Odor cleanup
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized so the odor fades.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Robbinsville, NJ
A Robbinsville chimney sweep can get wildlife out of the flue along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Dial (609) 765-0143 to be connected with a nearby chimney sweep.
Without a cap, a chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. 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.
Do not try to smoke an animal out by lighting a fire. It can kill young animals that cannot leave, set the nest on fire and fill the house with smoke. Close the damper and glass doors if you have them, and keep children and pets away until the animal is out.
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. Rules on trapping and relocating wildlife vary by state, so the method follows what is allowed in New Jersey. 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 Robbinsville, NJ can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and chimney cleaning.
Need chimney animal removal in Robbinsville? Call (609) 765-0143 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chimney animal removal process
Getting an animal out cleanly takes the right timing and a few steps.
Figure out what it is
Sounds, droppings, timing and a look up the flue tell the technician what is living in the chimney since each one is handled differently.
Check the rules
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young 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 with care taken around the damper and smoke shelf.
Clear the nest
Nests, sticks, droppings and debris are removed from the smoke shelf, damper and flue and the area is cleaned up.
Deodorize
Where animals have nested, the area is cleaned to remove odor and parasites since droppings can carry disease.
Add a cap
A cap that covers the flue and blocks wildlife is fitted and any damage at the top is noted.
What is included
Common chimney animal problems
Bats
Bats are excluded rather than trapped because they are protected in many places.
Raccoons
Raccoons and their young are removed from the smoke shelf and flue along with the droppings they leave.
Bird nests
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared with chimney swifts left until they migrate.
Small animals
Squirrels, mice and other small animals that fall in and get trapped are taken out and the entry point is closed.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Robbinsville, NJ
Birds nest in chimneys because the inside of a flue is dry, sheltered and hard for predators to reach. 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 protected under federal law, which means an active nest stays until the birds migrate in the fall. The sweep will advise on when removal can happen, and then the nest is cleared and a cap goes on. Other birds follow different rules, and the sweep can tell you which apply.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Robbinsville, NJ
An uncapped chimney is a favorite den for raccoons, especially mothers with kits. 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. Wildlife rules in New Jersey 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 Robbinsville pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. Homes in Robbinsville and nearby towns such as Hamilton Square, Yardville, Groveville and Hightstown with trees close to the roof make it easy for raccoons and squirrels to reach the top. A properly fitted cap prevents most of these problems.
Need chimney animal removal around Robbinsville? Call (609) 765-0143 for a Robbinsville chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
Chimneys in this climate
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Robbinsville is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Robbinsville and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney animal removal
Can chimney swifts be removed from my chimney?
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.
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.
Will smoke drive an animal out of the chimney?
A fire is the worst way to deal with an animal in the flue. 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 keep animals out of my chimney?
Capping the flue with a mesh-sided cap stops most animals. A strong, well-fastened cap holds up to raccoons, and the right mesh keeps out birds and squirrels. Keeping branches off the roof removes an easy path to the top.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Animals in a chimney cause problems beyond the noise. Blocked flues, fire risk from nests, disease from droppings and animals getting into the house are the main concerns. Blocked gas appliance flues can spill carbon monoxide, so get to fresh air if a CO alarm sounds.
More questions? Call (609) 765-0143
Other services that may help
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 masonry and factory-built chimneys, 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
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers or replacing them with a top sealing damper.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Robbinsville chimney sweep about chimney animal removal
Call now for Robbinsville chimney animal removal and help in the towns around it.
(609) 765-0143
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