Raccoon dens
Raccoon dens above the damper are cleared out without harming the kits.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Animal Removal Country Club Hills, IL
A chimney sweep in Country Club Hills can remove birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from your chimney along with the nest and debris they leave behind. Dial (708) 816-0120 to be connected with a nearby chimney sweep.
Without a cap, a chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. Raccoons often use the smoke shelf as a nursery, birds nest inside the flue and squirrels fall in and get trapped. Each one brings nesting material that blocks the flue, droppings that smell and the risk of the animal getting into the house.
Lighting a fire to drive an animal out is a bad idea. It can kill young animals that cannot leave, set the nest on fire and fill the house with smoke. Shut the damper and doors to keep the animal from coming into the house.
The type of animal decides how and when it can be removed. 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 Illinois. Once the chimney is clear, a cap with a mesh screen keeps them from coming back.
Many chimney animal removal calls in Country Club Hills also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney cleaning.
Need chimney animal removal in Country Club Hills? Call (708) 816-0120 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney animal removal works
Safe removal depends on knowing what is in the chimney and planning around it.
Figure out what it is
The noises, smell and debris point to the type of animal which decides what happens next.
Set the approach
If chimney swifts are nesting, the sweep will advise on when the nest can come out so the removal stays legal and humane.
Humane removal
Animals are removed by hand, with a catch pole, through a one-way exit or by letting a mother move her young with care taken around the damper and smoke shelf.
Clear the nest
Nests, sticks, droppings and debris are removed from the smoke shelf, damper and flue and the flue is swept if needed.
Sanitize
Droppings and contaminated debris are bagged and the area is cleaned and deodorized since droppings can carry disease.
Seal the top
A chimney cap with a mesh screen goes on the flue so animals cannot return to finish the job.
What is included
What chimney animal removal covers
Odor cleanup
Dead animals are removed and the area cleaned and deodorized to clear the smell.
Bat exclusion
Bats are moved out with one-way exits timed around their breeding season since rules often protect them.
Small animals
Small animals stuck in the flue or on the damper are removed and the entry point is closed.
Bird nests
Nests on the smoke shelf, damper or in the flue are cleared as covered in more detail below.
Related service
Bird Nest Removal Country Club Hills, IL
Birds like starlings and chimney swifts are drawn to open flues for nesting. 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. If the flue vents a furnace or water heater, a nest can force carbon monoxide into the house.
Because chimney swifts are protected, their nests cannot be disturbed during nesting season. A Country Club Hills sweep can tell you when removal is allowed, then clear the nest and cap the chimney. Other birds may be handled on a different schedule depending on the species, so ask the sweep.
Related service
Raccoon Removal Country Club Hills, IL
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. Raccoons can carry disease, and their droppings can hold roundworm eggs, so leave removal to someone equipped for it.
Removal often means taking out the kits so the mother can carry them off, or using a one-way exit once the den is empty. Wildlife rules in Illinois 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
In Country Club Hills, wildlife moves into chimneys mostly in spring and summer, when the fireplace is cold. From Country Club Hills out to places like Hazel Crest, Flossmoor, Markham and Homewood, 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 Country Club Hills? Call (708) 816-0120 for a Country Club Hills chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Country Club Hills
Winters here are cold and long, with lake effect snow in many towns and deep cold snaps that can last for days. Heating systems and wood stoves work nearly nonstop for months, so flues collect creosote fast and liners and crowns see a lot of heat and cold. Snow drifting against the back of a chimney melts slowly and works water under tired flashing. That is why Country Club Hills chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Country Club Hills
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Country Club Hills and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Animal Removal FAQ
How do I keep animals out of my chimney?
A chimney cap with a mesh screen is the most effective way to keep animals out. Choose a cap that is fastened securely and has mesh fine enough to stop birds. Cutting back branches that reach the roof makes the chimney harder to reach.
What should I do about chimney swifts?
Because chimney swifts are protected, removal has to wait until the birds leave for the season. The sweep can tell you when it is allowed, then clean out the nest and add a cap. Until then, keep the damper closed and do not use the fireplace.
Will smoke drive an animal out of the chimney?
A fire is the worst way to deal with an animal in the flue. It can kill young animals, start a nest fire and push smoke and carbon monoxide indoors. Close the damper and fireplace doors and leave the removal to a sweep.
How do I get rid of a dead animal smell in my chimney?
The smell of decay in a chimney nearly always means an animal has died inside. Air fresheners will not help, since the animal and debris have to come out. Close the damper until it is removed.
Are animals in the chimney dangerous?
Wildlife in a chimney brings several risks. Blocked flues, fire risk from nests, disease from droppings and animals getting into the house are the main concerns. Blocked gas appliance flues can spill carbon monoxide, so get to fresh air if a CO alarm sounds.
More questions? Call (708) 816-0120
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreChimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from fireplace and stove chimneys of every kind, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Odor Removal
Removing chimney odors at the source instead of covering them up whether the smell shows up in summer heat or after rain.
Learn moreChimney Damper Repair
Restoring the damper that opens and closes the flue including handles, chains and seals.
Learn more
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