Is this little critter making your chimney its home? That’s not good — not good for the animals, and definitely not good for you any your home. Keep them out with a chimney cap.
Have you ever experienced waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of animals going in and out of your chimney? Isn’t it just annoying? It’s not only disturbing, it can also destroy the inside of your chimney. Yes, it can cost you a fortune, and all because of some animals that also want to feel the warmth from your chimney. Now we from The Mad Hatter wouldn’t want that to happen to you.
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It is especially during winter when animals will look for places where they can keep themselves warm. These are usually small creatures that like to hide in holes or build their nests in concealed spaces. Well, we can’t really blame them for trying to find a home; we all want to stay warm during freezing temperatures, but once these creatures are inside the chimney they can damage the flue and other vital parts inside the chimney.
The most common example is squirrels. When they’re not in a tree somewhere chipping off a nut, they are probably on their way to your chimney. They use the smoke to keep themselves warm at night. This doesn’t only cause an obstruction to the chimney draft, it is also very harmful to the squirrels inhaling the smoke first-hand.
Another example that is rather stereotypical is the chimney swift. These are birds that look like tiny cigarettes floating in the air. They spend most of their time on air and only land when they hunt for food or when it’s time to mate, which usually happens during winter so they find the first chimney they can land in. Chimneys are their favorite spot to perch in; that’s how they got their name.
Other examples are bats that create the same damage that birds do, and spiders that can weave thick layers of web where debris and creosote can get stuck. This is very dangerous because creosote is highly flammable. To avoid chimney fires, you should have your chimney swept regularly.
Invest in Chimney Caps
The best way to keep animals out of your chimney is to allow us to install a chimney cap. Chimney caps were specially designed to protect the inside of the chimney by covering the chimney opening and leaving enough space for smoke and air to come out. It’s the first line of defense against animals and water from entering your chimney. It’s the best decision you can make to save money and to save your chimney.
Take note that installing chimney caps can only be done by our CSIA-licensed chimney sweeps. They know everything about chimneys. Let The Mad Hatter Service take care of inspecting and cleaning your chimney and rest-assured you won’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of tiny animals scurrying about, or worry about blockages and chimney fires.