This time of year the only thing you expect to be coming down your chimney is Santa Claus. Unfortunately that’s not the case as animals can find their way into your chimney and cause damage. Animals smaller than Santa’s elves can create serious issues for your chimney system.

The most obvious damage will usually happen to your chimney cap. Bat, raccoons, squirrels and other animals can cause or worsen damage to your chimney cap when they attempt to enter or create openings for themselves. This leaves your chimney system vulnerable to debris and water, as well as other “critters” making their way in.

Internal damage to your chimney can also occur in the flue. The tile in the flue of your chimney can be scratched or chipped due to the claw or talons of those pesky animals. Damage to the tiles of the chimney liner can expose the surrounding building materials to heat from the fire and may require the chimney to be relined. Also, animals can carry in bacteria and bugs, thus their presence in the chimney can expose your family to disease or affect the air quality in your home.

The worst and potentially most damaging effect animals in your chimney can have is when they have nested and become trapped. Trapped animals – especially any babies present in nests – often die before they are able to escape. This could eventually cause animal debris and nesting materials in the chimney to ignite and create a chimney fire.

Critter Control of the Triangle has many techniques to prevent animals from entering your chimney, as well as remove them. Give the wildlife experts of Critter Control of the Triangle a call at 1-800-CRITTER or 919-382-0651 in Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Cary NC and the Triangle area.