That Noise in the Fireplace Is Probably Not the Wind
It usually starts with a sound. A flutter. A scratch. A fast, high chatter that gets louder at dusk. Then comes the smell, or a few twigs in the firebox.
To a bird or a squirrel, your chimney is a tall, dark, dry hollow tree with no predators. Dallas has plenty of mature oaks and pecans, and plenty of wildlife living in them. An uncapped flue is an open invitation.
Dallas Chimney Care removes animals from chimneys in Dallas, TX. We do it the humane way, clean up what they left behind, and close the door after them.
Animals We Find in Dallas Chimneys
Chimney swifts
These small birds glue their nests to the inside of the flue and raise their young there from spring through summer. You hear a loud chattering when the parents come in with food. Swifts are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so a nest with eggs or chicks must be left alone. They fly south in the fall. Then we clean the flue and install a cap.
Squirrels
Squirrels fall in or build nests of leaves and twigs that can block the whole flue. A trapped squirrel may also come out through the fireplace into the house.
Raccoons
A mother raccoon often picks the smoke shelf above the damper to raise her young in spring. Raccoons are strong, and they can carry diseases, so this is not a job to try yourself.
Other birds, bats and more
Starlings and sparrows pack a flue with nesting material. Bats sometimes roost in chimneys too.
What to Do If an Animal Is in Your Chimney
- Close the damper so it cannot get into the house.
- Close the glass doors or cover the fireplace opening.
- Do not light a fire. It is cruel and dangerous.
- Keep pets and children away from the fireplace.
- Call us. We offer same-day and next-day visits, every day from 7 AM to 11 PM.
How We Remove Animals and Keep Them Out
- Find out what is there. We check the flue from the top and bottom.
- Remove it humanely. The animal is taken out without harm. If a protected bird is nesting, we explain the timing and return when the nest is empty.
- Clean the flue. Nests, droppings and debris come out, and the flue is swept. See our chimney sweep service.
- Check for damage. Animals can loosen the damper and crack tiles.
- Cap it. A chimney cap with a mesh screen keeps the next one out.
Why You Should Not Wait
An animal in the flue is more than a noise problem. A nest is a blockage. It stops smoke and gases from leaving through the chimney, and dry nesting material is one of the common fire hazards we find. A dead animal brings a strong odor and flies into the living room within days.
Wildlife removal from a chimney takes care. A frightened critter can scratch or bite, and a live animal that is pushed down may end up in your house. Small animals such as a bat or a young squirrel can hide on the smoke shelf where you cannot see them. We safely remove what is there, humanely, and we follow the law on protected species such as chimney swifts.
Our Chimney Animal Removal Services Across Dallas
The removal process ends with cleanup. We clear out the nest and droppings, inspect the flue for damage, and prevent future visits by installing a chimney cap with a mesh screen. For a homeowner, that cap is the simplest way to protect your home from the next animal. We offer chimney animal removal across Dallas and the nearby DFW area.
Why Dallas Chimney Care
Dallas Chimney Care is a small local company with an owner who has worked on chimneys for 20 years and is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. We are insured and we treat your home, and the animal, with care.
See all of our chimney services in Dallas.