Chimney animal removal for households in Washington Park
Nest material out, damper checked, screened cap on, and the fireplace ready for use again.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Clues that a bird or bat is nesting
- Animals seen entering the chimney top
- Droppings on the hearth or firebox floor
- Flies gathering near the hearth
- Bats leaving the chimney at dusk
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Removing animals and closing the entry
The order of work for a chimney animal
Every chimney animal job follows the same order. Identify the animal and settle whether and how it can leave or be removed. Then clean out the flue, repair any damage and close the top with a screened cap.
Skipping ahead causes problems for the animal and the chimney alike. A cap fitted too early traps animals, and a clean-out done too early may disturb a protected nest. We explain where you are in the order at each visit, and the written record tracks it.
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.
When a raccoon tries to get back in
A raccoon that has been using a chimney may try hard to return, especially if it believes young are still inside. It can pull at a loose cap, tear at a screen or work at flashing and siding nearby.
That is one reason the flue must be confirmed empty before the cap goes on, and why the cap has to be fixed firmly. If you see signs of an attempt after the work, such as a bent screen, tell us promptly. We look at it before a gap opens.
Fasteners and screens near the coast
Near the coast, the screws and bands that hold a cap can corrode before the cap itself. A cap with sound mesh but weak fixings can be pushed aside by a raccoon or lifted by wind.
We check the fixings as well as the mesh and use fasteners that suit the cap metal. Mixing metals can speed corrosion where they touch, so we match them. Any fixings that need replacing are listed on the estimate. Rust streaks below a fixing can be an early warning.
What is and is not part of animal removal
- Referral where a wildlife professional is needed
- Damper operation checked after clean-out
- Cap fixed as its instructions describe
- Plan for young animals in the flue
Animal removal questions heard in Washington Park
What does a screened chimney cap do?
It closes the top of the flue to birds, bats, squirrels and raccoons while letting smoke out. It also keeps rain and debris from dropping in. It is sized to the flue and fixed securely.
Why do animals keep coming back to my chimney?
Scent, old nest material and an open top all draw them back. Removing the nest material and fitting a screened cap breaks the pattern. We also look for other entry points around the chimney.
What if the animal noises have stopped?
Silence does not by itself mean the animal left. It may be resting, have moved higher or have died, and young may remain. Keep the damper closed and tell us, and we check before any cap goes on.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo