decides how and when it can be removed. 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.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney animal removal in Sharon, PA can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and chimney cleaning.
Looking for Sharon chimney animal removal? Call (724) 509-7140 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.
Start with the clues
Sounds, droppings, timing and a look up the flue tell the technician what is living in the chimney since each one is handled differently.
Set the approach
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young so the removal stays legal and humane.
Remove the animal
Depending on the animal, removal may be by hand, with an exclusion door or by giving a mother the chance to relocate her young without harming them.
Remove debris
All debris left behind is cleared out so smoke can draft freely.
Clean up
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized which helps with lingering smells.
Add a cap
A cap that covers the flue and blocks wildlife is fitted so the problem does not repeat next season.
What is included
Animals removed from chimneys
Bird nests
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared as covered in more detail below.
Small animals
Squirrels, mice and other small animals that fall in and get trapped are taken out before they get into the house.
Odor cleanup
When an animal dies in the flue, it is taken out and the smoke shelf cleaned before the fireplace is used again.
Bats
Bats are excluded rather than trapped because they are protected in many places.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Sharon, PA
A chimney gives birds a protected, dry place to build a nest, which is why it attracts them every spring. The sticks and grass in a nest can block the flue and ignite when a fire is lit. In furnace or water heater flues, a nest can cause carbon monoxide to spill indoors, so working CO alarms matter.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A Sharon sweep can tell you when removal is allowed, then clear the nest and cap the chimney. Other birds may be handled on a different schedule depending on the species, so ask the sweep.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Sharon, PA
Raccoons are strong climbers, and a mother raccoon will often choose a chimney smoke shelf as a den to raise her kits in spring. Noises at dusk and dawn and the sound of young calling are typical. Never reach into the chimney or try to grab a raccoon, since they can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm.
A common approach is to remove the kits first and give the mother the chance to move them, then confirm the den is empty before capping. Trapping and relocation rules differ by state, so the method follows what is allowed in Pennsylvania. Then the area is sanitized and a strong cap is fastened down to keep the next raccoon out.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
Chimneys in Sharon see the most animal activity in spring and early summer, when birds nest and raccoons raise their young. Homes in Sharon and nearby towns such as Farrell, Sharpsville, Hermitage and Greenville with trees close to the roof make it easy for raccoons and squirrels to reach the top. A properly fitted cap prevents most of these problems.
Need chimney animal removal around Sharon? Call (724) 509-7140 for a Sharon chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
Chimneys in this climate
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. 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, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Sharon, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Sharon
Chimney sweeps in Sharon know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
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. The animal has to be removed, along with any nest and droppings, and the area cleaned and deodorized. Keep the damper shut in the meantime.
Why are animals in the chimney a problem?
Animals in a chimney cause problems beyond the noise. 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.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so the birds and their active nest have to stay until nesting season is over. The sweep can tell you when it is allowed, then clean out the nest and add a cap. In the meantime, keep the damper shut to keep noise and birds out of the house.
What stops birds and raccoons from getting into a chimney?
A chimney cap with a mesh screen is the most effective way to keep animals out. It should be fastened well enough that a raccoon cannot pull it off, with mesh small enough to stop birds without clogging with creosote. Keeping branches off the roof removes an easy path to the top.
Can I light a fire to get an animal out of my chimney?
A fire is the worst way to deal with an animal in the flue. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can catch fire and a blocked flue can fill the room with smoke. Close the damper, keep pets away and have the animal removed safely.
More questions? Call (724) 509-7140
Other services that may help
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, with the damper, smoke shelf and cap checked along the way.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Tracking down the creosote, moisture or animal behind a smelly fireplace so the room stops smelling like an old ashtray.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
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Call (724) 509-7140 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Sharon, PA.
(724) 509-7140
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