Raccoons
Raccoon dens above the damper are cleared out along with the droppings they leave.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Coopersburg, PA
A chimney sweep in Coopersburg can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney safely and with the right timing for the animal, then cap the top. One call to (610) 908-0851 reaches a chimney sweep near you.
Without a cap, a chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. Raccoons often use the smoke shelf as a nursery, birds nest inside the flue and squirrels fall in and get trapped. The result is a blocked flue, odors, noise and sometimes an animal loose in the living room.
Lighting a fire to drive an animal out is a bad idea. Young animals that cannot climb will be hurt, the nest can catch fire, and a blocked flue can push smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. Close the damper and glass doors if you have them, and keep children and pets away until the animal is out.
Removal depends on what is in the chimney. Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, and a sweep will advise on timing. Rules on trapping and relocating wildlife vary by state, so the method follows what is allowed in Pennsylvania. Every removal should end with a cap on the flue.
Many chimney animal removal calls in Coopersburg also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Need chimney animal removal in Coopersburg? Call (610) 908-0851 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney animal removal
Safe removal depends on knowing what is in the chimney and planning around it.
Start with the clues
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal and whether young are involved.
Set the approach
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young and you hear what to expect.
Get it out
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.
Deodorize
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized which helps with lingering smells.
Seal the top
The flue is capped with screening that keeps birds and raccoons out and any damage at the top is noted.
What is included
Animals removed from chimneys
Bat exclusion
Bats in a chimney are handled with exclusion devices that let them leave but not return and the top is sealed after they are gone.
Bird nests
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared as covered in more detail below.
Odor cleanup
An animal that died in the chimney is removed and the odor treated so the odor fades.
Small animals
Trapped squirrels and other small animals are removed before they get into the house.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Coopersburg, PA
Birds nest in chimneys because the inside of a flue is dry, sheltered and hard for predators to reach. 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. In furnace or water heater flues, a nest can cause carbon monoxide to spill indoors, so working CO alarms matter.
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, once the birds have left. The sweep will advise on when removal can happen, and then the nest is cleared and a cap goes on. Other species can often be handled sooner, depending on the bird and the rules that apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Coopersburg, PA
In spring, a female raccoon looking for a safe den often climbs into an uncapped chimney to have her young on the smoke shelf. The signs are chattering and whimpering from the young and the mother leaving at dusk and returning before dawn. 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. Since rules on raccoons vary from state to state, the sweep follows the approach allowed in Pennsylvania. 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
In Coopersburg, wildlife moves into chimneys mostly in spring and summer, when the fireplace is cold. From Coopersburg out to places like Quakertown, Hellertown, Emmaus and Fountain Hill, 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.
Need chimney animal removal around Coopersburg? Call (610) 908-0851 for a Coopersburg chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Coopersburg
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: 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. That is why chimney cleaning in Coopersburg is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why act early
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Coopersburg and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
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. 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.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Blocked flues, fire risk from nests, disease from droppings and animals getting into the house are the main concerns. Blocked gas appliance flues can spill carbon monoxide, so get to fresh air if a CO alarm sounds.
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. It can kill young animals, start a nest fire and push smoke and carbon monoxide indoors. Keep the damper closed and call a sweep instead.
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
The best prevention is a sturdy chimney cap with screening on all sides. A strong, well-fastened cap holds up to raccoons, and the right mesh keeps out birds and squirrels. Trimming tree limbs away from the roof also helps.
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
A sour, rotten odor from the fireplace points to a dead animal in the chimney. Removing the animal and cleaning the smoke shelf is the only real fix. Keep the damper closed until then to keep the smell out of the room.
More questions? Call (610) 908-0851
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Fitting a metal cap over the top of the flue sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from wood-burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts, to cut the risk of a chimney fire.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Removing chimney odors at the source instead of covering them up so the room stops smelling like an old ashtray.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Restoring the damper that opens and closes the flue including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
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