Careful chimney animal removal for homes in Bloomingdale

Raccoons denning in a chimney

A raccoon may use the smoke shelf or the flue as a den, and in spring it may have young with it. Removing only the adult, or closing the top while the young are inside, leaves animals trapped in the chimney.

Florida's nuisance wildlife rule restricts where a live-captured animal may be released, which is one reason trapping belongs with someone who works within that rule. Once the raccoons are out, our team cleans the chimney, checks the damper and flue for damage and closes the top.

Raccoons can also tear screens and bend dampers while going in and out, so the chimney is checked for that damage before a new cap goes on.

Keeping animals out once the chimney is closed

A well-fitted cap does most of the work, but caps and screens can loosen, rust or collect debris. NFPA safety guidance recommends having chimneys inspected every year, and a yearly look is a good time to confirm the cap is still doing its job.

Between inspections, watch for new sounds, debris in the firebox or a cap that looks tilted from the ground. If something changes, call us rather than climbing up to check.

Our team can combine that yearly look with a sweep before the fireplace season, so the chimney is clean, clear of nests and closed at the top.

Choosing the right cap style for the chimney

Caps come in more than one form. A single-flue cap fits one flue and is fastened to it, while a larger cap can mount on the crown and cover several flues at once. The right style depends on how many flues the chimney has, how they sit on the crown and the condition of the crown itself.

Whatever the style, the screen has to meet the code's opening sizes and the cap has to come off for cleaning. We explain the options that suit your chimney and price them before anything is ordered.

What to tell us when you call

A few details help us plan the visit. Tell us what you have heard and when, whether anything has come into the room and whether you have seen animals at the chimney top. Mention whether the chimney has a cap and whether the fireplace has doors.

Let us know about children, pets and anyone in the household who may have touched an animal or its droppings. If someone has been bitten or scratched, medical advice comes before any call to us.