Bird nests
Starlings, swifts and other birds and their nests are removed with timing that respects nesting season and the flue is capped afterward.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Albrightsville, PA
A local sweep can clear animals out of an Albrightsville chimney safely and with the right timing for the animal, then cap the top. Call (272) 233-1004 to reach a local chimney sweep.
An open chimney looks like a hollow tree to a lot of animals. 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. Shut the damper and doors to keep the animal from coming into the house.
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 Pennsylvania can affect how they are handled. Once the chimney is clear, a cap with a mesh screen keeps them from coming back.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, an Albrightsville chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Looking for Albrightsville chimney animal removal? Call (272) 233-1004 to talk to a local 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
Sounds, droppings, timing and a look up the flue tell the technician what is living in the chimney which decides what happens next.
Check the rules
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young and you hear what to expect.
Remove the animal
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.
Remove debris
All debris left behind is cleared out and the area is cleaned up.
Clean up
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized before the fireplace is used again.
Add a cap
The flue is capped with screening that keeps birds and raccoons out so the problem does not repeat next season.
What is included
Common chimney animal problems
Odor cleanup
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized before the fireplace is used again.
Raccoons
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed and the chimney is capped.
Bat exclusion
Bats are excluded rather than trapped and the top is sealed after they are gone.
Squirrels
Small animals stuck in the flue or on the damper are removed and the entry point is closed.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Albrightsville, 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. If the flue vents a furnace or water heater, a nest can force carbon monoxide into the house.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A sweep in Albrightsville 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 Albrightsville, PA
Raccoons are strong climbers, and a mother raccoon will often choose a chimney smoke shelf as a den to raise her kits in spring. Noises at dusk and dawn and the sound of young calling are typical. Raccoons can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm, so never reach into the flue or try to handle one.
The young are often removed first so the mother can relocate them, and the chimney is checked empty before it is sealed. 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
Animal calls in Albrightsville pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. Around Albrightsville and in nearby towns like Indian Mountain Lake, Sun Valley, Sierra View and Emerald Lakes, uncapped chimneys and branches that overhang the roof are the most common way animals get in. A cap with a mesh screen is the simplest fix, and trimming branches back from the roof helps too.
Searching for chimney animal removal near me from Albrightsville or Indian Mountain Lake, Sun Valley, Sierra View and Emerald Lakes? Call (272) 233-1004 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Albrightsville
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: 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 Albrightsville, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Albrightsville and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
Can I light a fire to get an animal out of my 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, keep pets away and have the animal removed safely.
What stops birds and raccoons from getting into a chimney?
The best prevention is a sturdy chimney cap with screening on all sides. 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.
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. The animal has to be removed, along with any nest and droppings, and the area cleaned and deodorized. Keep the damper closed until then to keep the smell out of the room.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Blocked flues, fire risk from nests, disease from droppings and animals getting into the house are the main concerns. If the chimney vents a gas appliance, a blockage can cause carbon monoxide to back up, which makes working CO alarms important.
Can chimney swifts be removed from my chimney?
Chimney swifts are protected under federal law, and their nests cannot be removed while they are in use. The sweep can tell you when it is allowed, then clean out the nest and add a cap. In the meantime, keep the damper shut to keep noise and birds out of the house.
More questions? Call (272) 233-1004
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from fireplace and stove chimneys of every kind, to cut the risk of a chimney fire.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Tracking down the creosote, moisture or animal behind a smelly fireplace so the room stops smelling like an old ashtray.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers or replacing them with a top sealing damper.
Learn more
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Call (272) 233-1004 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Albrightsville, PA.
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