Bats
Bats are excluded rather than trapped and the top is sealed after they are gone.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Winfield, IL
A Winfield chimney sweep can get wildlife out of the flue safely and with the right timing for the animal, then cap the top. Dial (331) 716-1355 to be connected with a nearby chimney sweep.
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. The result is a blocked flue, odors, noise and sometimes an animal loose in the living room.
It is tempting to light a fire and force the animal out, but it does more harm than good. 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.
Removal depends on what is in the chimney. Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, and a sweep will advise on timing. Raccoons, squirrels and bats each have their own methods, and wildlife rules in Illinois can affect how they are handled. Afterward, a chimney cap with screening is what keeps the next one out.
Many chimney animal removal calls in Winfield also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Need chimney animal removal in Winfield? Call (331) 716-1355 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney animal removal
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 which decides what happens next.
Check the rules
If chimney swifts are nesting, the sweep will advise on when the nest can come out so the removal stays legal and humane.
Remove the animal
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
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
A chimney cap with a mesh screen goes on the flue so animals cannot return to finish the job.
What is included
Common chimney animal problems
Odor cleanup
An animal that died in the chimney is removed and the odor treated so the odor fades.
Raccoon dens
Raccoons and their young are removed from the smoke shelf and flue and the chimney is capped.
Squirrels
Small animals stuck in the flue or on the damper are removed since they cannot climb back out.
Birds
Starlings, swifts and other birds and their nests are removed with timing that respects nesting season as covered in more detail below.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Winfield, IL
Birds like starlings and chimney swifts are drawn to open flues for nesting. A nest of dry twigs and grass is both a blockage and a fire hazard. 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 sweep in Winfield will advise on timing, then remove the old nest and install a cap afterwards so they cannot return. Other species can often be handled sooner, depending on the bird and the rules that apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Winfield, 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. 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.
The young are often removed first so the mother can relocate them, and the chimney is checked empty before it is sealed. Since rules on raccoons vary from state to state, the sweep follows the approach allowed in Illinois. 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 Winfield pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. Homes in Winfield and nearby towns such as Wheaton, Carol Stream, West Chicago and Warrenville 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.
Searching for chimney animal removal near me from Winfield or Wheaton, Carol Stream, West Chicago and Warrenville? Call (331) 716-1355 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
Chimneys in this climate
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 drifting against the back of a chimney melts slowly and works water under tired flashing. That is why Winfield chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Winfield and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
Can chimney swifts be removed from my chimney?
Chimney swifts are protected under federal law, and their nests cannot be removed while they are in use. Once they migrate, a sweep can clear the nest and cap the chimney so they do not return. In the meantime, keep the damper shut to keep noise and birds out of the house.
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
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 shut in the meantime.
How do I keep animals out of my 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. Keeping branches off the roof removes an easy path to the top.
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. Close the damper, keep pets away and have the animal removed safely.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Animals in a chimney cause problems beyond the noise. Nesting material can ignite or block smoke, and droppings and parasites are a health concern. A blocked flue on a furnace or water heater can also send carbon monoxide into the house, so keep CO alarms working.
More questions? Call (331) 716-1355
Often needed together
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 masonry and factory-built chimneys, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Tracking down the creosote, moisture or animal behind a smelly fireplace whether the smell shows up in summer heat or after rain.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Repairing dampers that will not open, close or seal or replacing them with a top sealing damper.
Learn more
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