Small animals
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 La Plata, MD
A local sweep can clear animals out of a La Plata chimney and install a cap so they cannot get back in. One call to (240) 622-3033 reaches a chimney sweep near you.
Without a cap, a chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. Raccoons den above the damper, birds nest in the flue and small animals like squirrels can fall in and get stuck. The result is a blocked flue, odors, noise and sometimes an animal loose in the living room.
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. A raccoon with kits needs patience, and the approach has to fit the wildlife rules in Maryland. 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 La Plata chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Dealing with this in La Plata, MD right now? Call (240) 622-3033 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in La Plata.
Call nowThe process
The chimney animal removal process
Safe removal depends on knowing what is in the chimney and planning around it.
Figure out what it is
Sounds, droppings, timing and a look up the flue tell the technician what is living in the chimney and whether young are involved.
Plan the timing
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young so the removal stays legal and humane.
Remove the animal
The animal is removed using the method suited to it without harming them.
Clear the nest
Nests, sticks, droppings and debris are removed from the smoke shelf, damper and flue so smoke can draft freely.
Clean up
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized since droppings can carry disease.
Add a cap
The flue is capped with screening that keeps birds and raccoons out and any damage at the top is noted.
What is included
Animals removed from chimneys
Raccoons
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed and the chimney is capped.
Odor cleanup
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized so the odor fades.
Bats
Bats are excluded rather than trapped since rules often protect them.
Birds
Birds and their nesting material are removed with chimney swifts left until they migrate.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal La Plata, MD
A chimney gives birds a protected, dry place to build a nest, which is why it attracts them every spring. 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.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A La Plata sweep can tell you when removal is allowed, then clear the nest and cap the chimney. Other birds follow different rules, and the sweep can tell you which apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal La Plata, MD
In spring, a female raccoon looking for a safe den often climbs into an uncapped chimney to have her young on the smoke shelf. You may hear chattering, crying or thumping above the damper, especially at dusk when the mother comes and goes. Raccoons can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm, so never reach into the flue or try to handle one.
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. Since rules on raccoons vary from state to state, the sweep follows the approach allowed in Maryland. With the den cleared, the smoke shelf is sanitized and a heavy-duty cap goes on, because raccoons can pull off weak ones.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
In La Plata, wildlife moves into chimneys mostly in spring and summer, when the fireplace is cold. Homes in La Plata and nearby towns such as Bensville, Waldorf, Bryans Road and Accokeek with trees close to the roof make it easy for raccoons and squirrels to reach the top. Capping the flue is the main defense, along with keeping tree limbs off the roof.
For chimney animal removal in La Plata, MD or nearby towns like Bensville, Waldorf, Bryans Road and Accokeek, call (240) 622-3033 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around La Plata
The heating season here is shorter than up north, yet most winters bring plenty of cold nights by the fire. The ground and the masonry freeze and thaw many times each winter instead of staying frozen, and soaking rains in spring and fall test every crown and flashing joint. Warm, humid summers bring animals and damp odors to chimneys that sit unused. People in La Plata, MD usually schedule their sweep in October or November.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know La Plata
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across La Plata and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
What stops birds and raccoons from getting into a chimney?
A chimney cap with a mesh screen is the most effective way to keep animals out. 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.
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 shut in the meantime.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
An animal in the flue is more than a nuisance. Blocked flues, fire risk from nests, disease from droppings and animals getting into the house are the main concerns. If the chimney vents a gas appliance, a blockage can cause carbon monoxide to back up, which makes working CO alarms important.
Can chimney swifts be removed from my chimney?
Because chimney swifts are protected, removal has to wait until the birds leave for the season. 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.
More questions? Call (240) 622-3033
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Fitting a metal cap over the top of the flue sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Cleaning the flue, smoke chamber and firebox of fireplace and stove chimneys of every kind, 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 including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
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