As the weather cools, small animals seek warmth and safe haven. Although they don’t sing “Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones, they do seek it. As a result, your home’s chimney is a potentially snug and cozy hideaway for small animals. The chances of a critter invasion increase as they prepare for the seasonal shift to cooler weather. Mice, squirrels, raccoons, bats, birds and other critters are candidates for chimney occupancy.
Confirming a critter crisis in your chimney:
Although small critters pose a problem for your chimney system, they may not be as obvious as some might expect. It’s always wise to start with a professional chimney inspection.
Have Old Smokey’s Fireplace & Chimney inspect and sweep your chimney. With or without the possibility of small-animal intrusions, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends an annual chimney inspection and cleaning. As we inspect your chimney, we will look for evidence of critters.
Solving your critter crisis safely and effectively:
First of all, one unwanted animal visitor that presents a special challenge is the chimney swift. Secondly, chimney swifts are challenging because they enjoy special protections by law and regulation. Old Smokey’s can help you deal with chimney swifts that might try to use your chimney as a nesting site.
Also, many chimneys use small metal flue pipes rather than clay liners. These metal flues can sometimes be dangerous for animals, who cannot grip the slippery metal and may fall into the fireplace.
Therefore, as for chimney swifts, their nests should be removed after the birds have left in the fall – hence more the reason to have Old Smokey’s inspect your chimney now. Our technicians are trained to follow the correct procedures regarding these protected migratory birds.
How do critters actually get into a chimney?
There are a few structural vulnerabilities that allow animal intrusions. One is due to damper design or malfunction. A top-sealing damper is often a reasonable mechanical solution. Top-sealing dampers are installed at the top of the flue. They close it off using a rubber gasket, providing protection against animal intrusion.
However, another possible source of animal intrusion is a faulty or missing chimney cap. A chimney cap can be made of stainless steel, galvanized black steel, copper or aluminum. It can also be square, rectangular, oval or round. Whatever the material or the shape, a chimney cap can be a valuable resource in preventing animals from being unwanted visitors.
Old Smokey’s can help you make the right choice. In addition, we can make sure it is properly installed, because a chimney cap needs to be mounted securely and evenly so it can guard your chimney from animal intrusions.
Why choose us?
Our 30+ years of experience testifies to the trust Old Smokey’s has built throughout northeast Indiana, northwest Ohio, and mid-south Michigan. We are proud of the wide-ranging portfolio of satisfied customers we have built up over the years.
So call 260-424-0009 or 800-876-6539, or schedule an appointment online. We’ll be happy to share our wealth of experience with respect to uninvited visitors, whether they have wings or paws, in your home’s chimney system!