Raccoon dens
Raccoons and their young are removed from the smoke shelf and flue and the chimney is capped.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Bryn Mawr, PA
A chimney sweep in Bryn Mawr can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Call (484) 380-7228 to reach a local 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. They leave nests that can block smoke and catch fire, droppings that smell and parasites that can spread.
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. 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 under federal law as migratory birds, so an active nest stays until the birds leave for the season. Rules on trapping and relocating wildlife vary by state, so the method follows what is allowed in Pennsylvania. Once the chimney is clear, a cap with a mesh screen keeps them from coming back.
Many chimney animal removal calls in Bryn Mawr also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Dealing with this in Bryn Mawr, PA right now? Call (484) 380-7228 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chimney animal removal process
Getting an animal out cleanly takes the right timing and a few steps.
Start with the clues
A camera or light and the signs you describe show whether it is birds, a raccoon or something else and whether young are involved.
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 with care taken around the damper and smoke shelf.
Clear the nest
All debris left behind is cleared out and the flue is swept if needed.
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
What chimney animal removal covers
Dead animal removal
When an animal dies in the flue, it is taken out and the smoke shelf cleaned to clear the smell.
Bat exclusion
Bats in a chimney are handled with exclusion devices that let them leave but not return because they are protected in many places.
Squirrels
Squirrels, mice and other small animals that fall in and get trapped are taken out before they get into the house.
Bird nests
Birds and their nesting material are removed as covered in more detail below.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Bryn Mawr, PA
Birds nest in chimneys because the inside of a flue is dry, sheltered and hard for predators to reach. A nest of dry twigs and grass is both a blockage and a fire hazard. 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 a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, once the birds have left. A Bryn Mawr sweep can tell you when removal is allowed, then clear the nest and cap the chimney. Other birds follow different rules, and the sweep can tell you which apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Bryn Mawr, 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 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. Trapping and relocation rules differ by state, so the method follows what is allowed in Pennsylvania. With the den cleared, the smoke shelf is sanitized and a heavy-duty cap goes on, because raccoons can pull off weak ones.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
Animal calls in Bryn Mawr pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. Homes in Bryn Mawr and nearby towns such as Rosemont, Ardmore, Villanova and Narberth with trees close to the roof make it easy for raccoons and squirrels to reach the top. 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 Bryn Mawr or Rosemont, Ardmore, Villanova and Narberth? Call (484) 380-7228 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
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. 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, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Bryn Mawr is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why act early
Safer fires
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in Bryn Mawr 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.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
A chimney cap with a mesh screen is the most effective way to keep animals out. 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?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Nests can block the flue and catch fire, droppings can carry disease, and raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. Blocked gas appliance flues can spill carbon monoxide, so get to fresh air if a CO alarm sounds.
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. 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.
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. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can catch fire and a blocked flue can fill the room with smoke. Close the damper, keep pets away and have the animal removed safely.
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 (484) 380-7228
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Cleaning the flue, smoke chamber and firebox of 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 with sweeping, deodorizing and a fix for the cause.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Repairing dampers that will not open, close or seal so smoke goes up and heated air stays in.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Bryn Mawr chimney sweep about chimney animal removal
Call (484) 380-7228 for a local chimney sweep in Bryn Mawr and nearby towns.
(484) 380-7228
Free to call. No forms to fill out.