Raccoon dens
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed along with the droppings they leave.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Clarendon Hills, IL
A Clarendon Hills chimney sweep can get wildlife out of the flue safely and with the right timing for the animal, then cap the top. One call to (331) 301-3221 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.
Do not try to smoke an animal out by lighting a fire. 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.
Not every animal can be removed the same way or at any time. Chimney swifts are protected under federal law as migratory birds, so an active nest stays until the birds leave for the season. A raccoon with kits needs patience, and the approach has to fit the wildlife rules in Illinois. Once the chimney is clear, a cap with a mesh screen keeps them from coming back.
Many chimney animal removal calls in Clarendon Hills also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Need chimney animal removal in Clarendon Hills? Call (331) 301-3221 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Clarendon Hills.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney animal removal
Getting an animal out cleanly takes the right timing and a few steps.
Start with the clues
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal which decides what happens next.
Plan the timing
If chimney swifts are nesting, the sweep will advise on when the nest can come out and you hear what to expect.
Remove the animal
Depending on the animal, removal may be by hand, with an exclusion door or by giving a mother the chance to relocate her young with care taken around the damper and smoke shelf.
Remove debris
All debris left behind is cleared out and the area is cleaned up.
Deodorize
The smoke shelf and firebox are cleaned and treated for odor 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
Squirrels
Trapped squirrels and other small animals are removed before they get into the house.
Bat exclusion
Bats are moved out with one-way exits timed around their breeding season because they are protected in many places.
Odor cleanup
When an animal dies in the flue, it is taken out and the smoke shelf cleaned to clear the smell.
Bird nests
Starlings, swifts and other birds and their nests are removed with timing that respects nesting season and the flue is capped afterward.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Clarendon Hills, IL
Birds nest in chimneys because the inside of a flue is dry, sheltered and hard for predators to reach. A nest of dry twigs and grass is both a blockage and a fire hazard. In furnace or water heater flues, a nest can cause carbon monoxide to spill indoors, so working CO alarms matter.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A sweep in Clarendon Hills will advise on timing, then remove the old nest and install a cap afterwards so they cannot return. Other birds may be handled on a different schedule depending on the species, so ask the sweep.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Clarendon Hills, IL
An uncapped chimney is a favorite den for raccoons, especially mothers with kits. The signs are chattering and whimpering from the young and the mother leaving at dusk and returning before dawn. Never reach into the chimney or try to grab a raccoon, since they can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm.
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 Illinois 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
Animal calls in Clarendon Hills pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. From Clarendon Hills out to places like Westmont, Hinsdale, Willowbrook and Oak Brook, older chimneys without caps are the easiest targets for birds and raccoons. A cap with a mesh screen is the simplest fix, and trimming branches back from the roof helps too.
For chimney animal removal in Clarendon Hills, IL or nearby towns like Westmont, Hinsdale, Willowbrook and Oak Brook, call (331) 301-3221 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Winters here are cold and long, with lake effect snow in many towns and deep cold snaps that can last for days. Heating systems and wood stoves work nearly nonstop for months, so flues collect creosote fast and liners and crowns see a lot of heat and cold. Snow that piles up behind a chimney and melts slowly is a common source of leaks at the flashing. Most chimney cleaning in Clarendon Hills, IL happens right before the first snow.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Clarendon Hills
Chimney sweeps in Clarendon Hills know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
The best prevention is a sturdy chimney cap with screening on all sides. Choose a cap that is fastened securely and has mesh fine enough to stop birds. Keeping branches off the roof removes an easy path to the top.
Can I light a fire to get an animal out of my chimney?
A fire is the worst way to deal with an animal in the flue. 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 a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
The smell of decay in a chimney nearly always means an animal has died inside. The animal has to be removed, along with any nest and droppings, and the area cleaned and deodorized. Close the damper until it is removed.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
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. Until then, keep the damper closed and do not use the fireplace.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Animals in a chimney cause problems beyond the noise. 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.
More questions? Call (331) 301-3221
Other services that may help
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
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
Tracking down the creosote, moisture or animal behind a smelly fireplace 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
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Clarendon Hills chimney sweep about chimney animal removal
Call now for Clarendon Hills chimney animal removal and help in the towns around it.
(331) 301-3221
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