Dead animal removal
When an animal dies in the flue, it is taken out and the smoke shelf cleaned before the fireplace is used again.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Tamaqua, PA
A local sweep can clear animals out of a Tamaqua chimney along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Call (272) 291-2023 to reach a local chimney sweep.
An open chimney looks like a hollow tree to a lot of animals. Birds build nests on the smoke shelf or damper, raccoons den on the smoke shelf to raise their young, and squirrels fall in and cannot climb back out. Each one brings nesting material that blocks the flue, droppings that smell and the risk of the animal getting into the house.
It is tempting to light a fire and force the animal out, but it does more harm than good. 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 protected, which means waiting until they migrate before the nest comes out. Raccoons, squirrels and bats each have their own methods, and wildlife rules in Pennsylvania can affect how they are handled. Once the chimney is clear, a cap with a mesh screen keeps them from coming back.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Tamaqua chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Need chimney animal removal in Tamaqua? Call (272) 291-2023 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Tamaqua.
Call nowThe process
The chimney animal removal process
Here is how a sweep typically handles an animal in the chimney.
Start with the clues
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 so the removal stays legal and humane.
Humane removal
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
Nests, sticks, droppings and debris are removed from the smoke shelf, damper and flue and the area is cleaned up.
Deodorize
Where animals have nested, the area is cleaned to remove odor and parasites which helps with lingering smells.
Add a cap
A chimney cap with a mesh screen goes on the flue so animals cannot return and any damage at the top is noted.
What is included
Common chimney animal problems
Birds
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared with chimney swifts left until they migrate.
Small animals
Trapped squirrels and other small animals are removed and the entry point is closed.
Raccoon dens
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed and the chimney is capped.
Bat exclusion
Bats are excluded rather than trapped since rules often protect them.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Tamaqua, 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. If the flue vents a furnace or water heater, a nest can force carbon monoxide into the house.
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, once the birds have left. A sweep in Tamaqua will advise on timing, then remove the old nest and install a cap afterwards so they cannot return. Other species can often be handled sooner, depending on the bird and the rules that apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Tamaqua, PA
An uncapped chimney is a favorite den for raccoons, especially mothers with kits. 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. After that, droppings are cleaned up and a sturdy cap is fitted, since raccoons can tear lightweight caps off.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
Chimneys in Tamaqua see the most animal activity in spring and early summer, when birds nest and raccoons raise their young. From Tamaqua out to places like Coaldale, Lansford, Summit Hill and Nesquehoning, older chimneys without caps are the easiest targets for birds and raccoons. A properly fitted cap prevents most of these problems.
Searching for chimney animal removal near me from Tamaqua or Coaldale, Lansford, Summit Hill and Nesquehoning? Call (272) 291-2023 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Tamaqua
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, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Tamaqua, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Tamaqua
Chimney sweeps in Tamaqua know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
A sour, rotten odor from the fireplace points to a dead animal in the chimney. Air fresheners will not help, since the animal and debris have to come out. Close the damper until it is removed.
Can I light a fire to get an animal out of my chimney?
Lighting a fire is the wrong move with an animal in the chimney. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can catch fire and a blocked flue can fill the room with smoke. Keep the damper closed and call a sweep instead.
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. In the meantime, keep the damper shut to keep noise and birds out of the house.
What stops birds and raccoons from getting into a chimney?
The best prevention is a sturdy chimney cap with screening on all sides. It should be fastened well enough that a raccoon cannot pull it off, with mesh small enough to stop birds without clogging with creosote. Keeping branches off the roof removes an easy path to the top.
Why are animals in the chimney a problem?
Animals in a chimney cause problems beyond the noise. 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.
More questions? Call (272) 291-2023
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from masonry and factory-built chimneys, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Removing chimney odors at the source instead of covering them up with sweeping, deodorizing and a fix for the cause.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers so smoke goes up and heated air stays in.
Learn more
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