What to Do When an Animal Falls Down the Chimney

There are several options for dealing with animals which have fallen down your chimney flue, but each situation will be unique and you will have to decide what the best action is in your particular situation.

Coaxing

Sometimes little critters might fall into your chimney out of curiosity or in search of food. The problem is that they often can’t get back out. With birds the problem is that they might become distressed or flustered leaving them unable to fly back the way they came. In this situation the first step is to try and let the animal come down and out of a window or door. To prepare for this you should remove all breakables, pets and children from the room, then open a window or door leading outside for the animal to find. Once you have prepared the room leave and stay quiet, if you’re lucky the animal will find its way out to safety.

Hazing

For a nesting animal – be it mice or birds – coaxing won’t work as they have found a safe and dry place to live. If you want the animal to leave you can haze them by playing loud music into the chimney and leave a bright light shining up the flue for a day or two. Eventually the animal may choose to leave because it is no longer a suitable home. Lighting a fire to force them to leave is both inhumane and could kill the animal, and will leave you with a blockage which will be more costly to remove in the long run.

Chemicals

When considering using chemicals such as ammonia you need to be sure you aren’t putting it directly onto the animal or creating a fire hazard in your home. This method is purely preventative as most animals won’t nest or interfere where you put ammonia down. There are other oils and smells which don’t harm animals, but could still be hazardous. When using any kind of potential hazards then you should always speak to an expert, either a wildlife expert or an experienced chimney sweep who can give you advice unique to your situation.

Capping

To be clear from the beginning, capping your chimney is a preventative method to use once you know there are no longer any animals in your flue. If you cap a chimney whilst an animal is inside the flue you risk much bigger problems further down the road such as blockages and decomposition. A chimney cap can be both practical and decorative, you need to make sure that any gaps are covered by a strong mesh and get the right fit for your particular chimney. Once in place you shouldn’t have the same problem ever again – unless the animals find an internal way in – giving you the safe usage of your chimney.

Enviro-Flame have over 20 years of collective experience in fireplaces for both traditional and modern homes. They are a Gas Safe and HETAS registered company providing gas fireplaces, stoves as well as hearths and surrounds throughout London.