Animal removal and entry repairs for chimneys in Kendall West
Tell us what you hear and when, and we plan the visit around the animal most likely to be there.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
What people notice before animal removal
- Flies gathering near the hearth
- A missing or crooked chimney cap
- Pets fixated on the fireplace
- Buzzing insects around the chimney top
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Removing animals and closing the entry
Leave droppings and nest material alone
Droppings, feathers or nest material in the firebox are signs worth describing, but not worth handling. Leave them where they are. They help us identify the animal, and cleaning them up belongs to the clean-out once the flue is empty.
If material is spreading into the room, cover it loosely and keep the area closed off. Do not sweep or vacuum dry droppings with household equipment. We bag them with the rest of the debris and haul them away when the work is done.
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.
Other birds nesting on the smoke shelf
Birds other than swifts sometimes build nests on the smoke shelf, on top of the damper or just inside the top of the flue. Twigs, grass and leaves falling into the firebox are a common sign.
Whether the nest can come out now depends on the species and whether it is active. Once it can, the material is removed in full, because a nest is combustible and blocks the draft. We then look at how the birds got in and price a screened cap if one is needed.
Questions to ask when the animal job is done
Before we leave, these questions help you understand what was done and what to watch for.
You will find the same answers in the written record. Going over them beside the fireplace, with the parts in view, tends to make them stick. If a question comes up later, call and ask.
- Is the flue confirmed empty and clean
- What damage did the animal leave behind
- How was the top closed, and with what
- What signs would mean an animal is back
What is and is not part of animal removal
- Debris bagged and hauled away
- Multi-flue cap where several flues end
- Separate price for each step
- Blocked appliance flue identified
Chimney animal removal questions, answered plainly
Should I light a fire to make the animal leave?
No. Young animals and nesting birds cannot leave, adults may come down into the room and nest material can catch fire. Keep the fireplace cold and the damper closed, and tell us what you have noticed.
Will you handle the animal or refer me to someone?
It depends on the animal, the stage it is at and the rules that apply. Some cases may need a wildlife professional as well as our team. We tell you which steps are ours and which are not.
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.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo