A fireplace is a great addition to a house. It provides warmth on cold nights adds aesthetical value to the home’s decor. Chimneys are integral parts of fireplaces, but chimneys can also be home to animals like squirrels that may try to get inside your house via the chimney.
Here’s what you need to know about how animals can get into your chimney.
Animals Seek Shelter In Chimneys
Chimneys are attractive places for animals to seek shelter because they provide a place to escape the harsh external environmental elements. Most chimneys can’t be seen from the ground, so animals don’t know that something dangerous is above them when they climb inside.
Chimneys also offer protection from predators, and an animal may not realize that there’s a way out at the top of a chimney. For these reasons, chimneys are attractive places for raccoons, opossums, squirrels, and other animals to take refuge from weather or attack by enemies.
Animals may also get into chimneys because of defects in them. This is especially true with older homes that don’t have modern chimney systems. Animals may climb into the existing chimney and use it as a source of shelter eventually causing the chimney to collapse.
Chimneys Provide Warmth to Wildlife
Not only do chimneys provide shelter to animals, but they can also provide warmth. Birds, bats, and other animals may be drawn to the warmth of your chimney on a cold night. That’s why it’s always good to keep your fireplace in good shape and to make sure that your chimney has no cracks or holes that would allow animals to fly or climb inside.
Whether or not you have problems with animals in your chimney, you should always make sure that your fireplace is in good working order and that your chimney has no holes or cracks. Even if you don’t use the fireplace often, it can still be an attractive place for animals to take refuge. Remember to keep the exterior of your home in good shape, too; this will reduce the number of animals that are attracted to the warmth of your home.
Chimneys are beautiful parts of a home, so take care of them today by calling a reputable contractor. At CT Chimney Repair, we offer regular chimney cleaning and repair services. We also offer chimney sweeps, chimney inspections, and other related services.
Contact us to find out more about our services.
