Chimney animal removal for homes in Progress Village

Identifying the animal before anything is disturbed

The right response depends on what is in the chimney. A trapped squirrel, a raccoon with young, nesting chimney swifts and a bat colony each call for a different plan, and some of those plans are governed by law.

Tell us when the sounds happen, day or night, whether they come and go at particular times and anything you have seen at the chimney top. Our team uses that and a look at the fireplace and the top of the chimney to identify what we can before anything is moved.

You do not need to know the species before calling. Describing what you have heard and seen is enough to start, and nobody should climb onto the roof or look up the flue to find out.

Galvanized or stainless steel cap screens

Cap screens have to resist heat and corrosion at least as well as 19-gauge galvanized or 24-gauge stainless steel under Florida's residential code. A cap built to either standard can meet the rule.

The difference shows over time. Galvanized steel relies on its zinc coating, while stainless steel does not depend on a coating in the same way. We explain how each is likely to hold up on your chimney and let you choose.

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.

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.