Who to call for animal in the chimney in Naperville, IL
Naperville is a town of single-family homes, from a small historic core of 19th- and early 20th-century houses downtown to a very large share of subdivisions built from the 1970s through the 2000s. Fireplaces with masonry or prefabricated chimneys are common in both. If you can hear scratching or birds in yours, an animal has almost certainly got in through the top of the flue because nothing was there to stop it. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work for Naperville homes with independent sweeps and masons, and we are not the contractor. Look for a technician who identifies the animal first, brings in a wildlife specialist when the species needs one, and fits a mesh cap when the job is done.
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Here, spring nesting is the peak, and an uncapped flue is the whole cause. Illinois flues work through a long heating season, roughly October into April. Then they sit quiet just as birds and other animals look for a sheltered spot. Freeze-thaw winters are hard on crowns and mortar, and wind-driven rain and snow work at the crown, flashing and cap. A chimney top that is open or worn gives an animal an easy way in.
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 reach in and clear the nest yourself. Droppings carry disease, and in many places nesting birds are legally protected.
- Stop using the fireplace until it has been checked. A nest or debris can block the flue and push smoke into the room, so leave the fireplace unused until a technician has looked.
- If anyone feels dizzy, sick or has a headache, go outside and call 911. Those can be signs of carbon monoxide, and a blocked flue can cause it.
What the technician does
- You call, we arrange the visitCall (866) 576-7943 and we set up an independent sweep or mason for your Naperville home. The estimate is free.
- The animal is identified firstThe technician works out what is in the chimney before anything is done. The species decides what happens next.
- Removal or humane evictionWhere the species requires it, a wildlife specialist is brought in. The animal is removed or encouraged out without harm.
- Nesting material and debris come outThe nest, droppings and any fallen material are cleared from the flue so nothing can block it or catch fire.
- The flue is swept and inspectedOnce it is clear, the flue is swept and inspected. Ask to see the camera footage and ask for any findings in writing.
- A properly sized cap with mesh is fittedThe cap closes the opening that let the animal in. You see the price and approve it before any work starts.
Why this happens in Naperville, IL
Naperville's older homes near the historic downtown often have original masonry chimneys that need tuckpointing or liner work. Repeated freeze-thaw accelerates spalling and mortar loss on masonry chimneys, and Illinois winters bring cracked crowns and worn joints too. A chimney top in that condition can let in water and animals alike. If the technician finds damage while clearing an animal, ask for the reasoning in writing before you agree to anything more.
The large subdivisions built from the 1970s through the 2000s, such as Cress Creek, White Eagle and Tall Grass, are now old enough that original chimney tops may be worn or missing. Prefabricated fireplaces with metal chimney chases are common in newer Illinois homes, and each has its own cap. Demand in Naperville rises in early fall before the first hard freeze and again in spring after winter damage and storms. If you hear something in the flue now, a call before nesting season is in full swing means one less problem to deal with later.
Questions people ask
- Is spring really the worst time for animals in a Naperville chimney?
- Spring nesting is the peak, so that is when most calls come in. The cause is the same all year: an uncapped or damaged chimney top. A mesh cap keeps the animals out in every season.
- Does an older downtown Naperville chimney have a higher risk?
- Older homes near the historic downtown often have original masonry chimneys that need tuckpointing or liner work. Worn mortar and crowns can make it easier for animals and water to get in. The technician can check the crown and cap during the same visit.
- Do I need a permit to have an animal removed and a cap fitted?
- Permits in Illinois are issued locally. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work, but rules vary between jurisdictions. Check with the Naperville building department if a repair is involved.
- Are One Call Chimney's technicians licensed?
- We are a referral and scheduling service, and the independent technicians hold their own credentials. Illinois does not license chimney sweeping as a separate state trade, and requirements are handled locally. Ask the technician what applies and check with the building department or the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
- What does the estimate cover?
- The estimate is free on every job. The technician inspects the chimney and gives the price before any work starts, and you approve it first.
One call
One call to (866) 576-7943 gets a Naperville chimney with an animal in it in front of an independent technician. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.
More from One Call Chimney
Something else in this area
- Never been swept
- Water coming in
- Liner damaged or missing
- Rebuild or new chimney
- Smells of smoke or damp
- Smoke comes back into the room
- Cracked crown or crumbling brick
- Damper stuck or broken
One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.