How to Keep Birds and Other Small Animals out of Your Chimney

Birds, raccoons, rodents, squirrels, snakes – there’s a long list of little animals that love to make their homes inside chimneys, particularly when the home serves as a nesting ground. Small animals in your chimney can cause a lot of problems. Here are some of those problems and what to do about them.

Animals and nesting materials obstruct the flue

Many types of birds and squirrels are unable to get out of a chimney and end up dying in there. Add the materials these critters use to build their nests, and you have a ready-made smoke blocker. In order for a wood fire to burn efficiently, the right amount of air (oxygen) is needed. This air comes from within the home and is drawn into the fire and then up and out of the chimney, carrying smoke and toxins with it. A blocked flue won’t draw enough air into the firebox to make a good draft, resulting in smoke backing up into the home. Nobody likes a smoky living room, but worse is the carbon monoxide present in the smoke. Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that is both odorless and invisible, meaning you can be poisoned by it before you realize it. Lack of oxygen also causes wood to burn incompletely and make excess smoke.

A lot of smoke means a lot of creosote inside your chimney flue, adding to the blockage. Creosote is highly flammable and is responsible for most chimney fires each year in the United States.

Clearing obstructions from your chimney

An experienced chimney sweep has the tools and know-how to remove animal-related obstructions as well as creosote from your chimney. Annual service is the best way to keep your chimney clean all year long.

Most animals alive or dead can be removed from your flue. However, a bird called the “chimney swift,” which lives in various regions primarily in the eastern U.S., is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. It is a violation of federal law to remove chimney swifts (and certain other species) or their nests without a federally issued permit.

Keeping small animals out of your chimney

Dealing with chimney-infesting birds, raccoons, squirrels and the like can be a lot of work, trouble and expense. You can save yourself all this hassle by installing a secure chimney cap or flue cover. Flue covers guard flue openings from wildlife, tree debris and other obstruction-causing material. A full-width custom-built chimney cap covers not only the flue but also the entire top of the chimney including the cement chimney crown. Both devices have solid tops and mesh sides to keep junk out while allowing smoke to exit the chimney. If you don’t have a cap or cover on your chimney, having one installed is a quick and painless process. During this job, you should have your chimney technician also clean the flue to remove creosote and whatever obstructions might be in there. Once the cap is in place, your animal problems should be a thing of the past.

Dubuque Fireplace & Patio of Dubuque, Iowa, can help with all your chimney cleaning and repair needs. We offer expert chimney sweep and inspection services to keep your (563) 582-5156. If you live in the Highland, WI, area, call Chimney Specialists at (608) 929-4887.