Who to call for animal in the chimney in Skokie, IL
Much of Skokie's housing dates from the post-WWII years through the 1960s, and many of those brick bungalows, Cape Cods and ranches still have their original masonry chimneys. If you can hear scratching or birds in yours, an animal has almost certainly got into the flue and is nesting or stuck there. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons, and they do it. Look for someone who identifies the animal before doing anything, brings in a wildlife specialist when the species requires it, and fits a mesh cap when the job is done.
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It happens here because the flue is open at the top. An uncapped flue is the whole cause. Spring nesting is the peak. A chimney that sat quiet all winter looks like a safe, sheltered spot to a bird or other animal. Once something is inside, it can leave nesting material and debris in the flue.
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. If smoke comes into the room, stop using the fireplace, open windows and call us.
- Do not ignore headache, dizziness or nausea. These can be signs of carbon monoxide. Get everyone outside and call 911 first.
- Do not clear droppings or nests by hand. Droppings carry disease, and in many places nesting birds are legally protected.
What the technician does
- The animal is identifiedThe technician works out what is in there before anything is done. The species decides the next step.
- Removal or humane evictionWhere the species requires it, a wildlife specialist is involved. The animal is not smoked or burned out.
- Nesting material and debris come outThe flue is cleared so nothing is left to block the draft or catch fire later.
- The flue is swept and inspectedAsk to see the camera footage. It shows you the condition of the flue for yourself.
- A properly sized cap with mesh is fittedThis closes the opening that let the animal in. Ask for the reasoning behind the cap size in writing.
- 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 Skokie, IL
Skokie is an inner-ring Chicago suburb with mature, older housing, so aging chimneys are a common maintenance issue. Older masonry chimneys here may have no cap, or one that has worn out. Cold, snowy winters with repeated freeze-thaw cycles and heavy road-salt use are hard on chimney masonry. While a technician is up there for an animal, it is a sensible time to have the crown and joints looked at too.
Illinois has a long heating season, roughly October into April, so a flue may be in steady use for months. Humid summers can leave moisture and odors in rarely used flues. In Skokie, demand for chimney and masonry repairs also picks up in spring after thaw and storm season. If you hear something in the flue now, deal with it before the fireplace is needed again in the fall.
Questions people ask
- Why do I hear birds in my Skokie chimney in spring?
- Spring nesting is the peak, and an uncapped flue is the whole cause. Birds treat the open top as a sheltered nesting spot. A mesh cap closes it off.
- Does a chimney job in Skokie need a permit?
- In Illinois, permits are issued locally. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Relining or rebuilding above the roofline commonly is. Ask the building department which rules apply to your job.
- Can I just wait until fall to deal with it?
- It is better not to wait. A nest can block the flue, and lighting the fireplace with nesting material inside risks a chimney fire. Keep the fireplace unused until the flue has been cleared and inspected.
- Do you send your own crew to my Skokie home?
- No. We are a referral and scheduling service, not the contractor. We arrange the work with an independent sweep or mason, and they inspect the chimney and give you the price.
- What if my Skokie chimney is old and the damage looks worse than the animal?
- Older Skokie homes may have masonry chimneys worn by freeze-thaw cycles and road salt. The technician can inspect the crown, mortar joints and brick while the flue is open. You see the findings and approve any extra work before it starts.
One call
Call (866) 576-7943 and one call gets you the right independent technician for an animal in your Skokie chimney. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.
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One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.