Animal removal and entry repairs for chimneys in Glenvar Heights
Clean-out and entry repairs follow once the animal question is settled, not before.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
What tells you an animal moved in
- Twigs or leaves falling into the firebox
- A musky smell from the fireplace
- Smoke backing up after a long idle spell
- Buzzing insects around the chimney top
Jump to
Animal removal and clean-out in Glenvar Heights
A bird trapped above the damper
A single bird that has fallen into the flue may flutter and call without being able to climb out. The closed damper keeps it out of the room, and the flue is the safer place for it for now.
Keep the damper closed and the room quiet, and tell us what you hear. We look at whether the bird can be guided out safely and whether it has a nest in the flue. Opening the damper into a lived-in room is rarely the best way to free it.
Why we do not promise removal over the phone
A phone call gives us useful clues, but not enough to promise when or how an animal will come out. The species, whether young are present, the rules that apply and the chimney itself all shape the answer.
What we can promise is a clear next step. After the free inspection, you know what is in the chimney as far as it can be identified. You also know what is allowed now and what the work will cost. If the answer involves waiting or a referral, you hear that directly rather than a hopeful guess.
Smells that point to an animal in the chimney
A musky smell from the fireplace can come from an animal living in the flue. A sharp, ammonia-like smell often comes from droppings and urine. A sweet, rotten smell usually means an animal has died.
Describe the smell and when it is strongest. Keep the damper closed and air the room. Each kind of smell points to a different stage of the problem, and the clean-out that follows is planned around it. Do not mask it with sprays, because the smell is useful evidence.
Using the fireplace again after an animal
After an animal has been removed, the flue cleaned and the top closed, the fireplace can usually go back into use. We confirm that before we leave and write it on the record.
Watch the first fire for smoke spilling into the room or an unusual smell. If either appears, stop and tell us. A small amount of material may have lodged beyond reach, and it is better to find it early. Keep the written record handy in case you need to describe what happened.
From identification to cap, the animal removal scope
- Check of the damper, shelf and top
- Entry points found and listed
- Timing explained for protected species
- Torn or rusted screen repaired
Questions about animals in the chimney
Can I just put a cap on the chimney myself?
Not while an animal may be inside, because it would be trapped. The cap goes on only after the flue is confirmed empty. Tell us if a cap has already been fitted, because it changes where we start.
What should I do if an animal gets into the house?
Close off the room, keep people and pets out and open an outside door or window from that room if there is one. Do not try to catch it. Our 24/7 emergency line is there if you cannot contain it.
Can you fit a cap on a factory-built chimney?
Yes, using the cap the manufacturer lists for that chimney. A generic cap may not suit it. We identify the brand and check the chase cover around it for gaps as well.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Fireplace Hearth RepairRepair the hearth surface after considering the supporting assembly and fireplace requirements.
- Chimney Crown RepairRepair the damaged chimney top with an approach matched to the crown and supporting masonry.
- Wood-Burning Fireplace Insert InstallationFit a wood-burning insert after assessing its host fireplace and full connection requirements.
- Gas Fireplace VentingAssess and repair the gas fireplace vent arrangement using components suited to the identified system.
- Ventless Gas Fireplace ServiceService the identified vent-free appliance without bypassing its required safety components.
Proudly American
Local service. Careful repairs. A fireplace worth coming home to.
Call Now (645) 465-4171We 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