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What To Do if There Are Animals in Your Chimney

Your chimney system and fireplace is a cozy feature in your home – and you aren’t the only one who thinks so. One unexpected effect of having a chimney system in your home is that chimneys can draw the notice of animals who may seek shelter or even take up residence there. Knowing how to respond to this issue can protect the longevity of your system and prevent future headaches.

Fortunately for those in the South Orange area, Top Hat Tails is here to help.

Why Do Animals Like the Chimney?

squirrel relaxing on a stone wall or structureFrom your perspective, your chimney may not look that inviting. But consider it from the perspective of wildlife. The altitude and stability of your chimney ticks the boxes for many nesting birds, and birds and bats which roost will find the dark, sheltered, vertical surfaces of your flue attractive. Rodents notoriously find their way into nooks and crannies as they scavenge for food and seek refuge from predators. Excellent climbers like raccoons and squirrels may see your chimney as a potentially warm, dry, and cozy place to explore and make use of.

As charming as wildlife can be – from a distance – you can probably anticipate some problems with them living in this close proximity to you. It certainly renders your fireplace, wood stove, or furnace unusable until the animals have left, and it’s not always great for the animals either. While nimbler, flying animals may be able to navigate in and out of your flue, many other critters get stuck and chimneys and unfortunately meet an untimely end.

What Are the Risks of Animals in the Chimney?

Aside from not being able to use your home heating system, there are a number of hazards associated with wildlife guests.

  • First, keep in mind that your chimney is a ventilation system that opens two ways. You’d hope that the animals would escape back from the flue onto the roof. But it’s also possible for animals to find their way out of your fireplace or wood stove and into your living space. As startling as this is for you, it can also be alarming for the animals, which can become aggressive or cause damage as they seek escape from your home.
  • Wild animals can carry diseases and pass along parasites, so having them and their droppings in your living space can threaten your health.
  • They can also cause physical obstructions in your chimney that are hazardous. If your chimney is blocked, gases and smoke can’t vent properly – but they have to go somewhere, and that means they’re likely to enter your home environment. Smoke and gases such as carbon monoxide can put your family’s health in serious jeopardy.
  • Aside from affecting ventilation, blockages in chimneys become fire hazards. All it takes is an errant spark or excessive heat to a combustible substance to drastically increase the risk of a chimney or roof fire. So having nests, feathers, droppings, and other debris in your chimney isn’t only an inconvenience – it’s a safety risk!
  • One of the things that may bother you if animals are present is erratic noises, but beyond the inconvenience factor, the noises of nesting, gnawing, and scratching may also indicate damage to your flue liner, brick, and mortar.

All in all, for the health of your living space and chimney structure, you’re going to want to give your furry or feathered friends an eviction notice.

Who Do I Call for Animal Removal?

Some of the signs you may notice if you have animals in your chimney are strange noises, such as scratching and chirping, and unpleasant odors emanating from your fireplace. You may also notice debris around the fireplace or catch sight of them around the top of your chimney opening. If you’ve noticed this type of activity, it’s time to act.

Your instinct may be to handle the situation on your own, but it’s generally a good idea to call a wildlife professional who is trained in animal removal. Scaring the animal out by being noisy or otherwise inhospitable may work – but it may also scare the animal into your home or into another area of your chimney system where they can become trapped and difficult to access.

Also, animals that feel threatened or cornered can become dangerous. Animal control or a licensed wildlife removal service will have the experience, knowledge, and equipment to remove the animal as safely and humanely as possible.

With the animal removed, it’s critical to have your chimney inspected and swept, even if this had been done within the annual timeframe recommended. Why? To operate efficiently and safely, it’s imperative that there are no blockages in any area of your chimney system. Furthermore, an inspection may help identify the source of entry and create a plan for sealing it off or otherwise preventing access.

How Can I Prevent Future Intrusions?

a triangle chimney cap with a weather vane on top with horse decorThe animal is gone and your chimney is clear – but there’s one more step that shouldn’t be overlooked. Implementing preventative measures to avoid future animal infestations will save you time, money, and the stress of having to manage a removal.

Some ways to deter wildlife from your roof are by trimming low overhanging branches and, if problems are persistent, considering measures like motion-activation lights or ultrasonic devices.

But the best step you can take is likely to have a well-fitting chimney cap installed. A chimney cap sits at the top of the chimney flue, where it protects against the elements, animals, and debris entering your chimney while still allowing gases and smoke to escape. This isn’t only an excellent first line of defense against animals, but also against precipitation that can cause system deterioration. All in all, it’s an important investment in the life of your chimney.

Let Us Help

As alarming as realizing your sharing your home with wildlife can be, rest assured that we can help you handle it. We know chimneys – and we’re here to serve. Let us leverage our experience to help you keep your system running well and keep animals safely outside!

Call or book online today.

Chimney Caps, Crowns & Chase Covers: What’s the Difference?

Having a chimney in your home is vital for sending smoke and unwanted flue gases away from your home, but for it to work properly an entire chimney system needs to be in place. While the main idea of a chimney is to provide a way for smoke to get out of the home, there are a number of components that work together to make sure everything works the way it’s supposed to.

