Why is there an animal in my Rockford chimney?

Most often the flue has no cap, or the cap was damaged. Rockford's freeze-thaw winters and spring storms are hard on chimney caps and crowns, and spring nesting is the peak time for animals to move in.

Do I need a permit in Rockford for this work?

Permits in Illinois are issued locally, so ask the local building department. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Relining or rebuilding a chimney commonly is.

Can I just wait until the birds leave on their own?

Do not light a fire to speed it up, and do not use the fireplace while there is a nest. Nesting birds are legally protected in many places, so identifying the species first is the safe step. Then the right removal method can be chosen.

Does One Call Chimney do the work?

No. We are a referral and scheduling service that arranges the job with independent sweeps and masons. They are the contractors, and they do the work.

What should I ask the technician?

Ask to see the camera footage of the flue and ask for the reasoning behind any recommendation in writing. Illinois handles contractor requirements locally, so you can also check with the building department of your city, village or county.

Animal in the Chimney, booked with one call, in Rockford, IL

Rockford's housing skews older, with many pre-1940 Victorians and bungalows in its historic districts, and masonry chimneys are widespread across the city. If you can hear scratching or birds in yours, an animal has almost certainly got into an open flue and is nesting or stuck. The job is to identify the animal, get it out the right way, clear the nest and debris, sweep and inspect the flue, and fit a properly sized cap with mesh. Plan around spring, which is peak nesting time here, because the species may decide how and when removal can happen.

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It happens here because the top of the flue is open. Northern Illinois winters bring repeated freeze-thaw cycles that crack crowns and wear down masonry, and spring and summer thunderstorms can damage chimney caps. A flue with no cap, or a damaged one, is easy for birds and small animals to get into. Fitting a cap with mesh is what keeps the problem from coming back.

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 pull out the nest yourself. Droppings carry disease, and in many places nesting birds are legally protected, so the species should be identified first.
Do not use the fireplace until it has been checked. A nest can block the flue and push smoke and carbon monoxide back into the house.
Do not ignore symptoms in the house. If anyone has a headache, dizziness or nausea, or smoke is entering the room, get outside and call 911, and keep the fireplace and any gas appliance on that flue off.

What the technician does

The animal is identifiedThe technician works out what is in the flue before anything is done. That decides how it comes out.
Removal or humane evictionWhere the species requires it, a wildlife specialist is brought in. The animal is removed or encouraged to leave without harm.
Nest and debris clearedNesting material, droppings and debris are taken out of the flue so nothing is left to burn or block the draft.
Flue swept and inspectedThe flue is swept and inspected. If the inspection shows crown or liner damage, you are told and shown before anything else is discussed.
Cap with mesh fittedA properly sized cap with mesh goes on the top of the chimney to close the opening that let the animal in.
Price agreed firstThe estimate is free. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts, and you approve it first.

Why this happens in Rockford, IL

Many of Rockford's older east- and west-side neighborhoods have masonry chimneys and fireplaces that have taken decades of freeze-thaw and winter road salt. Tuckpointing and crown repair are routine maintenance here. A cracked crown or a missing cap leaves the flue open, so an animal problem often shows up alongside other wear. A camera look down the flue shows what the rest of it looks like.

Spring is when this call comes most often in Rockford, because spring nesting is the peak and an uncapped flue is the whole cause. Demand also spikes in early fall as homeowners prepare chimneys before heating season, and again in spring after winter ice and storm damage shows up. Illinois heating seasons run from about October into April, so a flue left blocked in spring can still be blocked when the first cold snap arrives. Many Illinois homes also vent a gas furnace or water heater through an older masonry chimney, which is another reason a blocked flue needs attention.

Questions people ask

Why is there an animal in my Rockford chimney?: Most often the flue has no cap, or the cap was damaged. Rockford's freeze-thaw winters and spring storms are hard on chimney caps and crowns, and spring nesting is the peak time for animals to move in.
Do I need a permit in Rockford for this work?: Permits in Illinois are issued locally, so ask the local building department. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Relining or rebuilding a chimney commonly is.
Can I just wait until the birds leave on their own?: Do not light a fire to speed it up, and do not use the fireplace while there is a nest. Nesting birds are legally protected in many places, so identifying the species first is the safe step. Then the right removal method can be chosen.
Does One Call Chimney do the work?: No. We are a referral and scheduling service that arranges the job with independent sweeps and masons. They are the contractors, and they do the work.
What should I ask the technician?: Ask to see the camera footage of the flue and ask for the reasoning behind any recommendation in writing. Illinois handles contractor requirements locally, so you can also check with the building department of your city, village or county.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and one call arranges an independent technician for the animal in your Rockford 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.