
Chimney animal removal, clean-out and caps in Fontainebleau
We keep the fireplace, the room and the animal in mind while the problem is sorted out.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
What people notice before animal removal
- Chirping or chattering in the flue
- A musky smell from the fireplace
- A torn screen on the cap
- Buzzing insects around the chimney top
Jump to
Removing animals and closing the entry
Chimney swifts nesting in the flue
Chimney swifts attach small nests of twigs and saliva to the inside walls of masonry chimneys. USFWS explains that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it unlawful to harm the birds, their eggs or their nests. Active nests cannot be removed.
If swifts are using your chimney, the plan is to wait until they have left. Keep the damper closed so they cannot enter the room. Once they are gone, the flue can be cleaned outside the nesting season, as USFWS suggests. Whether to cap it afterward is a separate choice, and we explain what a cap would change.
Cleaning out the flue after the animal leaves
When the animal has gone, what it left behind still needs removing. Nest material, droppings, food scraps and fur can sit on the smoke shelf, on the damper or in the flue. They block the draft, hold odor and burn easily.
We protect the room, bag the material in the firebox and brush the flue and shelf clear. The debris is hauled away with us. Afterward the passage is looked at for damage, and anything found is listed separately from the clean-out.
The listed cap on a factory-built flue
A factory-built fireplace vents through a listed metal chimney, and its cap is part of that listed system. The manufacturer's instructions specify which cap may be used. A generic cap fitted in its place may not suit the chimney.
If animals have got in through a damaged cap on a factory-built chimney, we identify the brand and the correct replacement part. We also look at the chase cover around it for gaps. Both are priced separately once the animal is out.
The workmanship warranty on caps and repairs
The cap we fit and the repairs we make are covered by our workmanship warranty. The written record describes the work, which is what the warranty covers.
If a cap we fitted comes loose or an entry we closed opens up, tell us. We come back and look at it under the warranty. New damage from a falling branch or a storm is a different matter, and we explain the difference if it comes up. We would rather talk it through than leave a gap in the top.
What is and is not part of animal removal
- Room protection during the clean-out
- Damage from the animal noted
- Timing explained for protected species
- Top access planned for safety
Questions about a bird nest in the flue
Do you clean the chimney after the animal is gone?
Yes. Nest material, droppings and debris are removed from the smoke shelf, damper and flue, bagged at the fireplace and hauled away. The flue is brushed and then looked at for damage.
What if a bird falls into my fireplace?
Keep people and pets away and do not try to raise it. For young swifts, USFWS advises contacting a migratory bird rehabilitator. Tell us, so we can plan the clean-out for when the birds have gone.
Can a squirrel get stuck in a chimney?
Yes. Squirrels can fall into an uncapped flue and be unable to climb a smooth lining. A trapped squirrel needs a way out or a careful capture. We identify the situation before anything is disturbed.
We received your request
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
