Who to call for animal in the chimney in Arlington Heights, IL
Arlington Heights has a lot of homes built from the post-WWII boom through the 1970s, and many of them have a masonry or factory-built fireplace and chimney that has stood open to the sky for decades. If you can hear scratching or birds in the flue, an animal has almost certainly climbed or dropped in through an open top. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent sweep or mason in your area. Look for a technician who identifies the animal first, brings in a wildlife specialist where the species calls for it, and gives you the price before any work starts.
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The cause is usually simple. A flue with no cap is an open door for birds, raccoons and squirrels. Illinois has a long heating season, roughly October into April, and then a quiet summer. Once the fires stop, a dark, sheltered flue looks like a good place to nest. Spring nesting is the peak, and the open top is the whole cause.
While you wait — please don't
- Do not light a fire to drive it out. It is cruel to the animal, and burning nesting material is a common cause of chimney fires.
- Do not use the fireplace until it is checked. Nests and debris can block the flue, and a blocked flue can push smoke and carbon monoxide into the room.
- Do not reach in or pull out the nest yourself. Droppings carry disease, and in many places nesting birds are legally protected.
- Get outside and call 911 if anyone feels unwell. Headache, dizziness, nausea or smoke in the room can point to carbon monoxide, so leave the house first and call for help.
What the technician does
- The animal is identifiedThe technician works out what is up there before anything is done. The species decides what happens next.
- Removal or humane evictionWhere the species requires it, a wildlife specialist handles removal or a humane eviction. Nothing is smoked out or burned.
- Nesting material and debris come outThe nest, droppings and fallen material are cleared so the flue is open again.
- The flue is swept and inspectedAfter the clean-out, the flue is swept and inspected so you know what condition it is in.
- A properly sized cap with mesh is fittedThe cap keeps animals out for good. It is sized to your flue.
- You approve the price firstThe estimate is free. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts, and you approve it.
Why this happens in Arlington Heights, IL
Arlington Heights is a Chicago northwest suburb, and its mid-century housing is mostly brick and frame ranches, split-levels and two-story homes, with older homes closer to downtown. Many have masonry or prefabricated fireplaces and chimneys. Illinois housing also includes factory-built metal fireplaces with Class A chimney chases, and these are common in postwar and late-century suburban homes. Either type can be missing a cap, or have one that has rusted, bent or come loose over the years.
The weather here is hard on the top of a chimney. Arlington Heights sees cold, snowy winters with frequent freeze-thaw cycles. Across Illinois, those cycles crack crowns and loosen mortar joints, and that can give animals another way in. Chicago-area clay soils and heavy temperature swings add wear to masonry. Spring and summer storms bring wind and hail as well. A technician who checks the cap, crown and flue together gives you the full picture. This work is in demand in the same stretch of spring when birds are nesting, so it helps to call as soon as you hear the noise.
Questions people ask
- Who should I look for to deal with an animal in my Arlington Heights chimney?
- Look for an independent sweep who identifies the animal first and brings in a wildlife specialist when the species requires it. Ask them to explain the plan and the price before they begin. One Call Chimney arranges this and gives you a free estimate.
- Does Illinois license chimney sweeps?
- Not at the state level. Chimney sweeping, inspection and masonry repair are not separately licensed trades in Illinois. Requirements are handled locally, and many municipalities ask contractors to register or hold a local licence and carry insurance. Check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and your local building department.
- Why do I hear birds in my chimney in spring?
- Spring nesting is the peak season, and an uncapped flue is the whole cause. Birds treat an open, sheltered flue as a nest site. A mesh cap stops it from happening again.
- Do I need a permit in Arlington Heights?
- Permits are issued locally. Routine sweeping and basic inspection are generally not permitted work. A permit is commonly needed for relining or rebuilding a chimney, so confirm with the local building department if the inspection finds more than an animal.
- Can I use my fireplace while I wait?
- No. A nest can block the flue and send smoke or carbon monoxide into the room. Leave the fireplace unused until it has been cleared and inspected.
One call
Call (866) 576-7943 and One Call Chimney will arrange an independent technician for the animal in your Arlington Heights chimney. The estimate is free, and the technician gives you the price before any work starts, so you approve it first.
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Something else in this area
- Smoke comes back into the room
- Never been swept
- Water coming in
- Smells of smoke or damp
- Cracked crown or crumbling brick
- Damper stuck or broken
- Liner damaged or missing
- Rebuild or new chimney
One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.