How To Keep Animals Out Of Your Chimney

While animals may be cute, the last thing you want is to have one stuck in your chimney. Unfortunately, wildlife can accidentally make their way inside and even build nests if you’re not careful. Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent animals from getting inside so you can use your chimney safely. Here’s what you can do to prevent animals from nesting in your chimney.

What types of animals live inside chimneys?

There are many different types of animals that can live inside your chimney, although exact species will be dependent on where you live. Some of the animals that are most common in chimneys include mice, birds, squirrels, raccoons, and bats. Animals living in your chimney can pose a major fire hazard, as nesting materials are highly flammable. Additionally, nests prevent smoke from properly flowing out of your chimney. If you believe that animals are nesting inside your chimney, don’t try to remove them on your own. Instead, call a pest control professional for help. Pest control specialists can help you identify what type of animals are causing the problem and find the safest way to remove them.

Avoid using your fireplace until the animals are fully removed. You may also need to clean your chimney afterwards to completely remove all nest materials and debris left behind. If this is the case, make sure to use gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterward, as animals can leave behind bacteria.

How can I prevent animals from living in my chimney?

There are several things you can do to prevent animals from living in your chimney. The first step is to keep your chimney damper closed when you aren’t using the fireplace. This will prevent birds and bats from potentially flying out of your chimney and into your house. The best way to keep pests out of your chimney is to install a chimney cap. Chimney caps are a protective covering that sits at the top of your chimney. It is typically made of a steel or copper mesh. This allows smoke and air to flow upwards and out of your chimney but prevents pest from making their way inside.

A chimney professional can help you select and install the right chimney cap for your chimney. Additionally, it’s important to have your chimney inspected yearly to identify any potential structural issues. It can be difficult to identify problems with your chimney until they are too late to fix, which is why yearly inspections are crucial. This will ensure that your chimney is fully secure and that there aren’t any additional ways that animals could make their way in.

Local Chimney Experts

If you live in southern middle Tennessee or the Tennessee Valley and want to keep animals out of your chimney, A1 Chimney Specialists can help. We offer chimney repairs, inspections, and cleanings as well as fireplace installations and other related services.