Chimney animal removal and entry repair in Town 'n' Country

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.

Cleaning the chimney after the animal is out

Nests, feathers, fur and droppings usually remain after an animal leaves. Material left on the smoke shelf or in the flue can block the path of the smoke and catch fire the next time the fireplace is used.

Once the chimney is confirmed clear of animals, our team sweeps the flue and smoke chamber, clears the smoke shelf and checks that the flue is open from the damper to the top. You hear what we found before the fireplace goes back into use.

If the damper, the smoke shelf or the flue was damaged during the visit, the repair appears on its own line of the estimate so you can decide on it separately.

Checking the damper after an animal visit

Animals and their nests can jam a damper, bend its plate or leave debris in its frame. A damper that no longer closes fully lets the next visitor into the room and lets conditioned air up the flue.

After cleaning, we open and close the damper, clear its frame and check the plate and handle. If it needs repair, the estimate explains the repair separately so you can decide.

Some homeowners take the chance to upgrade the cap or add a top-sealing damper at the same time. We explain the options without pressure and price each one separately.

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.