Chimney crowns, chimney caps, and chase covers each serve a unique purpose in protecting the chimney structure, preventing moisture damage, and ensuring that your home remains safe as you use your fireplace, wood stove or furnace.

So what are these important parts of your chimney? What do they do? How do you know if they are working properly? At Top Hat & Tails we want you to be confident in maintaining your chimney system, so that you can enjoy your home heating appliance for years to come. Here are things to know about these chimney components and what to look for when assessing their maintenance needs.

All About Chimney Crowns

Chimney crowns sit on the top of the chimney structure. They are masonry or concrete slabs that lay overtop the chimney stack and extend beyond the brick and mortar chimney stack. They are slightly sloped and serve as a protective barrier against water. In fact, a strong and sturdy chimney crown plays a big role in the longevity of your chimney. Here are reasons you should make sure your chimney crown is in good condition.

  1. a black umbrella getting rained onThe main purpose of a chimney crown is to keep water off of the chimney. Rain, snow, sleet, and ice can all be devastating to naturally absorbent brick and mortar. The sloped nature of your chimney crown acts as a shield for your chimney structure and helps your masonry to remain dry.
  2. A faulty chimney crown will also show wear and deterioration that can eventually spread. Look for cracks, missing pieces, and crumbling. If you notice any signs that your crown isn’t strong, get in touch with us at Top Hat & Tails. Our experts can quickly get your crown fixed, so you can avoid more expensive repairs in the future.
  3. Another important job of your chimney crown is to provide your chimney with structural support. It is a heavy single slab that acts as a capstone for the rest of the chimney structure. This helps distribute the weight of the flue liners and other chimney components evenly – which in turn reduces the risk of collapse.

All About Chimney Caps

Chimney caps act like little umbrellas that sit above the chimney flue. Their main function is to keep water from getting into your chimney flue and collecting on the inside of your chimney. Chimney caps are usually made of a durable metal that is resistant to the elements. Usually the chimney cap will contain mesh or wire sides, as well, so that debris and other unwanted things can’t get into the house.

In addition to keeping rain and moisture out of your chimney, the chimney cap helps keep smoke and other unwanted gases flowing out of your home. It breaks up downdrafts that can create a vacuum within your system and force smoke into the home. In other words, a well-fitted and properly installed chimney cap helps airflow move in the right direction.

Another important job of the chimney cap is to keep animals from taking residence inside your chimney. The dry space in your chimney is well protected from the elements and is therefore a desirable nesting spot for rodents, birds, and other critters. Your chimney cap keeps animals from getting in, building nests, and becoming a fire or carbon monoxide hazard.

All About Chase Covers

Chase covers are metal structures that completely encapsulate the top of prefabricated or factory-built chimneys. These chimneys are made with different materials that won’t function properly unless they have a strong cover built to accommodate them.

Like the chimney cap, a chase cover provides your chimney protection against rain, snow, and other weather elements. However, rather than sitting above the flue opening and deflecting water, the chase cover completely surrounds the entire chimney top and keeps the entire thing protected from water entry. 

One advantage of a chase cover is its ability to improve the look of a chimney by being customized to match the architecture of the home. They can be constructed of many different durable metal materials, which can be selected to complement the look style of the building.

Keeping Your Crown, Cap & Cover in Good Shape

All of these components add to a fully functional, reliable, and efficient chimney. To make sure that you get the most out of your chimney system, it is important to keep these components well maintained. Regular inspections and maintenance will guarantee that your chimney lasts as long as possible and provides you with many years of fireplace or wood stove enjoyment.

Here are a few things you can do to ensure your chimney cap, chimney crown, or chase cover are working properly.

Regular Inspections

a bird building a nest on top of a masonry chimney Inspect the chimney crown, cap, and chase cover on a regular basis. Look for cracks, rust, or missing components. Make sure nothing is bent or broken. If you notice any damage due to weathering or deterioration, act quickly to avoid further damage to other parts of the chimney. You should also schedule a professional inspection annually.

At Top Hat & Tails our experts can spot things you might miss and get them taken care of before any further damage is caused.

Regular Cleanings/Sweepings

Over time, burning will create harmful chemical byproducts that can build up on the inner lining of your chimney. These chemical compounds, called creosote, are dangerous and highly combustible.

In addition to creosote, debris from outside can find its way in. Our technicians at Top Hat & Tails are fully equipped, trained, and experienced in making sure your chimney and all its components are free of debris and functioning as intended.

Waterproofing

If you didn’t pick up on the theme, water is not good for chimneys. Our experts at Top Hat & Tails can apply professional grade waterproofing to your masonry chimney.  The solutions we use are made specifically to be safe for your chimney and vapor permeable, all while keeping rain and other elements from penetrating your structure.

Call Our Team Today

Call Top Hat & Tails today and let us help you make sure your chimney system and all of its components are providing you with maximum efficiency and safety. Dial 973-450-1947 or reach out online today.

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