Squirrels
Squirrels, mice and other small animals that fall in and get trapped are taken out before they get into the house.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Abington, PA
A Abington chimney sweep can get wildlife out of the flue along with the nest and debris they leave behind. One call to (267) 715-3132 reaches a chimney sweep near you.
To birds, raccoons and squirrels, an uncapped chimney is a dry, sheltered den. Raccoons often use the smoke shelf as a nursery, birds nest inside the flue and squirrels fall in and get trapped. The result is a blocked flue, odors, noise and sometimes an animal loose in the living room.
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 under federal law as migratory birds, so an active nest stays until the birds leave for the season. 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.
Many chimney animal removal calls in Abington also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Looking for Abington chimney animal removal? Call (267) 715-3132 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney animal removal
Here is how a sweep typically handles an animal in the chimney.
Start with the clues
A camera or light and the signs you describe show whether it is birds, a raccoon or something else since each one is handled differently.
Plan the timing
Protected birds like chimney swifts are left until nesting season ends, while many other animals can be removed right away so the removal stays legal and humane.
Get it out
Animals are removed by hand, with a catch pole, through a one-way exit or by letting a mother move her young while keeping it out of the house.
Remove debris
Nests, sticks, droppings and debris are removed from the smoke shelf, damper and flue and the flue is swept if needed.
Sanitize
Where animals have nested, the area is cleaned to remove odor and parasites which helps with lingering smells.
Cap the chimney
The flue is capped with screening that keeps birds and raccoons out so the problem does not repeat next season.
What is included
What chimney animal removal covers
Raccoons
Raccoon dens above the damper are cleared out and the chimney is capped.
Bat exclusion
Bats are moved out with one-way exits timed around their breeding season because they are protected in many places.
Bird nests
Starlings, swifts and other birds and their nests are removed with timing that respects nesting season with chimney swifts left until they migrate.
Odor cleanup
An animal that died in the chimney is removed and the odor treated before the fireplace is used again.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Abington, PA
A chimney gives birds a protected, dry place to build a nest, which is why it attracts them every spring. A nest of dry twigs and grass is both a blockage and a fire hazard. Nests in flues that serve gas or oil appliances are a carbon monoxide risk too, since they can push exhaust back into the house.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A Abington sweep can tell you when removal is allowed, then clear the nest and cap the chimney. Other species can often be handled sooner, depending on the bird and the rules that apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Abington, 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. Raccoons can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm, so never reach into the flue or try to handle one.
The young are often removed first so the mother can relocate them, and the chimney is checked empty before it is sealed. 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 Abington see the most animal activity in spring and early summer, when birds nest and raccoons raise their young. Around Abington and in nearby towns like Roslyn, Willow Grove, Jenkintown and Glenside, uncapped chimneys and branches that overhang the roof are the most common way animals get in. A cap with a mesh screen is the simplest fix, and trimming branches back from the roof helps too.
For chimney animal removal in Abington, PA or nearby towns like Roslyn, Willow Grove, Jenkintown and Glenside, call (267) 715-3132 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Abington
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: 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. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Abington, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Abington and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
Can chimney swifts be removed from my chimney?
Chimney swifts are protected under federal law, and their nests cannot be removed while they are in use. The sweep can tell you when it is allowed, then clean out the nest and add a cap. While you wait, keep the damper shut and the fireplace out of use.
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. 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.
How do I keep animals out of my 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?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Nests can block the flue and catch fire, droppings can carry disease, and raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. A blocked flue on a furnace or water heater can also send carbon monoxide into the house, so keep CO alarms working.
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. Keep the damper closed until then to keep the smell out of the room.
More questions? Call (267) 715-3132
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Cleaning the flue, smoke chamber and firebox of masonry and factory-built chimneys, with the damper, smoke shelf and cap checked along the way.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Getting rid of the campfire, musty or rotten smell coming from a chimney so the room stops smelling like an old ashtray.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Restoring the damper that opens and closes the flue or replacing them with a top sealing damper.
Learn more
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