Animal removal and flue clean-out in Watergate

Sizing and fixing a cap to the flue

A chimney cap has to fit the flue it covers. Manufacturer guidance stresses matching the cap to the size of the flue tile, and the fixing method depends on the cap type. Some bolt onto the flue tile, some band around the top course of brick, some slip into the flue and some attach to the crown.

A cap that is loose or poorly sized can be pushed aside by a determined animal. We measure the flue, choose a cap that suits it and fix it as its instructions describe. The written record notes the type and how it was attached.

Who comes to deal with the chimney

The chimney side of an animal problem is handled by our family team, who also explain each step. Questions about the flue go to whoever looked into it.

Being locally owned, we would sooner walk through the plan again, step by step, than leave you guessing. If a question falls outside our work, such as the handling of a protected species, we say so and point you to the right people. Our aim is a plan you understand from start to finish.

Why we ask you not to handle the animal

Wild animals defend themselves when cornered, and bites and scratches are a real risk. FWC advises against handling bats with bare hands. Raccoons and other animals can be just as unwilling to be caught.

Leave the handling to the people planning the removal. If someone has already been bitten or scratched, seek medical advice promptly and tell us, because it may affect what happens to the animal. Keep children well away from the fireplace room until the job is done.

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