Squirrels and Racoons are Chimney Hazards!

 

Squirrels and racoons use chimneys to build nests for their young. Mama racoons are especially aggressive if their young are approached and may bite. Unfortunately, racoons carry rabies and if bitten a person would need to have rabies treatment. Both squirrels and racoons carry diseases as well.

Squirrels have been known to build extremely large nests inside chimneys, causing a blockage and also a fire hazard. In one case, we encountered a 20'-foot tall, hard packed squirrel nest from a 30' tall chimney which took all day to remove. Besides being a fire hazard, nests block the flow of flue gasses which need to exit through the chimney.

It is best to avoid intrusion by these animals with the use of a heavy-duty stainless-steel chimney cover from a professional chimney sweep, which is much more difficult to destroy than a standard chimney cover that is available at hardware stores or box stores. The standard black steel covers also rust, causing unsightly stains on masonry that can't be removed.

However, if a racoon or squirrel family has set up home in your chimney, call a professional animal removal expert to have them removed prior to installing a cover.

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Marge Padgitt is the author of Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking and the host of The Hearth and Home Show on the HearthMasters YouTube Channel. Reach her at www.chimkc.com.