This spring, be wary of unwanted critters that can sneak into your home through your chimney!
All sorts of small creatures get attracted to your chimney when your fireplace is not in use. Birds, squirrels, bats, as well as various pests and insects look for a nice hollow place to build nests and start a colony. In the darkness, quiet, and safety of your chimney, these tiny troublemakers find the perfect spot!
Animals Living In Your Chimney: Why Is It A Problem?
Animals living in your chimney are a serious problem. You can never expect the wild creatures’ nesting in your chimney to just stay put! A raccoon can pop out of your chimney any day and cause an uproar. Now you know Joey’s raccoon excuse wasn’t just one of his poorly concocted stories on ‘Friends’!
What’s even more worrisome is if these animals defecate or die in your chimney! Rotting animals and animal scat can accumulate over time, leading to unhygienic conditions and bad odor coming in from your chimney.
Steps To Keep Critters At Bay In Warmer Months
Close The Chimney Flue
When your fireplace is not in use, make sure to keep the flue closed so that rodents, birds, and other animals can’t gain entry into your home. By doing so, you also eliminate the risk of pests getting carried into your private space by the critters.
Install A Chimney Cap
The best way to prevent animals from nesting into your chimney is to restrict their entry in the first place. Having a cap installed over your chimney also keeps moisture out, eliminating one of the many reasons for pest infestation. In the long run, you also evade the risk of water damage, as the moisture inside the walls can threaten the structural integrity of your chimney.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, homeowners are suggested to cover their chimney with a quality stainless steel chimney cap having a wire mesh. This prevents unwanted creatures from crawling or flying into the chimney.
Store Wood Logs Away
Wood-boring pests can end up taking residence in your home if you still have wood logs lying in your fireplace or around it! Wood piled up at one place also prove to be a safe harborage for rodents and other creatures. Make it a practice to store firewood outside your home at least 15-20 feet away. Remember not to keep the logs stacked against any plants, trees, or shrubbery.
Get Your Chimney Swept By A Certified Professional
If you need an animal removal and cleaning service for your chimney, trust only a certified chimney sweep. A certified professional has the right information and supplies to evict the animals from your chimney in an ethical way. At Rusty’s Fireplace & Chimney, all our practices and solutions are in compliance with the federal, state, and local rules and regulations.
An important thing you must know is that certain protected birds that have already built a nest on your chimney cannot be removed manually until they choose to leave by themselves. That is one of the many reasons why we recommend our customers to always schedule a timely chimney inspection service in the early summer. Our technicians can thoroughly inspect your chimney and detect and solve potential dangers in time. We also offer deep cleaning service and ensure that your chimney is guarded against any further infestation.
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