Chimney animal removal and entry repair in New Tampa

Why a fire is the wrong way to drive an animal out

Lighting a fire or burning something smoky to force an animal out of a chimney is a common impulse and a bad idea. A trapped animal may not be able to climb out at all, young in a nest cannot leave, and nest material in the flue can catch fire.

Keep the fireplace unused and the damper and doors closed until the chimney has been checked. NFPA safety guidance calls for chimneys to be inspected every year, and a chimney with an animal problem needs that check before it is used again.

If a fire was already burning when the sounds started, let it burn down and the fireplace cool before doing anything else. Then leave the damper closed and have the flue checked before the fireplace is used again.

Animal-proofing a factory-built chimney

A factory-built fireplace uses a metal chimney pipe with a cap made for that system. Florida's residential code requires these chimneys to be installed and terminated according to the manufacturer's instructions, so a generic screen or mesh cannot simply be wrapped around the top.

If animals are getting into a factory-built chimney or its chase, we identify the listed cap or chase repair that closes the entry without changing how the chimney system is meant to work.

The model information on the fireplace label helps identify the correct part. We record it where it can be reached so the replacement matches the system.

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.

A nest in a flue that serves an appliance

Some chimneys have a flue that vents a fuel-burning appliance rather than the fireplace. A nest or debris in that flue can interfere with how the appliance vents, which is a more urgent problem than a nest in an unused fireplace flue.

If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the house and call 911 from outside. Once the home is safe, the flue needs checking and clearing before the appliance is used again, and the entry must be closed so the nest does not return.