Chimney animal removal for households in Dolphin Isles
Our family team explains each step, from the first sounds in the flue to the cap on top.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Clues that a bird or bat is nesting
- Thumps or growling at night
- A rotten smell that will not fade
- A missing or crooked chimney cap
- Smoke backing up after a long idle spell
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Identifying and removing chimney animals
Signs that bats are using the chimney
Bats often show themselves at dusk, when they leave the chimney top to feed. Small dark droppings collecting in the firebox or on the hearth, a faint musty smell and quiet squeaking or rustling are other signs.
If you see bats leaving, try to note the time and roughly how many. Do not block the top or try to scare them out. That information helps decide whether exclusion is possible now or has to wait, and what kind of device would suit the chimney top.
Bees or wasps at the chimney top
Insects sometimes build nests in the cap, on the crown or just inside the flue. Wasps and bees coming and going from the top, or buzzing heard at the damper, are the usual signs. Some insect nests can be large.
Do not light a fire or spray into the flue. A honeybee colony may be moved by a beekeeper, and other nests may need pest control. Once the insects are dealt with, we clean out the flue and look at how they got in, just as we would after an animal.
Odor that lingers after an animal is gone
Droppings, urine and nesting material soak into the rough surfaces of a chimney. After removal and clean-out, a faint smell can linger for a while, especially after rain or when air moves down the flue.
A strong or growing smell is different and suggests something was missed, such as remains in a hidden spot. Tell us if the smell does not fade. We come back to look rather than leave you guessing. Airing the room and keeping the damper closed between fires also helps the faint smell fade.
A top-sealing damper as another barrier
Some chimneys carry a top-sealing damper, a plate at the flue top worked by a cable that hangs into the fireplace. When shut, it seals the top against animals and rain. When open for a fire, the top is exposed unless a cap sits above it.
A top-sealing damper can be an option where the throat damper is worn out, and some designs include a screen. We explain whether it suits your fireplace and fuel. It is a separate item, discussed only if it fits your needs.
Items in a chimney animal job
- Smoke shelf cleared of debris
- Flue brushed after the animal leaves
- Chase cover and collar checked
- Top access planned for safety
Animal removal questions heard in Dolphin Isles
Is a raccoon in the chimney likely to have young?
It can. A raccoon using a chimney as a den may be a female with young that cannot climb out. The plan has to account for them, so nothing is left behind when the top is closed.
What does a screened chimney cap do?
It closes the top of the flue to birds, bats, squirrels and raccoons while letting smoke out. It also keeps rain and debris from dropping in. It is sized to the flue and fixed securely.
Why is there still a smell after the animal left?
Droppings and nest material soak into rough chimney surfaces, and a faint smell can linger for a while. A strong or growing smell suggests something was missed. Tell us and we come back to look.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Hurricane and Storm Damage Chimney RepairAssess storm-related chimney concerns and distinguish temporary protection from permanent component repair.
- Chimney Cap Installation and ReplacementProtect the chimney opening with a cap chosen for its fit, attachment and compatible system.
- Gas Fireplace VentingAssess and repair the gas fireplace vent arrangement using components suited to the identified system.
- Top-Sealing Damper InstallationFit a top-mounted damper only after checking the fireplace, product restrictions and control route.
- Prefab and Zero-Clearance Fireplace RepairIdentify and repair manufactured fireplace components using the appropriate model information.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo