What’s in Your Chimney – Santa or a Raccoon?

What’s that rustling noise in your chimney? Could it be…Santa?

We don’t want to be the bearer of bad news at this otherwise joyous time of the year, but unless it’s Christmas Eve and you hear sleigh bells on the roof, chances are it’s not Santa Claus. Any sounds of scrabbling, rustling, clawing, scratching, or flapping indicate a pest problem in your chimney that can cause severe issues for your home and family.

What Animals Can Get Into Chimneys?

Any animal that can access your roof can find its way into an unprotected chimney. From birds like chimney swifts to rodents such as rats, mice, and squirrels, to small mammals like bats and raccoons, a wide variety of wildlife can use a chimney to enter your home.

Can Animals Come In Through the Chimney?

If your chimney isn’t properly maintained, it can become a superhighway funneling pests into your home. If a bird, rodent, or other animals can find its way into your chimney, it can enter the inside of your home through your fireplace. During the winter, pests seek food and shelter wherever possible, and they will gladly make your house their home if you let them.

What Do You Do if an Animal is in Your Chimney?

If you see or hear evidence of a bird or animal in your chimney, take steps to have it removed immediately, ideally by a wildlife removal professional. Many homeowners think lighting a fire in the fireplace will chase away the invader, but that’s a dangerous strategy to avoid. If you have a living pest, there’s a good chance there is a nest somewhere in the chimney, flue, or on the smoke shelf. There also may be one or more carcasses of deceased pests. Both are serious fire hazards ; you could easily set your house on fire or cause a smoke hazard inside your home.

To prevent pests from taking up residence in your chimney, there are some common sense steps to take:

• Install a pest-proof chimney cap.
• Add glass fireplace doors to prevent pest access to your living space.
• Keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.
• Schedule regular cleanings and inspections of your chimney and flue.
• Check bricks and mortar for gaps where pests may enter.
• Burn the oldest wood first.
• Close up unused chimneys.

Don’t worry about Santa; he knows his way around chimney caps and closed dampers. And we all know that he prefers to bring your family’s presents down a clean, pest-free chimney!

Twin Forks Pest Control® Can Keep Your Chimney Pest-Free

Twin Forks Pest Control® has been eliminating pests, including those that find their way into your chimney, for more than 20 years. Our trained wildlife experts will rid your property of unwanted pests, and we offer year-round protection plans so that your home stays pest-free. At the first sign of a problem, contact us for a free estimate by calling (631) 287-9020 if you’re in the Southampton region, (631) 324-9020 if you’re in or around Easthampton, or (631) 298-0500 if you’re in the Southold area. We look forward to hearing from you.