Bat exclusion
Bats are excluded rather than trapped since rules often protect them.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Somerdale, NJ
A local sweep can clear animals out of a Somerdale chimney and install a cap so they cannot get back in. Dial (856) 344-1158 to be connected with a nearby chimney sweep.
An open chimney looks like a hollow tree to a lot of animals. Raccoons often use the smoke shelf as a nursery, birds nest inside the flue and squirrels fall in and get trapped. The result is a blocked flue, odors, noise and sometimes an animal loose in the living room.
It is tempting to light a fire and force the animal out, but it does more harm than good. Young animals that cannot climb will be hurt, the nest can catch fire, and a blocked flue can push smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. Keep the damper and any fireplace doors closed so the animal stays in the chimney, and keep pets away from the fireplace.
Not every animal can be removed the same way or at any time. Chimney swifts are protected, which means waiting until they migrate before the nest comes out. 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.
Chimney Animal Removal is often paired with chimney cap installation and chimney cleaning, depending on the cause.
Looking for Somerdale chimney animal removal? Call (856) 344-1158 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney animal removal works
Here is how a sweep typically handles an animal in the chimney.
Start with the clues
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal since each one is handled differently.
Check the rules
Protected birds like chimney swifts are left until nesting season ends, while many other animals can be removed right away so the removal stays legal and humane.
Remove the animal
The animal is removed using the method suited to it without harming them.
Remove debris
Nesting material is pulled out, since it can block the flue and catch fire and the area is cleaned up.
Sanitize
The smoke shelf and firebox are cleaned and treated for odor which helps with lingering smells.
Seal the top
The flue is capped with screening that keeps birds and raccoons out and any damage at the top is noted.
What is included
Animals removed from chimneys
Dead animal removal
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized to clear the smell.
Bird nests
Birds and their nesting material are removed with chimney swifts left until they migrate.
Small animals
Squirrels, mice and other small animals that fall in and get trapped are taken out since they cannot climb back out.
Raccoon dens
Raccoon dens above the damper are cleared out along with the droppings they leave.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Somerdale, 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 protected under federal law, which means an active nest stays until the birds migrate in the fall. A sweep in Somerdale will advise on timing, then remove the old nest and install a cap afterwards so they cannot return. Other birds may be handled on a different schedule depending on the species, so ask the sweep.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Somerdale, NJ
An uncapped chimney is a favorite den for raccoons, especially mothers with kits. The signs are chattering and whimpering from the young and the mother leaving at dusk and returning before dawn. Never reach into the chimney or try to grab a raccoon, since they can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm.
A common approach is to remove the kits first and give the mother the chance to move them, then confirm the den is empty before capping. Since rules on raccoons vary from state to state, the sweep follows the approach allowed in New Jersey. Then the area is sanitized and a strong cap is fastened down to keep the next raccoon out.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
In Somerdale, wildlife moves into chimneys mostly in spring and summer, when the fireplace is cold. Around Somerdale and in nearby towns like Magnolia, Stratford, Echelon and Lawnside, uncapped chimneys and branches that overhang the roof are the most common way animals get in. Capping the flue is the main defense, along with keeping tree limbs off the roof.
Searching for chimney animal removal near me from Somerdale or Magnolia, Stratford, Echelon and Lawnside? Call (856) 344-1158 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
Chimneys in this climate
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. 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. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Somerdale, NJ schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Somerdale
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Somerdale and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
Why are animals in the chimney a problem?
An animal in the flue is more than a nuisance. Blocked flues, fire risk from nests, disease from droppings and animals getting into the house are the main concerns. Blocked gas appliance flues can spill carbon monoxide, so get to fresh air if a CO alarm sounds.
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. Cutting back branches that reach the roof makes the chimney harder to reach.
How do I get rid of a dead animal smell in my chimney?
A strong, rotting smell from the fireplace often means an animal has died in the flue or on the smoke shelf. Air fresheners will not help, since the animal and debris have to come out. Keep the damper shut in the meantime.
Will smoke drive an animal out of the chimney?
Lighting a fire is the wrong move with an animal in the chimney. Young animals cannot climb out and will be hurt, the nest can ignite, and a blocked flue can send smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. Close the damper and fireplace doors and leave the removal to a sweep.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Chimney swifts are protected under federal law, and their nests cannot be removed while they are in use. 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.
More questions? Call (856) 344-1158
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney so water, birds and debris stay out of the flue.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Cleaning the flue, smoke chamber and firebox of masonry and factory-built chimneys, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
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
Repairing dampers that will not open, close or seal including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
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