Small animals
Trapped squirrels and other small animals are removed before they get into the house.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Palos Heights, IL
A local sweep can clear animals out of a Palos Heights chimney safely and with the right timing for the animal, then cap the top. Call (708) 708-7262 to reach a local chimney sweep.
An open chimney looks like a hollow tree to a lot of animals. Raccoons den above the damper, birds nest in the flue and small animals like squirrels can fall in and get stuck. Each one brings nesting material that blocks the flue, droppings that smell and the risk of the animal getting into the house.
It is tempting to light a fire and force the animal out, but it does more harm than good. 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. A raccoon with kits needs patience, and the approach has to fit the wildlife rules in Illinois. 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, a Palos Heights chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Looking for Palos Heights chimney animal removal? Call (708) 708-7262 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Palos Heights.
Call nowThe process
The chimney animal removal process
Getting an animal out cleanly takes the right timing and a few steps.
Identify the animal
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 while keeping it out of the house.
Remove debris
Nesting material is pulled out, since it can block the flue and catch fire and the area is cleaned up.
Deodorize
The smoke shelf and firebox are cleaned and treated for odor 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
Raccoons
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed and the chimney is capped.
Birds
Starlings, swifts and other birds and their nests are removed with timing that respects nesting season and the flue is capped afterward.
Dead animal removal
An animal that died in the chimney is removed and the odor treated before the fireplace is used again.
Bat exclusion
Bats are excluded rather than trapped since rules often protect them.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Palos Heights, IL
Birds like starlings and chimney swifts are drawn to open flues for nesting. The sticks and grass in a nest can block the flue and ignite when a fire is lit. Nests in flues that serve gas or oil appliances are a carbon monoxide risk too, since they can push exhaust back into the house.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A Palos Heights sweep can tell you when removal is allowed, then clear the nest and cap the chimney. Other species can often be handled sooner, depending on the bird and the rules that apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Palos Heights, IL
An uncapped chimney is a favorite den for raccoons, especially mothers with kits. You may hear chattering, crying or thumping above the damper, especially at dusk when the mother comes and goes. Raccoons can carry disease, and their droppings can hold roundworm eggs, so leave removal to someone equipped for it.
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. Trapping and relocation rules differ by state, so the method follows what is allowed in Illinois. 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 Palos Heights, wildlife moves into chimneys mostly in spring and summer, when the fireplace is cold. Around Palos Heights and in nearby towns like Worth, Palos Park, Chicago Ridge and Palos Hills, 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.
For chimney animal removal in Palos Heights, IL or nearby towns like Worth, Palos Park, Chicago Ridge and Palos Hills, call (708) 708-7262 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Palos Heights
This part of the country gets long winters, heavy snow in places and stretches of bitter cold. Heating systems and wood stoves work nearly nonstop for months, so flues collect creosote fast and liners and crowns see a lot of heat and cold. Snow drifting against the back of a chimney melts slowly and works water under tired flashing. Most chimney cleaning in Palos Heights, IL happens right before the first snow.
Why call
Why act early
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Palos Heights
Chimney sweeps in Palos Heights 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.
Chimney Animal Removal questions
What stops birds and raccoons from getting into a 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. Cutting back branches that reach the roof makes the chimney harder to reach.
Why are animals in the chimney a problem?
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. If the chimney vents a gas appliance, a blockage can cause carbon monoxide to back up, which makes working CO alarms important.
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. While you wait, keep the damper shut and the fireplace out of use.
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. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can catch fire and a blocked flue can fill the room with smoke. Keep the damper closed and call a sweep instead.
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.
More questions? Call (708) 708-7262
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides 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
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
Repairing dampers that will not open, close or seal or replacing them with a top sealing damper.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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Call (708) 708-7262 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Palos Heights, IL.
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