Raccoons
Raccoon dens above the damper are cleared out without harming the kits.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Morrisville, PA
A Morrisville chimney sweep can get wildlife out of the flue safely and with the right timing for the animal, then cap the top. Call (267) 697-3471 to reach a local chimney sweep.
Without a cap, a chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. Raccoons often use the smoke shelf as a nursery, birds nest inside the flue and squirrels fall in and get trapped. They leave nests that can block smoke and catch fire, droppings that smell and parasites that can spread.
Lighting a fire to drive an animal out is a bad idea. It can kill young animals that cannot leave, set the nest on fire and fill the house with smoke. Keep the damper and any fireplace doors closed so the animal stays in the chimney, and keep pets away from the fireplace.
The type of animal decides how and when it can be removed. Chimney swifts are protected, which means waiting until they migrate before the nest comes out. A raccoon with kits needs patience, and the approach has to fit the wildlife rules in Pennsylvania. Every removal should end with a cap on the flue.
Chimney Animal Removal is often paired with chimney cap installation and chimney cleaning, depending on the cause.
Need chimney animal removal in Morrisville? Call (267) 697-3471 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney animal removal works
Safe removal depends on knowing what is in the chimney and planning around it.
Start with the clues
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal which decides what happens next.
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
Nests, sticks, droppings and debris are removed from the smoke shelf, damper and flue and the area is cleaned up.
Sanitize
The smoke shelf and firebox are cleaned and treated for odor which helps with lingering smells.
Add a cap
A chimney cap with a mesh screen goes on the flue so animals cannot return and any damage at the top is noted.
What is included
Animals removed from chimneys
Bats
Bats are excluded rather than trapped and the top is sealed after they are gone.
Bird nests
Starlings, swifts and other birds and their nests are removed with timing that respects nesting season and the flue is capped afterward.
Odor cleanup
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized to clear the smell.
Small animals
Trapped squirrels and other small animals are removed since they cannot climb back out.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Morrisville, PA
Birds like starlings and chimney swifts are drawn to open flues for nesting. Their nests sit on the smoke shelf, the damper or the flue walls, and the dry twigs and grass can block the draft and catch fire with the first fire of the season. In furnace or water heater flues, a nest can cause carbon monoxide to spill indoors, so working CO alarms matter.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A sweep in Morrisville will advise on timing, then remove the old nest and install a cap afterwards so they cannot return. Other birds follow different rules, and the sweep can tell you which apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Morrisville, PA
In spring, a female raccoon looking for a safe den often climbs into an uncapped chimney to have her young on the smoke shelf. 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.
Removal often means taking out the kits so the mother can carry them off, or using a one-way exit once the den is empty. Wildlife rules in Pennsylvania can limit trapping and relocation, which shapes how the removal is done. 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
In Morrisville, wildlife moves into chimneys mostly in spring and summer, when the fireplace is cold. From Morrisville out to places like Yardley, Fairless Hills, Levittown and Woodbourne, older chimneys without caps are the easiest targets for birds and raccoons. Capping the flue is the main defense, along with keeping tree limbs off the roof.
Searching for chimney animal removal near me from Morrisville or Yardley, Fairless Hills, Levittown and Woodbourne? Call (267) 697-3471 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Morrisville
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: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Morrisville, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Morrisville know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Nesting material can ignite or block smoke, and droppings and parasites are a health concern. Blocked gas appliance flues can spill carbon monoxide, so get to fresh air if a CO alarm sounds.
Can I light a fire to get an animal out of my chimney?
A fire is the worst way to deal with an animal in the flue. It can kill young animals, start a nest fire and push smoke and carbon monoxide indoors. Close the damper and fireplace doors and leave the removal to a sweep.
How do I get rid of a dead animal smell in my chimney?
A sour, rotten odor from the fireplace points to a dead animal in the chimney. Air fresheners will not help, since the animal and debris have to come out. Keep the damper closed until then to keep the smell out of the room.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Because chimney swifts are protected, removal has to wait until the birds leave for the season. A sweep will advise on timing, then remove the nest and install a cap afterwards. In the meantime, keep the damper shut to keep noise and birds out of the house.
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
Capping the flue with a mesh-sided cap stops most animals. It should be fastened well enough that a raccoon cannot pull it off, with mesh small enough to stop birds without clogging with creosote. Trimming tree limbs away from the roof also helps.
More questions? Call (267) 697-3471
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides so water, birds and debris stay out of the flue.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from wood-burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Getting rid of the campfire, musty or rotten smell coming from a chimney so the room stops smelling like an old ashtray.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Morrisville chimney sweep about chimney animal removal
Call (267) 697-3471 for a local chimney sweep in Morrisville and nearby towns.
(267) 697-3471
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