Squirrels
Trapped squirrels and other small animals are removed before they get into the house.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Shrewsbury, NJ
A chimney sweep in Shrewsbury can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney safely and with the right timing for the animal, then cap the top. Dial (732) 876-9672 to be connected with a nearby chimney sweep.
To birds, raccoons and squirrels, an uncapped chimney is a dry, sheltered den. Birds build nests on the smoke shelf or damper, raccoons den on the smoke shelf to raise their young, and squirrels fall in and cannot climb back out. They leave nests that can block smoke and catch fire, droppings that smell and parasites that can spread.
Do not try to smoke an animal out by lighting a fire. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can ignite and smoke can back up into the room. Close the damper and glass doors if you have them, and keep children and pets away until the animal is out.
The type of animal decides how and when it can be removed. Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, and a sweep will advise on timing. Raccoons, squirrels and bats each have their own methods, and wildlife rules in New Jersey can affect how they are handled. Every removal should end with a cap on the flue.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney animal removal in Shrewsbury, NJ can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and chimney cleaning.
Need chimney animal removal in Shrewsbury? Call (732) 876-9672 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Shrewsbury.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney animal removal
Getting an animal out cleanly takes the right timing and a few steps.
Figure out what it is
A camera or light and the signs you describe show whether it is birds, a raccoon or something else since each one is handled differently.
Set the approach
Protected birds like chimney swifts are left until nesting season ends, while many other animals can be removed right away and you hear what to expect.
Humane removal
Animals are removed by hand, with a catch pole, through a one-way exit or by letting a mother move her young without harming them.
Clear the nest
All debris left behind is cleared out and the area is cleaned up.
Sanitize
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized since droppings can carry disease.
Seal the top
The flue is capped with screening that keeps birds and raccoons out to finish the job.
What is included
Animals removed from chimneys
Bat exclusion
Bats in a chimney are handled with exclusion devices that let them leave but not return because they are protected in many places.
Raccoons
Raccoon dens above the damper are cleared out along with the droppings they leave.
Odor cleanup
An animal that died in the chimney is removed and the odor treated before the fireplace is used again.
Birds
Birds and their nesting material are removed with chimney swifts left until they migrate.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Shrewsbury, NJ
A chimney gives birds a protected, dry place to build a nest, which is why it attracts them every spring. A nest of dry twigs and grass is both a blockage and a fire hazard. If the flue vents a furnace or water heater, a nest can force carbon monoxide into the house.
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, once the birds have left. The sweep will advise on when removal can happen, and then the nest is cleared and a cap goes on. Other species can often be handled sooner, depending on the bird and the rules that apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Shrewsbury, NJ
An uncapped chimney is a favorite den for raccoons, especially mothers with kits. Noises at dusk and dawn and the sound of young calling are typical. Never reach into the chimney or try to grab a raccoon, since they can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm.
The young are often removed first so the mother can relocate them, and the chimney is checked empty before it is sealed. Since rules on raccoons vary from state to state, the sweep follows the approach allowed in New Jersey. After that, droppings are cleaned up and a sturdy cap is fitted, since raccoons can tear lightweight caps off.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
Chimneys in Shrewsbury see the most animal activity in spring and early summer, when birds nest and raccoons raise their young. Around Shrewsbury and in nearby towns like Little Silver, Red Bank, Oceanport and Eatontown, uncapped chimneys and branches that overhang the roof are the most common way animals get in. A properly fitted cap prevents most of these problems.
Need chimney animal removal around Shrewsbury? Call (732) 876-9672 for a Shrewsbury chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Shrewsbury
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. That is why chimney cleaning in Shrewsbury is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in Shrewsbury know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
The smell of decay in a chimney nearly always means an animal has died inside. Removing the animal and cleaning the smoke shelf is the only real fix. Keep the damper closed until then to keep the smell out of the room.
Why are animals in the chimney a problem?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Nests can block the flue and catch fire, droppings can carry disease, and raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. A blocked flue on a furnace or water heater can also send carbon monoxide into the house, so keep CO alarms working.
Will smoke drive an animal out of the chimney?
Lighting a fire is the wrong move with an animal in the chimney. It can kill young animals, start a nest fire and push smoke and carbon monoxide indoors. Close the damper, keep pets away and have the animal removed safely.
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
A chimney cap with a mesh screen is the most effective way to keep animals out. It should be fastened well enough that a raccoon cannot pull it off, with mesh small enough to stop birds without clogging with creosote. Keeping branches off the roof removes an easy path to the top.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Because chimney swifts are protected, removal has to wait until the birds leave for the season. The sweep can tell you when it is allowed, then clean out the nest and add a cap. Until then, keep the damper closed and do not use the fireplace.
More questions? Call (732) 876-9672
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from masonry and factory-built chimneys, to cut the risk of a chimney fire.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Tracking down the creosote, moisture or animal behind a smelly fireplace whether the smell shows up in summer heat or after rain.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Restoring the damper that opens and closes the flue including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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Call (732) 876-9672 for a local chimney sweep in Shrewsbury and nearby towns.
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