Squirrels
Trapped squirrels and other small animals are removed and the entry point is closed.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Burtonsville, MD
A chimney sweep in Burtonsville can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney along with the nest and debris they leave behind. One call to (240) 358-7617 reaches a chimney sweep near you.
To birds, raccoons and squirrels, an uncapped chimney is a dry, sheltered den. Raccoons often use the smoke shelf as a nursery, birds nest inside the flue and squirrels fall in and get trapped. Each one brings nesting material that blocks the flue, droppings that smell and the risk of the animal getting into the house.
Lighting a fire to drive an animal out is a bad idea. Young animals that cannot climb will be hurt, the nest can catch fire, and a blocked flue can push smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. 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 protected under federal law as migratory birds, so an active nest stays until the birds leave for the season. Raccoons, squirrels and bats each have their own methods, and wildlife rules in Maryland can affect how they are handled. Every removal should end with a cap on the flue.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Burtonsville chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Dealing with this in Burtonsville, MD right now? Call (240) 358-7617 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Burtonsville.
Call nowThe process
How chimney animal removal works
Getting an animal out cleanly takes the right timing and a few steps.
Identify the animal
A camera or light and the signs you describe show whether it is birds, a raccoon or something else since each one is handled differently.
Plan the timing
If chimney swifts are nesting, the sweep will advise on when the nest can come out before any work begins.
Remove the animal
The animal is removed using the method suited to it with care taken around the damper and smoke shelf.
Clear the nest
Nesting material is pulled out, since it can block the flue and catch fire and the flue is swept if needed.
Deodorize
The smoke shelf and firebox are cleaned and treated for odor which helps with lingering smells.
Cap the chimney
The flue is capped with screening that keeps birds and raccoons out so the problem does not repeat next season.
What is included
Animals removed from chimneys
Raccoons
Raccoons and their young are removed from the smoke shelf and flue and the chimney is capped.
Birds
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared as covered in more detail below.
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.
Odor cleanup
An animal that died in the chimney is removed and the odor treated so the odor fades.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Burtonsville, MD
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. 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 Burtonsville 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 Burtonsville, MD
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. Wildlife rules in Maryland can limit trapping and relocation, which shapes how the removal is done. 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
Chimneys in Burtonsville see the most animal activity in spring and early summer, when birds nest and raccoons raise their young. Homes in Burtonsville and nearby towns such as West Laurel, Fulton, Fairland and Scaggsville 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.
For chimney animal removal in Burtonsville, MD or nearby towns like West Laurel, Fulton, Fairland and Scaggsville, call (240) 358-7617 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Burtonsville
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: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, 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 Burtonsville is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Burtonsville and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Animals in a chimney cause problems beyond the noise. Nests can block the flue and catch fire, droppings can carry disease, and raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. If the chimney vents a gas appliance, a blockage can cause carbon monoxide to back up, which makes working CO alarms important.
How do I get rid of a dead animal smell in my chimney?
A sour, rotten odor from the fireplace points to a dead animal in the chimney. Air fresheners will not help, since the animal and debris have to come out. Keep the damper closed until then to keep the smell out of the room.
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. Cutting back branches that reach the roof makes the chimney harder to reach.
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 and fireplace doors and leave the removal to a sweep.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Chimney swifts are protected under federal law, and their nests cannot be removed while they are in use. A sweep will advise on timing, then remove the nest and install a cap afterwards. In the meantime, keep the damper shut to keep noise and birds out of the house.
More questions? Call (240) 358-7617
Other services that may help
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides so water, birds and debris stay out of the flue.
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
Removing chimney odors at the source instead of covering them up with sweeping, deodorizing and a fix for the cause.
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?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Burtonsville chimney sweep about chimney animal removal
Call (240) 358-7617 for a local chimney sweep in Burtonsville and nearby towns.
(240) 358-7617
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