Animal & Debris Removal from Chimneys in Los Angeles

If you are hearing scratching, chirping, or rustling sounds from your fireplace (or noticing unusual odors) you may have an animal or bird nesting inside your chimney. Professional animal removal chimney Los Angeles homeowners trust is exactly what Royal Cleaning Service provides.

We safely remove raccoons, birds (including chimney swifts), squirrels, and other animals from chimneys, clear all nesting debris, and install a chimney cap to permanently prevent re-entry.

Chimneys are attractive nesting sites for urban wildlife because they are warm, dark, and elevated. Raccoons often give birth inside chimneys in spring, raising litters in the smoke shelf or lower flue.

Bird species including chimney swifts build twig-and-saliva nests that can completely block the flue. Squirrels, rats, and opossums also enter chimneys and can fall into the firebox.

In every case, the debris left behind (nesting materials, droppings, feathers, and carcasses) creates a significant fire hazard and can produce toxic fumes when the fireplace is used.

Beyond the fire hazard, animal blockages in chimneys create a serious carbon monoxide risk. When the flue is partially or fully blocked by nesting materials, combustion gases (including carbon monoxide) cannot vent properly and can backdraft into the home.

Royal Cleaning Service recommends that any homeowner who suspects an animal or debris blockage have their chimney inspected and cleared before operating their fireplace. We serve all of Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Ventura County and offer same-day appointments when available.

Raccoons are among the most common chimney animals in Los Angeles. Female raccoons seek out chimneys in late winter and early spring to give birth and raise their litters in the warm, enclosed space of the smoke shelf or lower flue.

A family of raccoons in a chimney creates significant nesting debris and can remain for 8–12 weeks during the raising season. Royal Cleaning Service handles raccoon situations in accordance with California wildlife guidelines.

Chimney swifts are a federally protected migratory bird species that historically nested in hollow trees but now commonly use chimneys throughout urban Los Angeles. Their twig-and-saliva nests are built on the interior flue walls and can fully block the flue.

Because chimney swifts are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, active nests with eggs or young must be left until the birds fledge and depart, typically by September. Once the birds have left, the nests and debris can be professionally removed and a chimney cap installed to prevent the following year's return.

Squirrels and rats also enter chimneys regularly in Los Angeles neighborhoods with mature tree canopies. They typically do not build as substantial a nest as raccoons or swifts, but they can fall into the firebox, become trapped, and create odor and debris problems.

All animal removal services include a post-clearance inspection and recommendation for chimney cap installation.