Birds
Birds and their nesting material are removed with chimney swifts left until they migrate.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Wanaque, NJ
A Wanaque chimney sweep can get wildlife out of the flue and install a cap so they cannot get back in. One call to (862) 355-2009 reaches a chimney sweep near you.
To birds, raccoons and squirrels, an uncapped chimney is a dry, sheltered den. Raccoons den above the damper, birds nest in the flue and small animals like squirrels can fall in and get stuck. They leave nests that can block smoke and catch fire, droppings that smell and parasites that can spread.
Do not try to smoke an animal out by lighting a fire. 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. Keep the damper and any fireplace doors closed so the animal stays in the chimney, and keep pets away from the fireplace.
Removal depends on what is in the chimney. 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. Afterward, a chimney cap with screening is what keeps the next one out.
Chimney Animal Removal is often paired with chimney cap installation and chimney cleaning, depending on the cause.
Need chimney animal removal in Wanaque? Call (862) 355-2009 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney animal removal works
Safe removal depends on knowing what is in the chimney and planning around it.
Identify the animal
A camera or light and the signs you describe show whether it is birds, a raccoon or something else which decides what happens next.
Set the approach
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young and you hear what to expect.
Humane removal
The animal is removed using the method suited to it 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 since droppings can carry disease.
Cap the chimney
The flue is capped with screening that keeps birds and raccoons out to finish the job.
What is included
Animals removed from chimneys
Squirrels
Small animals stuck in the flue or on the damper are removed since they cannot climb back out.
Bat exclusion
Bats in a chimney are handled with exclusion devices that let them leave but not return and the top is sealed after they are gone.
Raccoon dens
Raccoons and their young are removed from the smoke shelf and flue along with the droppings they leave.
Dead animal removal
When an animal dies in the flue, it is taken out and the smoke shelf cleaned before the fireplace is used again.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Wanaque, NJ
A chimney gives birds a protected, dry place to build a nest, which is why it attracts them every spring. 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. If the flue vents a furnace or water heater, a nest can force carbon monoxide into the house.
Chimney swifts are protected under federal law, which means an active nest stays until the birds migrate in the fall. A Wanaque 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 Wanaque, NJ
In spring, a female raccoon looking for a safe den often climbs into an uncapped chimney to have her young on the smoke shelf. The signs are chattering and whimpering from the young and the mother leaving at dusk and returning before dawn. Never reach into the chimney or try to grab a raccoon, since they can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm.
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 New Jersey. 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 Wanaque pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. Around Wanaque and in nearby towns like Bloomingdale, Oakland, Pompton Lakes and Pines Lake, uncapped chimneys and branches that overhang the roof are the most common way animals get in. A cap with a mesh screen is the simplest fix, and trimming branches back from the roof helps too.
For chimney animal removal in Wanaque, NJ or nearby towns like Bloomingdale, Oakland, Pompton Lakes and Pines Lake, call (862) 355-2009 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Wanaque
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: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Wanaque, NJ schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Wanaque
Chimney sweeps in Wanaque 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 FAQ
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.
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.
Why are animals in the chimney a problem?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Blocked flues, fire risk from nests, disease from droppings and animals getting into the house are the main concerns. A blocked flue on a furnace or water heater can also send carbon monoxide into the house, so keep CO alarms working.
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
A strong, rotting smell from the fireplace often means an animal has died in the flue or on the smoke shelf. Air fresheners will not help, since the animal and debris have to come out. Keep the damper shut in the meantime.
What stops birds and raccoons from getting into a chimney?
A chimney cap with a mesh screen is the most effective way to keep animals out. 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.
More questions? Call (862) 355-2009
Other services that may help
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Sweeping soot and creosote out of 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 whether the smell shows up in summer heat or after rain.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Repairing dampers that will not open, close or seal so smoke goes up and heated air stays in.
Learn more
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Call (862) 355-2009 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Wanaque, NJ.
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