Chimney Animal Removal in Pittsburgh

Who's in there?

The usual chimney guests

An uncapped chimney looks like a hollow tree to a lot of animals. The sound, the time of day and the season usually tell us who it is before we even look.

Chimney swifts

Loud chittering from late spring through summer, often louder when the young are being fed. Federally protected, so timing matters.

Raccoons

Heavy thumping and chattering, often at dusk and night. Mothers commonly use a chimney's smoke shelf to raise kits in spring.

Squirrels

Scratching and scrabbling during the day. Squirrels often fall into a flue and can't climb back out of a smooth liner.

Other birds

Starlings and other birds nest in uncapped flues and dryer and exhaust vents, packing them with twigs and grass.

Don't try to smoke them outLighting a fire under an animal or nest is dangerous. Nest material is very flammable, the smoke may not be able to escape a blocked flue, and a trapped animal can't leave anyway. Keep the damper and fireplace doors closed so nothing gets into the house, and don't try to handle a trapped animal yourself.

Chimney swifts

Protected birds, so we work around their season

Chimney swifts cling to the inside of chimneys and glue small twig nests to the flue wall. They're protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so an active nest with eggs or young can't be removed or disturbed. No reputable sweep will pull them out mid-season.

Roughly when	Chimney swifts	Raccoons	What we do in a swift chimney
January to mid-April	Away for the winter	Kits often in dens from March	Clean and cap
Mid-April to May	Arriving	Kits often in dens	Do not disturb
June to August	Nesting, young in the nest	Kits until about June	Do not disturb
September to early October	Leaving	–	Wait until they're gone
Mid-October to December	Gone	–	Clean and cap

Approximate timing. It shifts a few weeks from year to year.

What we do insteadConfirm they're swifts, then schedule the work for after they've left in the fall: sweep out the nest material and install a cap so they nest somewhere else next year. Until then, keep the damper closed. It cuts the noise and keeps them in the chimney.

Happy to host them?Chimney swift numbers have been declining, so leaving your chimney open for them is a reasonable choice. Keep the damper closed and have the chimney swept after they leave, before you use it.

What's included

Out, cleaned up, closed off

Identify the animal and the way in. Usually an open flue, sometimes a gap at the crown or a damaged vent.
Humane removal. Birds and animals are removed or encouraged out without harm, timed so young aren't separated from their mother where we can avoid it.
Nest and debris cleanout. Twigs, leaves, droppings and nest material removed. They block the flue and burn easily.
Sweep if needed. Most nested chimneys need a sweep before they're safe to use.
A cap to keep them out. Stainless or copper, measured to your flue. Or a written price if you'd like to think about it.
Damper and flue checked. Animals can damage dampers and liners. We'll tell you if they did.

Signs of an animal

What you might notice

Chirping, chittering, scratching or thumping from the fireplace or wall
Twigs, leaves or nest material falling into the firebox
A strong musty or rotten smell from the fireplace
Droppings on the smoke shelf, damper or hearth
Smoke backing up when you light a fire, from a blocked flue
No cap on the chimney, or a damaged one

Bats are differentBats need their own approach and timing, and we'll tell you what applies if that's what we find. Avoid touching a bat or any wild animal with bare hands.

How it works

From first sound to sealed flue

Tell us what you hear
When, how loud, and what it sounds like. That alone often tells us whether to come now or wait.
Inspect and plan
We confirm the animal, find how it got in, and explain the timing and method before we start.
Remove and clean
Animals out humanely, nest material and debris removed, and the flue swept if it needs it.
Cap and report
A cap goes on to stop it happening again, and photos of the clean flue and new cap are sent to you.

Related services

Keep them out for good

Caps & Crowns

A well-fitted cap is the single best way to keep animals out of a chimney.

Chimney Sweeping

Clears out leftover nest material and droppings before your next fire.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

Birds nest in dryer vents too, where a blocked duct is a fire risk.

Chimney animal removal across Greater Pittsburgh

Wooded and riverside neighborhoods see a lot of chimney wildlife, but it happens everywhere.

Pittsburgh Mt. Lebanon Upper St. Clair Bethel Park Peters Twp Fox Chapel Sewickley Cranberry Twp Wexford McCandless Ross Twp Monroeville Murrysville Moon Twp Robinson

Common questions

Animal removal questions

Hearing something right now? Call and describe the sound. We'll tell you what it likely is and what to do next.

(412) 555-0142

Can you remove the birds in my chimney right now?

It depends on the bird. If they're chimney swifts with an active nest, no: they're protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the nest can't be disturbed until they leave in the fall. We'll schedule the cleanout and cap for then. Other birds and nests can often be dealt with sooner, once we've confirmed what they are.

Why can't I just light a fire to drive them out?

Because it's dangerous and it rarely works. Nests are made of dry, flammable material, a blocked flue can push smoke and carbon monoxide into the house, and young or trapped animals can't escape. Keep the damper closed and call us instead.

How much does chimney animal removal cost?

It depends on the animal, how it got in, how much nest material there is, and whether you want a cap installed to keep it from happening again. We'll explain the plan and give you a written price before we start.

How do you get a raccoon out of a chimney?

Humanely, and with timing in mind. In spring a raccoon in the chimney is often a mother with kits, and the goal is to have her move them out together rather than separate them. Once the chimney is empty, we clean out the den material and install a cap so she can't return.

Will a chimney cap keep animals out?

A properly sized, securely fastened cap with intact mesh keeps birds, squirrels and raccoons out of the flue. We check that every flue on the chimney is covered, because animals will find the one that isn't.

The animals are gone. Do I still need the nest removed?

Yes. Nest material blocks the flue, which can push smoke and carbon monoxide back into the house, and it catches fire easily. Droppings and debris also cause odors. Have it cleaned out, and the chimney inspected, before you use the fireplace or any appliance that vents into it.

Book your visit

Pick a time. We'll handle the rest.

Send the form and we'll text you within one business hour to confirm your service, your price and a 2-hour arrival window.

Price in writing first. Nothing starts until you've seen it and said yes.
2-hour arrival window, with an on-the-way text and your technician's name.
No mess. Drop cloths, shoe covers and a HEPA vacuum.
Photo report texted to you the same day.
Licensed & insured. Saturday appointments available.

Prefer to talk? Call or text(412) 555-0142

The usual chimney guests

Chimney swifts

Raccoons

Squirrels

Other birds

Protected birds, so we work around their season

Out, cleaned up, closed off

What you might notice

From first sound to sealed flue

Tell us what you hear

Inspect and plan

Remove and clean

Cap and report

Keep them out for good

Caps & Crowns

Chimney Sweeping

Dryer Vent Cleaning

Chimney animal removal across Greater Pittsburgh

Animal removal questions

Pick a time. We'll handle the rest.

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