Birds
Birds and their nesting material are removed as covered in more detail below.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Steger, IL
A local sweep can clear animals out of a Steger chimney along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Dial (708) 708-7359 to be connected with a nearby chimney sweep.
Without a cap, a chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. Raccoons often use the smoke shelf as a nursery, birds nest inside the flue and squirrels fall in and get trapped. They leave nests that can block smoke and catch fire, droppings that smell and parasites that can spread.
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. Shut the damper and doors to keep the animal from coming into the house.
Removal depends on what is in the chimney. Chimney swifts are protected, which means waiting until they migrate before the nest comes out. A raccoon with kits needs patience, and the approach has to fit the wildlife rules in Illinois. Once the chimney is clear, a cap with a mesh screen keeps them from coming back.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Steger chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Looking for Steger chimney animal removal? Call (708) 708-7359 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
A camera or light and the signs you describe show whether it is birds, a raccoon or something else and whether young are involved.
Set the approach
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 while keeping it out of the house.
Clear the nest
All debris left behind is cleared out and the area is cleaned up.
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 and any damage at the top is noted.
What is included
Animals removed from chimneys
Bats
Bats are moved out with one-way exits timed around their breeding season since rules often protect them.
Dead animal removal
When an animal dies in the flue, it is taken out and the smoke shelf cleaned so the odor fades.
Raccoons
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed and the chimney is capped.
Small animals
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 Steger, IL
Birds like starlings and chimney swifts are drawn to open flues for nesting. The sticks and grass in a nest can block the flue and ignite when a fire is lit. 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 Steger 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 Steger, IL
An uncapped chimney is a favorite den for raccoons, especially mothers with kits. Noises at dusk and dawn and the sound of young calling are typical. 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. Wildlife rules in Illinois can limit trapping and relocation, which shapes how the removal is done. 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 Steger pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. Homes in Steger and nearby towns such as South Chicago Heights, Crete, Sauk Village and Chicago Heights 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 Steger? Call (708) 708-7359 for a Steger chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Steger
Winters here are cold and long, with lake effect snow in many towns and deep cold snaps that can last for days. Heating systems and wood stoves work nearly nonstop for months, which means fast creosote buildup and a lot of stress on liners, crowns and flashing. Snow drifting against the back of a chimney melts slowly and works water under tired flashing. Most chimney cleaning in Steger, IL happens right before the first snow.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Steger
Chimney sweeps in Steger know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Because chimney swifts are protected, removal has to wait until the birds leave for the season. The sweep can tell you when it is allowed, then clean out the nest and add a cap. Until then, keep the damper closed and do not use the fireplace.
Will smoke drive an animal out of the chimney?
Smoke is not a safe way to get an animal out of a chimney. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can catch fire and a blocked flue can fill the room with smoke. Close the damper and fireplace doors and leave the removal to a sweep.
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. 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.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Nesting material can ignite or block smoke, and droppings and parasites are a health concern. Blocked gas appliance flues can spill carbon monoxide, so get to fresh air if a CO alarm sounds.
What stops birds and raccoons from getting into a chimney?
The best prevention is a sturdy chimney cap with screening on all sides. Choose a cap that is fastened securely and has mesh fine enough to stop birds. Trimming tree limbs away from the roof also helps.
More questions? Call (708) 708-7359
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
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from masonry and factory-built chimneys, to cut the risk of a chimney fire.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Removing chimney odors at the source instead of covering them up so the room stops smelling like an old ashtray.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Repairing dampers that will not open, close or seal including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Steger chimney sweep about chimney animal removal
Call (708) 708-7359 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Steger, IL.
(708) 708-7359
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