Nest removal and chimney clean-up in The Crossings
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
Sounds and smells of a chimney animal
- Scratching sounds from the fireplace
- Thumps or growling at night
- Twigs or leaves falling into the firebox
- A rotten smell that will not fade
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From first sounds to cap, animal removal explained
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.
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.
A torn cap screen as the way in
A cap does not stop animals once its screen is torn, rusted through or pulled away. Squirrels and raccoons in particular can widen a small gap. The cap looks fine from the ground, but the flue is open.
We look closely at the screen during the visit. If it is damaged, we explain whether it can be repaired or the cap should be replaced. Either way, the fix waits until the flue is confirmed empty. In the meantime, keep the damper closed.
Our work and a wildlife professional's work
Chimney animal problems sit between two trades. The chimney side includes clean-out, damper and lining checks, entry repairs and the screened cap. The animal side can include trapping, exclusion and relocation under state rules.
Depending on the animal, we may handle more or less of that second part. We tell you plainly which steps are ours for your situation. Where a wildlife professional is needed, we explain how our work fits before and after theirs. The estimate shows the split.
The animal removal scope for The Crossings homes
- Referral where a wildlife professional is needed
- Entry points found and listed
- Cap material chosen for durability
- Fireplace ready-for-use check at the end
What people ask about chimney animal removal
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.
Does the discount apply to animal removal work?
Yes. Any service on the estimate that you approve inside 72 hours of your free inspection comes with 10% off. The time counts from your own inspection, including for steps that must wait for the animal.
Do you give a written record after the job?
Yes. It notes the animal found, what was removed, the damage seen and how the chimney was closed. If a wildlife professional handled a step, the record says so.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- 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.
- Chimney Crown RepairRepair the damaged chimney top with an approach matched to the crown and supporting masonry.
- Chimney Masonry RepairRepair affected chimney brickwork and joints with materials selected for the construction already in place.
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