Raccoons
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed and the chimney is capped.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Millstadt, IL
A Millstadt chimney sweep can get wildlife out of the flue safely and with the right timing for the animal, then cap the top. One call to (618) 476-0260 reaches a chimney sweep near you.
To birds, raccoons and squirrels, an uncapped chimney is a dry, sheltered den. Birds build nests on the smoke shelf or damper, raccoons den on the smoke shelf to raise their young, and squirrels fall in and cannot climb back out. The result is a blocked flue, odors, noise and sometimes an animal loose in the living room.
Lighting a fire to drive an animal out is a bad idea. 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.
Removal depends on what is in the chimney. Chimney swifts are protected, which means waiting until they migrate before the nest comes out. Raccoons, squirrels and bats each have their own methods, and wildlife rules in Illinois can affect how they are handled. Once the chimney is clear, a cap with a mesh screen keeps them from coming back.
Many chimney animal removal calls in Millstadt also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Dealing with this in Millstadt, IL right now? Call (618) 476-0260 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney animal removal works
Safe removal depends on knowing what is in the chimney and planning around it.
Figure out what it is
Sounds, droppings, timing and a look up the flue tell the technician what is living in the chimney and whether young are involved.
Plan the timing
Protected birds like chimney swifts are left until nesting season ends, while many other animals can be removed right away before any work begins.
Humane removal
Animals are removed by hand, with a catch pole, through a one-way exit or by letting a mother move her young without harming them.
Remove debris
Nests, sticks, droppings and debris are removed from the smoke shelf, damper and flue so smoke can draft freely.
Deodorize
Where animals have nested, the area is cleaned to remove odor and parasites before the fireplace is used again.
Seal the top
The flue is capped with screening that keeps birds and raccoons out to finish the job.
What is included
Common chimney animal problems
Squirrels
Small animals stuck in the flue or on the damper are removed since they cannot climb back out.
Bat exclusion
Bats are moved out with one-way exits timed around their breeding season because they are protected in many places.
Bird nests
Starlings, swifts and other birds and their nests are removed with timing that respects nesting season as covered in more detail below.
Odor cleanup
An animal that died in the chimney is removed and the odor treated so the odor fades.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Millstadt, IL
A chimney gives birds a protected, dry place to build a nest, which is why it attracts them every spring. 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 sweep in Millstadt will advise on timing, then remove the old nest and install a cap afterwards so they cannot return. Other birds follow different rules, and the sweep can tell you which apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Millstadt, IL
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. Raccoons can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm, so never reach into the flue or try to handle one.
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 Illinois 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
Animal calls in Millstadt pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. Around Millstadt and in nearby towns like Smithton, Belleville, Columbia and Dupo, uncapped chimneys and branches that overhang the roof are the most common way animals get in. Capping the flue is the main defense, along with keeping tree limbs off the roof.
Searching for chimney animal removal near me from Millstadt or Smithton, Belleville, Columbia and Dupo? Call (618) 476-0260 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
What the local climate does to a chimney
This part of the country gets long winters, heavy snow in places and stretches of bitter cold. Furnaces, wood stoves and fireplaces run hard from fall to spring, 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 Millstadt, IL happens right before the first snow.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Millstadt and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
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?
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. Keeping branches off the roof removes an easy path to the top.
Why are animals in the chimney a problem?
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. 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?
Lighting a fire is the wrong move with an animal in the chimney. It can kill young animals, start a nest fire and push smoke and carbon monoxide indoors. Keep the damper closed and call a sweep instead.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Because chimney swifts are protected, removal has to wait until the birds leave for the season. Once they migrate, a sweep can clear the nest and cap the chimney so they do not return. While you wait, keep the damper shut and the fireplace out of use.
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
The smell of decay in a chimney nearly always means an animal has died inside. Removing the animal and cleaning the smoke shelf is the only real fix. Keep the damper shut in the meantime.
More questions? Call (618) 476-0260
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Fitting a metal cap over the top of the flue so water, birds and debris stay out of the flue.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from wood-burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts, to cut the risk of a chimney fire.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Tracking down the creosote, moisture or animal behind a smelly fireplace so the room stops smelling like an old ashtray.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Restoring the damper that opens and closes the flue including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
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(618) 476-0260
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