What should you do if an animal finds its way inside your chimney?
Animals are cute, but no one wants an animal stuck inside their chimney! The effects are damaging to both animals and homeowners. In the past, we’ve discussed the importance of chimney caps. They help to get animals and other things out of your chimney. What should you do if a bird, squirrel, or raccoon finds its way inside your chimney? Today, we are going to answer that question and go over what you shouldn’t do.
What You Should Do
First, stay calm. An animal inside of your chimney is a problem that has a solution. That fact alone, we hope, will calm you. Also, animals, well, smaller ones at least, are often more afraid of people than we are of them. Second, cover your fireplace. If you have a glass or mesh covering that protects your entire fireplace, this is ideal. If you don’t have this product, buy one, especially if you live in a wooded area. Third, open your damper. If the animal can climb or fly out, then they will need your damper open. Opening a damper is the quickest way to get an animal safely back outside. Fourth, call us, especially if you can’t get the bird, squirrel, raccoon, or other animals outside of your chimney. Also, we want to ensure that there is no chimney damage.
What You Shouldn’t Do
Never, and we mean NEVER, try to smoke an animal out of your chimney. Lighting a fire could not only scare the animal but lead to death. Also, while you want to open the damper to get the birds or animals out, you never want to leave it open all day or all night. At any point in time, animals can fall down your chimney as a result of this.
Finally, do not attempt to remove the animal yourself. This tip may come as a surprise. However, reaching up and grabbing a critter can be dangerous. When you use netting, the netting can wrap around an animal’s limbs, hurting them or, even worse, breaking them. If you want to ensure that animals get out of your chimney safely and humanely, then give us a call right away.
Call the Experts at Champion Chimneys for Chimney Cleaning Today!
Champion Chimneys, Inc. is a fully licensed, bonded, and insured chimney service company that has served customers in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County, Maryland since 2001. Our team is trained and certified by Certified Chimney Professionals, Inc. (CCP, Inc.). Courteous service is our trademark, and our crews arrive on time in uniform, driving fully equipped trucks. We specialize in all aspects of your chimney system. Whether you need chimney and flue cleaning service or a full chimney rebuild or inspection, contact us at 443-Chimney today and let us fix all your chimney problems. Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.