Safe chimney animal removal and cleanup in Balm

What the code says about chimney cap screens

Florida's residential code sets rules for spark arrestor screens on masonry chimneys. The screen openings must not let through a sphere larger than half an inch or block one smaller than three-eighths of an inch, and the screen material has to hold up to heat and corrosion no worse than 19-gauge galvanized or 24-gauge stainless steel would.

That section also sets the arrestor's net free area at no less than four times the flue outlet's area. A properly sized screened cap meets those rules and keeps birds and squirrels out without choking the chimney's draft.

Animals inside a chimney chase

The framed chase around a factory-built chimney is a sheltered space, and animals can get in through rust holes in the chase cover, loose siding or gaps where the trim has pulled away. Sounds inside the wall beside the fireplace are the usual clue.

Once the animal has been dealt with, we repair the entry at the chase cover or siding and check that nothing was left against the chimney pipe inside the chase. Any framing repair is priced on its own line.

Animals in a chase can also disturb insulation or leave nesting material against the pipe, which is why the inside of the chase top is checked once the animal is out.

How long a chimney animal problem takes to solve

The timeline depends on the animal. A trapped squirrel or a bird that fell in can often be dealt with quickly, while nesting chimney swifts stay until they leave for the season and bats can only be excluded outside the maternity season under Florida's rule.

We explain the likely timing at the first visit so there are no surprises. Where the chimney has to wait, keep the fireplace closed, and we schedule the cleanup and cap for the first date the rules allow.

When animals are in the attic as well

Animals that reach a chimney top sometimes find other ways into a house, through gaps at the roofline, vents or soffits. If you hear movement in the attic or in walls away from the fireplace, the chimney may not be the only entry.

Our work covers the chimney and, on factory-built systems, the chase around it. For the rest of the roofline, a wildlife professional is the right person to look, and we tell you what we see at the chimney and what falls outside it.