When it comes to chimneys, there are many ways in which you can have problems with them. One of the most common problems with chimneys is that many different kinds of wildlife love to make them their home. Chimneys provide shelter, warmth, and security for many different nuisance animals. Continue reading to learn about the four most common wildlife that resides in your chimney and how you can deal with them.
Bats
Bats are among the most common among all of the chimney invaders, and with good reason. Bats love to find dark, sheltered areas where they can pass the days in relative safety. Since bats generally live with more bats, there are very good chances that multiple bats could inhabit your chimney. While bats might not seem like a very big problem if they are living in your chimney, this can still present some problems. Be sure to look at batremoval.org to learn about all of the issues bats can create. Long story short, bats in your chimney can cause the potential for fires, as well as the potential for diseases being spread to you and your family.
Raccoons
It might surprise people that raccoons can get into chimneys, but they are easily able to squeeze into most chimneys. In many cases, the raccoon that invades your chimney will be a pregnant mother, or a mother with young raccoon pups. In most cases, the mother raccoon will just be looking for a nice, warm, shelter to raise her young. Raccoons can cause some serious problems while they are in your fireplace. For one, if a raccoon dies in your chimney, their body could potentially cause a blockage, causing smoke to roll back into your house. In addition, their body could also catch fire in the chimney, potentially starting a fire that could engulf your home. To learn more about damages raccoons can cause, visit pestcontrolraccoon.com.
Squirrels
One of the most common animals that gets into chimneys is the squirrel. Since squirrels are often preparing to rear their young, they often build a nest in the chimney. When they build this nest in the chimney, this creates a very serious fire hazard, as nests are generally very flammable. If a squirrel builds a nest, whether it is abandoned or not, the next time you light your fireplace, it will likely ignite. A nest that is on fire can very possibly light your chimney on fire, potentially creating a fire that spreads to the rest of your house. That is why it is so important to keep squirrels out of your chimney.
Birds
Another common animal that resides in chimneys would be the bird. Birds of many species have been seen invading chimneys, but some of the most common are robins, sparrows, swallows, and pigeons. Each of these birds will build a nest for their young, which creates the exact same problem that squirrel nests cause. In addition, bird feathers, if they build up enough, can create a fire hazard as well.
Prevention
Preventing animals from getting access to your attic might seem like a daunting task, but there are a few simple steps you can take to keep animals out for good. The most simple way to prevent animals from gaining access to your chimney is to install a chimney guard. Chimney guards feature mesh openings that allow smoke to escape, but prevent wildlife from being able to make their way through. It is very wise to purchase a quality, well-made chimney guard, as these generally come with a great warranty, and will stand up to many years of use.
Another step that can be taken to prevent squirrels and raccoons from gaining access to your chimney is trimming some trees. Many times, these animals that cannot fly gain access to your roof, and consequently, your chimney by hopping down from an overhanging tree branch. Simply trimming these trees so they do not overhang your roof is a great prevention step.
Removal
If you do not have a chimney guard, it is likely you may have to deal with wildlife getting into your chimney at some point. It is recommended that having a professional wildlife removal company, such as New Journey Pest Control, remove the animals can keep you, your family, and your home safe. These professional companies can also help you work on preventing any future wildlife invasions as well.
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