Animal and Nest Removal From Denver Chimneys

An open flue is a dry, sheltered shaft with warm air rising through it, which is exactly what a bird, squirrel or raccoon is looking for. Most animals we remove got in through a chimney with no cap at all. In Denver there is a second common way in. Hail flattens cap mesh and punches holes in chase covers, and NOAA's storm laboratory puts the corner where Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming meet at seven to nine hail days a year.

Please do not light a fire to smoke an animal out. It can trap the animal in the flue, the nest material can catch fire, and you may end up with a dead animal and a smell that lasts for weeks. Close the damper or fireplace doors, keep pets away, and call us. We remove the animal or nest, clean out what it left behind and cap the flue so it does not happen again.

Signs you need this

• Scratching inside the wall beside the fireplace
• Chirping that gets louder at feeding times
• Twigs, leaves or feathers on the damper or hearth
• A strong smell, worst after a warm spell
• Birds flying in and out at the top of the chimney

How we do it

1. Find what is thereWe look from the firebox and the roof, tell you what we think is inside and how we plan to get it out.
2. Get it outWe use the least harmful method that works, and where we can we let the animal leave on its own before closing the top.
3. Clean the flueNest material, droppings and debris come out, and we brush the flue so it is safe to use again.
4. Close the way inA stainless cap with mesh, or a repaired chase cover if the animal got in through the chase.

Is a nest in a gas fireplace vent dangerous?

Yes, more than many people expect. Gas heats most homes in the metro, and gas fireplaces and water heaters depend on a clear vent to carry exhaust out. A nest can block that path and push combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, back into the house.

If you hear birds in a gas vent, turn the fireplace off and leave it off until the vent is cleared. Make sure your carbon monoxide alarms work. Colorado law already requires one within 15 feet of each bedroom entrance when a home with a fireplace or gas appliance is sold.

Which cap keeps animals out and stands up to hail?

A stainless steel cap with a full mesh screen on all sides keeps out birds and squirrels, and a sturdy one resists raccoons that try to pull the screen loose. Stainless also holds up better than galvanized steel after the coating gets chipped by hail, because it does not rust through.

For a prefab chimney, the cap sits on a chase cover, and both have to be sound. A rusted or hail-punctured chase cover lets animals into the framed chase around the flue, where they are harder to reach. We check both and price whatever is needed.

What if there are baby birds in the chimney?

Then timing matters. We tell you what we see and the options, which sometimes means waiting a short time for young birds to leave before we clean and cap. We will not seal an animal inside a chimney.