Animal removal and flue clean-out in Harbordale
A written record of what was found, what was removed and how the chimney was closed afterward.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
What tells you an animal moved in
- Scratching sounds from the fireplace
- A rotten smell that will not fade
- Flies gathering near the hearth
- An animal loose in the fireplace room
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Animal removal details for Harbordale homes
Keep the damper shut while you wait
A closed damper keeps an animal in the flue from entering the room. USFWS guidance on chimney swifts, for example, advises keeping dampers closed while the birds are using a chimney. The same step helps with most animals.
Do not open the damper to look up or to let an animal out. If the damper is already open and cannot be closed, keep the room closed off and stay out of it. Mention it when you call, because an open damper changes how quickly the situation needs attention.
A dead animal inside the flue
A strong, rotten smell from the fireplace, sometimes with flies near the hearth, often means an animal has died in the chimney. It may have fallen in and been unable to leave, or been sealed in by a cap fitted too early.
Keep the damper closed and the room aired. We locate and remove the remains, clean the area they were in and bag everything for removal. The smell usually fades once the source is gone, and we tell you if anything else may be contributing.
An active nest is not ordinary debris
A nest with eggs or young is treated differently from old nest material. For protected birds, disturbing an active nest is not allowed. It cannot be brushed out as if it were soot or leaves.
Once the nest is no longer in use, it can be removed as part of the clean-out. We tell you which kind of nest we found and what that means for timing. The written record notes it, so the reason for any wait is clear.
When an animal problem cannot wait
Most chimney animal problems can wait for a scheduled visit, as long as the damper is closed and the room is shut off. A few cannot, such as an animal loose in the house that you cannot contain.
For those, our 24/7 emergency line is there. Describe what is happening and where the animal is. We tell you what to do in the meantime and what can be arranged, without promising an arrival time we cannot keep. Keep the room closed off and stay clear of the animal while you wait.
What the animal removal estimate covers
- Referral where a wildlife professional is needed
- Cap fixed as its instructions describe
- Multi-flue cap where several flues end
- Remains removed if an animal died
Asking about animal removal in Harbordale
Can you remove an animal from my chimney right away?
It depends. The species, whether young are present and Florida's wildlife rules decide what can happen and when. After the free inspection we tell you what is allowed now and what the work involves.
How do you get bats out of a chimney?
Florida's rule allows bats to be moved out only with exclusion devices or a registered repellent, and only outside the maternity season. An exclusion device lets them leave but not return. We explain what is allowed at the time and who carries it out.
What should I tell you when I call about an animal?
What you hear and when, when it started, whether the damper is open and whether there is a cap. Anything you are unsure about, we find out during the free inspection.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney RebuildRebuild the affected chimney section with the retained structure, roof connection and passage included in the plan.
- Ventless Gas Fireplace ServiceService the identified vent-free appliance without bypassing its required safety components.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney Flashing RepairRepair the chimney-to-roof connection with a scope that accounts for the adjoining roofing and masonry.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo