Who removes an animal from a chimney in Aurora?

Independent sweeps do the flue work, and a wildlife specialist is brought in where the species requires it. One Call Chimney arranges the visit but does not perform the work. The estimate is free and the price is agreed before work starts.

Is it a problem if the birds are nesting?

It can be. In many places nesting birds are legally protected, so do not try to remove them yourself. The technician will identify what is there and explain the options before anything is done.

Do I need a permit or a licensed contractor in Aurora?

Illinois does not license chimney sweeping or inspection as a separate trade at the state level. Requirements are set locally, so ask the technician what registration they hold and check with the City of Aurora building department. Routine sweeping and basic inspection are generally not permitted work. Relining a chimney commonly is.

Why do the old homes near downtown Aurora get this problem?

Many older Aurora homes have full masonry chimneys, and an open flue top is an easy way in. Freeze-thaw cycles can also crack the crown and open gaps. A mesh cap and a sound crown close those routes.

What if I smell smoke or feel unwell near the fireplace?

Stop using the fireplace. If you have a headache, dizziness or nausea, get outside and call 911. A nest can block the flue, and a blocked flue can send carbon monoxide into the house.

Who to call for animal in the chimney in Aurora, IL

Aurora grew up along the Fox River, and its older neighborhoods are full of century-old brick and frame homes with masonry chimneys. If you can hear scratching or birds in one of them, something is almost certainly living in the flue. The work is done by independent sweeps and, where the species calls for it, a wildlife specialist. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the visit and we are not the contractor. Look for a technician who identifies the animal first, explains the plan before starting, and fits a mesh cap afterward. Ask them to give you the price before any work begins.

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It happens because the top of the flue is open. A chimney without a proper cap looks like a hollow tree to a bird or small animal. It is dry, sheltered and protected from wind. Illinois winters are hard on masonry too. Freeze-thaw cycles crack crowns and loosen mortar, and that gives animals more ways in. Spring nesting makes it worse.

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 cleared. Nests and debris can block the flue, and a blocked flue pushes smoke and carbon monoxide into your home.
Do not reach in or sweep out the nest yourself. Droppings carry disease, and a cornered animal can hurt you.
Do not remove nesting birds on your own. In many places nesting birds are legally protected, so the right specialist should decide how to proceed.

What the technician does

You call one numberCall (866) 576-7943 and we arrange an independent technician for your Aurora address. The estimate is free.
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 is brought in to remove or humanely evict the animal.
Nest and debris clearedNesting material and debris are taken out of the flue. This is the part that stops a later fire or blockage.
Sweep and inspectionThe flue is swept and inspected. You are told what the technician finds, and you can ask to see camera footage.
A mesh cap is fittedA properly sized cap with mesh goes on top. The technician gives you the price before work starts, and nothing begins until you approve it.

Why this happens in Aurora, IL

In Aurora, spring nesting is the peak, and an uncapped flue is the whole cause. The same weather is hard on chimney tops. Severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and hail hit the area from April through June, and deep frost and freeze-thaw cycles work on crowns and mortar all winter. Demand for chimney work rises in spring after storm and hail season, so it helps to call as soon as you hear something.

The housing matters too. Aurora's older homes in and around Downtown, the Near East Side and the Near West Side commonly have masonry chimneys and fireplaces, and many are a century old. Newer subdivisions on the far east and west sides may have factory-built fireplaces instead. In every case the fix is the same: clear the flue, inspect it, and cap it. In late fall, homeowners prepare chimneys before the first hard freeze. That is a good time to have the cap checked.

Questions people ask

Who removes an animal from a chimney in Aurora?: Independent sweeps do the flue work, and a wildlife specialist is brought in where the species requires it. One Call Chimney arranges the visit but does not perform the work. The estimate is free and the price is agreed before work starts.
Is it a problem if the birds are nesting?: It can be. In many places nesting birds are legally protected, so do not try to remove them yourself. The technician will identify what is there and explain the options before anything is done.
Do I need a permit or a licensed contractor in Aurora?: Illinois does not license chimney sweeping or inspection as a separate trade at the state level. Requirements are set locally, so ask the technician what registration they hold and check with the City of Aurora building department. Routine sweeping and basic inspection are generally not permitted work. Relining a chimney commonly is.
Why do the old homes near downtown Aurora get this problem?: Many older Aurora homes have full masonry chimneys, and an open flue top is an easy way in. Freeze-thaw cycles can also crack the crown and open gaps. A mesh cap and a sound crown close those routes.
What if I smell smoke or feel unwell near the fireplace?: Stop using the fireplace. If you have a headache, dizziness or nausea, get outside and call 911. A nest can block the flue, and a blocked flue can send carbon monoxide into the house.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and one call gets the right independent technician arranged for your Aurora chimney. The estimate is free, the technician inspects first, and you approve the price before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 576-7943

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One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.