Odor cleanup
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized to clear the smell.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Itasca, IL
A local sweep can clear animals out of an Itasca chimney along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Call (331) 301-3229 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. Each one brings nesting material that blocks the flue, droppings that smell and the risk of the animal getting into the house.
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.
Not every animal can be removed the same way or at any time. 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.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney animal removal in Itasca, IL can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and chimney cleaning.
Need chimney animal removal in Itasca? Call (331) 301-3229 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney animal removal
Here is how a sweep typically handles an animal in the chimney.
Figure out what it is
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal and whether young are involved.
Plan the timing
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young and you hear what to expect.
Remove the animal
Depending on the animal, removal may be by hand, with an exclusion door or by giving a mother the chance to relocate her young without harming them.
Clear the nest
Nests, sticks, droppings and debris are removed from the smoke shelf, damper and flue and the flue is swept if needed.
Sanitize
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized before the fireplace is used again.
Add a cap
The flue is capped with screening that keeps birds and raccoons out to finish the job.
What is included
Animals removed from chimneys
Bat exclusion
Bats are excluded rather than trapped because they are protected in many places.
Birds
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared with chimney swifts left until they migrate.
Raccoons
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed and the chimney is capped.
Squirrels
Squirrels, mice and other small animals that fall in and get trapped are taken out since they cannot climb back out.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Itasca, IL
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. 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 Itasca sweep can tell you when removal is allowed, then clear the nest and cap the chimney. Other birds may be handled on a different schedule depending on the species, so ask the sweep.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Itasca, IL
In spring, a female raccoon looking for a safe den often climbs into an uncapped chimney to have her young on the smoke shelf. Noises at dusk and dawn and the sound of young calling are typical. 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. Trapping and relocation rules differ by state, so the method follows what is allowed in Illinois. 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 Itasca see the most animal activity in spring and early summer, when birds nest and raccoons raise their young. From Itasca out to places like Wood Dale, Elk Grove Village, Addison and Roselle, older chimneys without caps are the easiest targets for birds and raccoons. A cap with a mesh screen is the simplest fix, and trimming branches back from the roof helps too.
For chimney animal removal in Itasca, IL or nearby towns like Wood Dale, Elk Grove Village, Addison and Roselle, call (331) 301-3229 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Winters here are cold and long, with lake effect snow in many towns and deep cold snaps that can last for days. Furnaces, wood stoves and fireplaces run hard from fall to spring, which means fast creosote buildup and a lot of stress on liners, crowns and flashing. Snow that piles up behind a chimney and melts slowly is a common source of leaks at the flashing. That is why Itasca chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Itasca
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Itasca 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
Can I light a fire to get an animal out of my chimney?
Smoke is not a safe way to get an animal out of a 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.
How do I get rid of a dead animal smell in my chimney?
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 closed until then to keep the smell out of the room.
What stops birds and raccoons from getting into a chimney?
Capping the flue with a mesh-sided cap stops most animals. 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.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
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. If the chimney vents a gas appliance, a blockage can cause carbon monoxide to back up, which makes working CO alarms important.
Can chimney swifts be removed from my chimney?
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so the birds and their active nest have to stay until nesting season is over. 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.
More questions? Call (331) 301-3229
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Sweeping soot and creosote out of wood-burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts, with the damper, smoke shelf and cap checked along the way.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Removing chimney odors at the source instead of covering them up whether the smell shows up in summer heat or after rain.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
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