Bird nests
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared as covered in more detail below.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Sunbury, PA
A chimney sweep in Sunbury can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney and install a cap so they cannot get back in. Dial (272) 238-4101 to be connected with a nearby chimney sweep.
Without a cap, a chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. 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. Each one brings nesting material that blocks the flue, droppings that smell and the risk of the animal getting into the house.
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 under federal law as migratory birds, so an active nest stays until the birds leave for the season. A raccoon with kits needs patience, and the approach has to fit the wildlife rules in Pennsylvania. Afterward, a chimney cap with screening is what keeps the next one out.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney animal removal in Sunbury, PA can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and chimney cleaning.
Need chimney animal removal in Sunbury? Call (272) 238-4101 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Sunbury.
Call nowThe process
How chimney animal removal works
Getting an animal out cleanly takes the right timing and a few steps.
Figure out what it is
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal since each one is handled differently.
Check the rules
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young 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 while keeping it out of the house.
Remove debris
Nesting material is pulled out, since it can block the flue and catch fire so smoke can draft freely.
Deodorize
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized before the fireplace is used again.
Seal the top
A cap that covers the flue and blocks wildlife is fitted so the problem does not repeat next season.
What is included
Common chimney animal problems
Bats
Bats in a chimney are handled with exclusion devices that let them leave but not return because they are protected in many places.
Dead animal removal
An animal that died in the chimney is removed and the odor treated to clear the smell.
Squirrels
Small animals stuck in the flue or on the damper are removed and the entry point is closed.
Raccoons
Raccoons and their young are removed from the smoke shelf and flue without harming the kits.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Sunbury, PA
Birds nest in chimneys because the inside of a flue is dry, sheltered and hard for predators to reach. 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. Nests in flues that serve gas or oil appliances are a carbon monoxide risk too, since they can push exhaust back into the house.
Chimney swifts are protected under federal law, which means an active nest stays until the birds migrate in the fall. 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 Sunbury, 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. The signs are chattering and whimpering from the young and the mother leaving at dusk and returning before dawn. Raccoons can carry disease, and their droppings can hold roundworm eggs, so leave removal to someone equipped for it.
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 Pennsylvania. 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 Sunbury, wildlife moves into chimneys mostly in spring and summer, when the fireplace is cold. Homes in Sunbury and nearby towns such as Northumberland, Winfield, Selinsgrove and Lewisburg with trees close to the roof make it easy for raccoons and squirrels to reach the top. A properly fitted cap prevents most of these problems.
For chimney animal removal in Sunbury, PA or nearby towns like Northumberland, Winfield, Selinsgrove and Lewisburg, call (272) 238-4101 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a chimney
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, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Sunbury, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Sunbury know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Animal Removal questions
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
The best prevention is a sturdy chimney cap with screening on all sides. Choose a cap that is fastened securely and has mesh fine enough to stop birds. Trimming tree limbs away from the roof also helps.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Animals in a chimney cause problems beyond the noise. 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.
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
A sour, rotten odor from the fireplace points to a dead animal in the chimney. The animal has to be removed, along with any nest and droppings, and the area cleaned and deodorized. Close the damper until it is removed.
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.
Can chimney swifts be removed from my chimney?
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so the birds and their active nest have to stay until nesting season is over. Once they migrate, a sweep can clear the nest and cap the chimney so they do not return. In the meantime, keep the damper shut to keep noise and birds out of the house.
More questions? Call (272) 238-4101
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
Sweeping soot and creosote out of masonry and factory-built chimneys, 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
Restoring the damper that opens and closes the flue so smoke goes up and heated air stays in.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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Call (272) 238-4101 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Sunbury, PA.
(272) 238-4101
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