Animals in your Chimney in Winter

We may be partially through winter already, however, there’s a lot left to go. Children around the world have been picturing Santa Claus coming down their chimneys for well over a month now. I doubt many of them are picturing animals coming down their chimneys though. Unfortunately, animals in your chimney can cause huge problems. They can bring an assortment of parasites and/or diseases with them and, at the same time, can cause a blockage in your chimney that could ultimately result in dangerous (and potentially deadly) byproducts of combustion being unable to travel up and out of your chimney. Most birds, squirrels, and other animals can get trapped and die in the chimney; only raccoons, bats, and chimney swifts are capable of getting themselves out of the chimney once they’ve gotten themselves in.

WHY WOULD AN ANIMAL WANT TO SEEK SHELTER IN A CHIMNEY ANYWAY?

Animals are drawn to your chimney because it provides them with two very important necessities—warmth and shelter. In the wild, these same animals could very well search out tall, hollow trees (which are quite similar in many ways to your chimney). Both provide a safe place for their young seeing, providing a location in which it makes it very difficult for predators to get to and harm them. Unfortunately for them, with growing populations, the available places in nature are quickly dwindling. Your chimney looks too welcoming for them to pass up!

STOP ANIMALS FROM GETTING INTO YOUR CHIMNEY IN THE FIRST PLACE

Placing a chimney cap on your chimney is the best way, by far, to prevent animals from entering and nesting inside your chimney. A cap with wire mesh that is small enough to keep even the smallest of pests out (e.g. bats), while at the same time large enough to allow the harmful combustion byproducts (e.g. carbon monoxide) to escape is the ideal solution. Making your chimney look a little less hospitable is key to keeping nature’s wild things safely outside, leaving you more time to focus on keeping your wild things safe inside!

ANIMAL REMOVAL IS A JOB BEST LEFT FOR THE PROFESSIONALS

It’s not easy to get animals out of your chimney once they’ve managed to get themselves in. Because of the afore-mentioned parasites and diseases these animals could be carrying, coming in direct contact with them is something you’ll want to avoid if at all possible. They will, however, need some sort of help getting out since flue linings don’t make it easy or even possible for most of them to climb back out. If you believe you have an animals or nest in your chimney, call a certified chimney sweep immediately. We’re trained to inspect and handle circumstances such as these (and we have numbers for wildlife professionals readily available as well).

Animal carcasses and their nesting materials can block off (partially or fully) the flue, which creates a dangerous situation in which carbon monoxide and other lethal gases are unable to vacate the home safely. Hence, keeping animals out of your chimney is crucial! The chimney professionals at Chimney Saver Solutions are always here to help keep your chimney functioning safely and efficiently for as long as possible. We know how hard it can be to trust someone with the safety and well being of your home and family. But with us, you can rest assured that we’ll take care of your family as if it were our very own.