Birds
Birds and their nesting material are removed and the flue is capped afterward.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Edgewater, NJ
A chimney sweep in Edgewater can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Dial (551) 378-0034 to be connected with a nearby 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. The result is a blocked flue, odors, noise and sometimes an animal loose in the living room.
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.
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 New Jersey. Every removal should end with a cap on the flue.
Many chimney animal removal calls in Edgewater also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Looking for Edgewater chimney animal removal? Call (551) 378-0034 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chimney animal removal process
Safe removal depends on knowing what is in the chimney and planning around it.
Identify the animal
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal since each one is handled differently.
Plan the timing
Protected birds like chimney swifts are left until nesting season ends, while many other animals can be removed right away 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.
Clear the nest
Nesting material is pulled out, since it can block the flue and catch fire and the flue is swept if needed.
Clean up
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized since droppings can carry disease.
Cap the chimney
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
Common chimney animal problems
Dead animal removal
When an animal dies in the flue, it is taken out and the smoke shelf cleaned so the odor fades.
Small animals
Squirrels, mice and other small animals that fall in and get trapped are taken out before they get into the house.
Bats
Bats in a chimney are handled with exclusion devices that let them leave but not return because they are protected in many places.
Raccoon dens
Raccoons and their young are removed from the smoke shelf and flue without harming the kits.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Edgewater, 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. In furnace or water heater flues, a nest can cause carbon monoxide to spill indoors, so working CO alarms matter.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A sweep in Edgewater 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 Edgewater, NJ
Raccoons are strong climbers, and a mother raccoon will often choose a chimney smoke shelf as a den to raise her kits in spring. You may hear chattering, crying or thumping above the damper, especially at dusk when the mother comes and goes. Never reach into the chimney or try to grab a raccoon, since they can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm.
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. Since rules on raccoons vary from state to state, the sweep follows the approach allowed in New Jersey. 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 Edgewater pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. Homes in Edgewater and nearby towns such as Cliffside Park, Fairview, Fort Lee and Palisades Park with trees close to the roof make it easy for raccoons and squirrels to reach the top. Capping the flue is the main defense, along with keeping tree limbs off the roof.
Need chimney animal removal around Edgewater? Call (551) 378-0034 for an Edgewater chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Edgewater
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. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Edgewater is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Edgewater
Chimney sweeps in Edgewater know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
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. Removing the animal and cleaning the smoke shelf is the only real fix. Close the damper until it is removed.
How do I keep animals out of my 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. Trimming tree limbs away from the roof also helps.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so the birds and their active nest have to stay until nesting season is over. 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.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
An animal in the flue is more than a nuisance. Nests can block the flue and catch fire, droppings can carry disease, and raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. A blocked flue on a furnace or water heater can also send carbon monoxide into the house, so keep CO alarms working.
Will smoke drive an animal out of the chimney?
Smoke is not a safe way to get an animal out of a 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.
More questions? Call (551) 378-0034
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 with sweeping, deodorizing and a fix for the cause.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Repairing dampers that will not open, close or seal or replacing them with a top sealing damper.
Learn more
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