Animal removal and entry repairs for chimneys in Buena Vista
Protected birds and bats are handled on their own timetable, and we tell you plainly when waiting is required.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
What people notice before animal removal
- Droppings on the hearth or firebox floor
- Bats leaving the chimney at dusk
- Nest material on the damper
- Sounds that stopped suddenly
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Removing animals and closing the entry
Why fire and smoke are wrong for animal removal
It can seem logical to light a fire to drive an animal out of the chimney. It rarely works as hoped. Young animals and nesting birds cannot leave, and an adult may climb down into the room instead of up. Nest material in the flue can also catch fire.
Leave the fireplace cold and the damper closed. Burning or smoking an animal out can also break the rules that protect some species. Tell us what you have noticed, and we plan a response that fits the animal and the chimney.
Why the cap comes after the animal leaves
Fitting a cap first can feel like the fastest fix, but it traps anything still inside. Capping while swifts are using the chimney would harm protected birds, which USFWS says the law forbids, and the same logic applies to other animals.
So the order is fixed: resolve the animal, clean the flue, then cap. We explain where you are in that order at each stage. If the cap has to wait, keep the damper closed in the meantime. That keeps the animal out of the room while the order runs its course.
Animal sounds in a house you just moved into
New owners sometimes hear their first chimney animal soon after moving in. The chimney may have been uncapped for a long time, or an old nest may be in use again.
Treat it as a chance to learn about the chimney as a whole. The free inspection identifies the animal and also shows the state of the top, the damper and the flue. You then have a plan for both the animal and the fireplace. That is more useful than dealing with the noise alone.
Gaps at the crown that let animals in
The crown is the top surface of a masonry chimney around the flue. Cracks and gaps in it can open a route into the chimney beside the flue, even when a cap is fitted.
We look at the crown when the top can be reached and note any openings big enough to matter. Sealing them is part of closing the entry. Wider crown repairs are priced separately if they are needed. A cap alone does not close a gap beside the flue.
Items in a chimney animal job
- Nest material and droppings removed
- Debris bagged and hauled away
- Damage from the animal noted
- Screened cap sized to the flue
What people ask about chimney animal removal
How do you know the chimney is empty before capping?
We look into the flue from both ends where possible, listen, check that any one-way exit has been used and wait if needed. The written record notes how the flue was confirmed empty.
How long does chimney animal removal take?
It depends on the animal and the rules. A trapped squirrel may be a single visit, while bat exclusion or waiting for young birds can take longer. We tell you at the start if more than one visit is likely.
Why do animals keep coming back to my chimney?
Scent, old nest material and an open top all draw them back. Removing the nest material and fitting a screened cap breaks the pattern. We also look for other entry points around the chimney.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney WaterproofingTreat suitable chimney masonry after checking the surface, repair needs and product requirements.
- Gas Fireplace VentingAssess and repair the gas fireplace vent arrangement using components suited to the identified system.
- Chimney TuckpointingRenew deteriorated mortar joints around chimney bricks that can appropriately remain.
- Smoke Chamber RepairRepair identified smoke-chamber surfaces with the access and material requirements clearly defined.
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Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo