Bird nests
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared and the flue is capped afterward.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal New Hope, PA
A New Hope chimney sweep can get wildlife out of the flue safely and with the right timing for the animal, then cap the top. Call (267) 714-1009 to reach a local chimney sweep.
To birds, raccoons and squirrels, an uncapped chimney is a dry, sheltered den. Birds build nests on the smoke shelf or damper, raccoons den on the smoke shelf to raise their young, and squirrels fall in and cannot climb back out. Each one brings nesting material that blocks the flue, droppings that smell and the risk of the animal getting into the house.
Do not try to smoke an animal out by lighting a fire. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can ignite and smoke can back up into the room. Keep the damper and any fireplace doors closed so the animal stays in the chimney, and keep pets away from the fireplace.
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 Pennsylvania. Every removal should end with a cap on the flue.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a New Hope chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Dealing with this in New Hope, PA right now? Call (267) 714-1009 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in New Hope.
Call nowThe process
The chimney animal removal process
Getting an animal out cleanly takes the right timing and a few steps.
Start with the clues
A camera or light and the signs you describe show whether it is birds, a raccoon or something else and whether young are involved.
Check the rules
The method and timing are chosen to follow wildlife rules and protect any young and you hear what to expect.
Humane removal
The animal is removed using the method suited to it while keeping it out of the house.
Clean out the flue
All debris left behind is cleared out and the area is cleaned up.
Clean up
The smoke shelf and firebox are cleaned and treated for odor before the fireplace is used again.
Add a cap
A chimney cap with a mesh screen goes on the flue so animals cannot return and any damage at the top is noted.
What is included
What chimney animal removal covers
Bat exclusion
Bats in a chimney are handled with exclusion devices that let them leave but not return and the top is sealed after they are gone.
Dead animal removal
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized to clear the smell.
Small animals
Squirrels, mice and other small animals that fall in and get trapped are taken out and the entry point is closed.
Raccoon dens
Raccoon dens above the damper are cleared out without harming the kits.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal New Hope, PA
A chimney gives birds a protected, dry place to build a nest, which is why it attracts them every spring. Their nests sit on the smoke shelf, the damper or the flue walls, and the dry twigs and grass can block the draft and catch fire with the first fire of the season. Nests in flues that serve gas or oil appliances are a carbon monoxide risk too, since they can push exhaust back into the house.
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, once the birds have left. The sweep will advise on when removal can happen, and then the nest is cleared and a cap goes on. Other birds may be handled on a different schedule depending on the species, so ask the sweep.
Related service
Raccoon Removal New Hope, PA
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. Never reach into the chimney or try to grab a raccoon, since they can carry rabies and their droppings can carry roundworm.
A common approach is to remove the kits first and give the mother the chance to move them, then confirm the den is empty before capping. Wildlife rules in Pennsylvania can limit trapping and relocation, which shapes how the removal is done. After that, droppings are cleaned up and a sturdy cap is fitted, since raccoons can tear lightweight caps off.
Local help
Chimney Animal Removal Near Me
Animal calls in New Hope pick up in spring, once fires stop and animals look for sheltered dens. From New Hope out to places like Newtown Grant, Newtown, Doylestown and Richboro, older chimneys without caps are the easiest targets for birds and raccoons. Capping the flue is the main defense, along with keeping tree limbs off the roof.
Need chimney animal removal around New Hope? Call (267) 714-1009 for a New Hope chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in New Hope, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across New Hope and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
The best prevention is a sturdy chimney cap with screening on all sides. It should be fastened well enough that a raccoon cannot pull it off, with mesh small enough to stop birds without clogging with creosote. Trimming tree limbs away from the roof also helps.
Why are animals in the chimney a problem?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Nests can block the flue and catch fire, droppings can carry disease, and raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm. A blocked flue on a furnace or water heater can also send carbon monoxide into the house, so keep CO alarms working.
What should I do about a dead animal smell in the fireplace?
A strong, rotting smell from the fireplace often means an animal has died in the flue or on the smoke shelf. The animal has to be removed, along with any nest and droppings, and the area cleaned and deodorized. Keep the damper closed until then to keep the smell out of the room.
Can chimney swifts be removed from my chimney?
Chimney swifts are protected under federal law, and their nests cannot be removed while they are in use. The sweep can tell you when it is allowed, then clean out the nest and add a cap. While you wait, keep the damper shut and the fireplace out of use.
Will smoke drive an animal out of the chimney?
Smoke is not a safe way to get an animal out of a chimney. Babies cannot escape, nesting material can catch fire and a blocked flue can fill the room with smoke. Close the damper and fireplace doors and leave the removal to a sweep.
More questions? Call (267) 714-1009
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 wood-burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts, 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
Restoring the damper that opens and closes the flue or replacing them with a top sealing damper.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesNeed chimney animal removal in New Hope, PA?
Call (267) 714-1009 for a local chimney sweep in New Hope and nearby towns.
(267) 714-1009
Free to call. No forms to fill out.