Can I wait for the bird to leave on its own?

Sometimes a bird does leave, but you cannot tell if the flue is already blocked, and a nest left in place is a fire risk. Do not use the fireplace until the flue has been looked at.

Why do I hear more noise in my Champaign chimney in spring?

Spring is the peak nesting season here. An uncapped flue is the whole cause, and storm damage to a crown or cap can open a way in for animals.

Do I need a permit in Champaign to deal with this?

Permits in Illinois are issued locally. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. If the job grows into relining or rebuilding, ask the local building department before work begins.

Will a cap stop it happening again?

A properly sized cap with mesh closes the opening that let the animal in. The technician can show you what is on your chimney now and explain what they recommend.

Who comes to my house?

One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons. We are not the contractor and we do not perform the work.

Something living up there in Champaign, IL

Old Town Champaign and the streets near downtown are full of early-1900s bungalows, foursquares and Victorians, and many of them still have a masonry chimney. If you can hear scratching or birds in yours, an animal has almost certainly got into the flue from the top. The usual cause is an open flue with no cap, or a cap that is missing or damaged.

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Champaign gets hail and straight-line winds in spring and summer, and those can damage chimney crowns and flashing. Winter freeze-thaw cycles crack masonry too. Spring is also nesting season, and a dark, sheltered flue suits a bird well. Once a nest is built, it can block the flue. A blocked flue can push smoke and carbon monoxide into the room.

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.
Stop using the fireplace until it is checked. A nest or debris can block the flue, and a blocked flue sends smoke and carbon monoxide into the house.
Get outside and call 911 if you feel unwell. Headache, dizziness or nausea while smoke is in the room can mean carbon monoxide, so leave the house first and call from outside.
Do not reach in or clear the nest by hand. Droppings carry disease, and in many places nesting birds are legally protected.

What the technician does

Free estimate firstThe technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts. You approve it first.
The animal is identifiedNothing is done until the technician knows what is up there. Ask to see the camera footage of the flue, and ask for the findings in writing.
Removal or humane evictionWhere the species requires it, a wildlife specialist handles the removal or humane eviction. The animal is not smoked out.
Nesting material and debris clearedThe nest, droppings and fallen debris are taken out of the flue so air can move and nothing is left to catch fire.
Flue swept and inspectedOnce it is clear, the flue is swept and inspected for damage, so you know it is safe to use again.
A properly sized cap with meshA cap with mesh is fitted over the opening. That closes the gap that let the animal in.

Why this happens in Champaign, IL

Much of Champaign's older housing sits near downtown and Old Town, and masonry chimneys are common on those homes. Illinois winters are long. The heating season typically runs from about October into April, so flues see months of steady use, then sit idle through humid summers. A flue that is idle in spring is just what a nesting bird looks for. In Champaign, spring nesting is the peak, and an uncapped flue is the whole cause.

Storms are part of the picture here. Central Illinois sits in a severe-weather corridor, and hail and straight-line winds can damage a crown, flashing or cap. Freeze-thaw cycling then widens the cracks. Demand rises in spring after storm season, and again in October and November as people prepare their chimneys before the first hard freeze. If you hear noise in the flue now, deal with it before you light the first fire of the season. The same applies in Urbana, Savoy and Mahomet.

Questions people ask

Can I wait for the bird to leave on its own?: Sometimes a bird does leave, but you cannot tell if the flue is already blocked, and a nest left in place is a fire risk. Do not use the fireplace until the flue has been looked at.
Why do I hear more noise in my Champaign chimney in spring?: Spring is the peak nesting season here. An uncapped flue is the whole cause, and storm damage to a crown or cap can open a way in for animals.
Do I need a permit in Champaign to deal with this?: Permits in Illinois are issued locally. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. If the job grows into relining or rebuilding, ask the local building department before work begins.
Will a cap stop it happening again?: A properly sized cap with mesh closes the opening that let the animal in. The technician can show you what is on your chimney now and explain what they recommend.
Who comes to my house?: One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons. We are not the contractor and we do not perform the work.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and we will arrange a technician for your Champaign chimney. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you 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.