Squirrels
Trapped squirrels and other small animals are removed before they get into the house.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Camden, NJ
A chimney sweep in Camden can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney and install a cap so they cannot get back in. Dial (856) 353-2481 to be connected with a nearby chimney sweep.
Without a cap, a chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. Raccoons den above the damper, birds nest in the flue and small animals like squirrels can fall in and get stuck. They leave nests that can block smoke and catch fire, droppings that smell and parasites that can spread.
Lighting a fire to drive an animal out is a bad idea. 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. Shut the damper and doors to keep the animal from coming into the house.
Not every animal can be removed the same way or at any time. Chimney swifts are protected under federal law as migratory birds, so an active nest stays until the birds leave for the season. A raccoon with kits needs patience, and the approach has to fit the wildlife rules in New Jersey. Every removal should end with a cap on the flue.
Many chimney animal removal calls in Camden also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Looking for Camden chimney animal removal? Call (856) 353-2481 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Camden.
Call nowThe process
How chimney animal removal works
Getting an animal out cleanly takes the right timing and a few steps.
Figure out what it is
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal which decides what happens next.
Check the rules
Protected birds like chimney swifts are left until nesting season ends, while many other animals can be removed right away before any work begins.
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 while keeping it out of the house.
Clear the nest
All debris left behind is cleared out and the flue is swept if needed.
Deodorize
Where animals have nested, the area is cleaned to remove odor and parasites before the fireplace is used again.
Cap the chimney
The flue is capped with screening that keeps birds and raccoons out to finish the job.
What is included
What chimney animal removal covers
Bats
Bats are excluded rather than trapped since rules often protect them.
Bird nests
Birds and their nesting material are removed with chimney swifts left until they migrate.
Odor cleanup
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized so the odor fades.
Raccoons
A raccoon living in the chimney is removed along with the droppings they leave.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Camden, NJ
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.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A sweep in Camden 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 Camden, NJ
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 disease, and their droppings can hold roundworm eggs, so leave removal to someone equipped for it.
Removal often means taking out the kits so the mother can carry them off, or using a one-way exit once the den is empty. Since rules on raccoons vary from state to state, the sweep follows the approach allowed in New Jersey. 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
In Camden, wildlife moves into chimneys mostly in spring and summer, when the fireplace is cold. Around Camden and in nearby towns like Woodlynne, Collingswood, Oaklyn and Merchantville, uncapped chimneys and branches that overhang the roof are the most common way animals get in. A properly fitted cap prevents most of these problems.
Searching for chimney animal removal near me from Camden or Woodlynne, Collingswood, Oaklyn and Merchantville? Call (856) 353-2481 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
Chimneys in this climate
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Camden is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Camden
Chimney sweeps in Camden 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.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
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. Blocked gas appliance flues can spill carbon monoxide, so get to fresh air if a CO alarm sounds.
Will smoke drive an animal out of the 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. Close the damper, keep pets away and have the animal removed safely.
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. A sweep will advise on timing, then remove the nest and install a cap afterwards. While you wait, keep the damper shut and the fireplace out of use.
How do I get rid of a dead animal smell in my chimney?
A strong, rotting smell from the fireplace often means an animal has died in the flue or on the smoke shelf. 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.
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.
More questions? Call (856) 353-2481
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Cleaning the flue, smoke chamber and firebox of 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
Fixing stuck, rusted or warped chimney dampers or replacing them with a top sealing damper.
Learn more
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