Bats
Bats are excluded rather than trapped and the top is sealed after they are gone.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Sewickley, PA
A Sewickley chimney sweep can get wildlife out of the flue along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Call (412) 663-3115 to reach a local chimney sweep.
An open chimney looks like a hollow tree to a lot of animals. Raccoons den above the damper, birds nest in the flue and small animals like squirrels can fall in and get stuck. Each one brings nesting material that blocks the flue, droppings that smell and the risk of the animal getting into the house.
Lighting a fire to drive an animal out is a bad idea. It can kill young animals that cannot leave, set the nest on fire and fill the house with smoke. Shut the damper and doors to keep the animal from coming into the house.
The type of animal decides how and when it can be removed. Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, and a sweep will advise on timing. Rules on trapping and relocating wildlife vary by state, so the method follows what is allowed in Pennsylvania. Every removal should end with a cap on the flue.
Chimney Animal Removal is often paired with chimney cap installation and chimney cleaning, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in Sewickley, PA right now? Call (412) 663-3115 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Sewickley.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney animal removal
Here is how a sweep typically handles an animal in the chimney.
Identify the animal
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal which decides what happens next.
Check the rules
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young and you hear what to expect.
Remove the animal
Animals are removed by hand, with a catch pole, through a one-way exit or by letting a mother move her young with care taken around the damper and smoke shelf.
Clean out the flue
Nesting material is pulled out, since it can block the flue and catch fire and the flue is swept if needed.
Sanitize
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized before the fireplace is used again.
Add a cap
A cap that covers the flue and blocks wildlife is fitted and any damage at the top is noted.
What is included
Common chimney animal problems
Odor cleanup
An animal that died in the chimney is removed and the odor treated so the odor fades.
Squirrels
Trapped squirrels and other small animals are removed since they cannot climb back out.
Birds
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared as covered in more detail below.
Raccoons
Raccoon dens above the damper are cleared out without harming the kits.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Sewickley, PA
Birds like starlings and chimney swifts are drawn to open flues for nesting. The sticks and grass in a nest can block the flue and ignite when a fire is lit. In furnace or water heater flues, a nest can cause carbon monoxide to spill indoors, so working CO alarms matter.
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, once the birds have left. The sweep will advise on when removal can happen, and then the nest is cleared and a cap goes on. Other birds follow different rules, and the sweep can tell you which apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Sewickley, PA
Raccoons are strong climbers, and a mother raccoon will often choose a chimney smoke shelf as a den to raise her kits in spring. Noises at dusk and dawn and the sound of young calling are typical. Never reach into the chimney or try to grab a raccoon, since they can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm.
Removal often means taking out the kits so the mother can carry them off, or using a one-way exit once the den is empty. Wildlife rules in Pennsylvania can limit trapping and relocation, which shapes how the removal is done. Then the area is sanitized and a strong cap is fastened down to keep the next raccoon out.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
In Sewickley, wildlife moves into chimneys mostly in spring and summer, when the fireplace is cold. From Sewickley out to places like Coraopolis, Ambridge, Franklin Park and Avalon, older chimneys without caps are the easiest targets for birds and raccoons. Capping the flue is the main defense, along with keeping tree limbs off the roof.
For chimney animal removal in Sewickley, PA or nearby towns like Coraopolis, Ambridge, Franklin Park and Avalon, call (412) 663-3115 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Sewickley
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Sewickley is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Sewickley and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Chimney swifts are protected under federal law, and their nests cannot be removed while they are in use. A sweep will advise on timing, then remove the nest and install a cap afterwards. While you wait, keep the damper shut and the fireplace out of use.
Why are animals in the chimney a problem?
An animal in the flue is more than a nuisance. Nesting material can ignite or block smoke, and droppings and parasites are a health concern. A blocked flue on a furnace or water heater can also send carbon monoxide into the house, so keep CO alarms working.
Can I light a fire to get an animal out of my chimney?
Smoke is not a safe way to get an animal out of a chimney. Young animals cannot climb out and will be hurt, the nest can ignite, and a blocked flue can send smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. Close the damper and fireplace doors and leave the removal to a sweep.
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
A strong, rotting smell from the fireplace often means an animal has died in the flue or on the smoke shelf. Air fresheners will not help, since the animal and debris have to come out. Keep the damper closed until then to keep the smell out of the room.
What stops birds and raccoons from getting into a chimney?
Capping the flue with a mesh-sided cap stops most animals. It should be fastened well enough that a raccoon cannot pull it off, with mesh small enough to stop birds without clogging with creosote. Trimming tree limbs away from the roof also helps.
More questions? Call (412) 663-3115
Other services that may help
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Sweeping soot and creosote out of fireplace and stove chimneys of every kind, to cut the risk of a chimney fire.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Removing chimney odors at the source instead of covering them up so the room stops smelling like an old ashtray.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Repairing dampers that will not open, close or seal including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
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