There is a loveliness about birds; their colourful feathers and chipper songs are peaceful, adding a certain levity and serenity to neighbourhood life. Still, the animals, while majestic, can be destructive when left to their own devices. The natural nesting behaviours of birds present issues for more vulnerable areas of your house, such as the chimney, making bird-proofing a chimney an essential aspect of homeownership.
A chimney is an appealing nesting and roosting site for birds. The brick structure provides amnple protection from predatory birds and animals. Also, it is a warm location with potential food in the form of insects. A homeowner should secure the chimney and its surrounding area to prevent any issues.
5 Tips To Secure Your Roof and Chimney
Chimneys are essential ventilation and safety structures in home construction. They are channels that allow hazardous gases and smoke to escape a house and are necessary for any heat source that burns fuel, such as wood, gas, oil, or coal.
Birds nesting in a chimney present a real risk to a family and themselves. The nesting materials can trap gases, fumes, and smoke inside the house. Also, the warmth in the chimney and rising ashes may ignite nesting materials, killing the bird.
Learning how to keep birds out of your chimney is about maintaining safety for the animals and the people who inhabit the house. Discover five methods to protect your chimney and prevent bird entry.
1. Install a Chimney Cap
A chimney cap is one of the surest ways to keep animals out of your chimney. It is a steel or copper cover that sits securely over the top of the chimney. The cap still permits ventilation but is more controlled and focused on a well-protected vent. The cap’s design also helps prevent downdrafts and rain from entering the chimney.
2. Place Wire Mesh Over Flue Vents
When bird-proofing a chimney, you do not have to use a cap. Some people may find caps unnecessary or too expensive. Another option is to use wire mesh, especially if you only have a flue vent and not an entire brick chimney. The mesh should be enough to keep birds and most critters out of your chimney and home.
3. Check for Existing Damage
Call a wildlife or roofing professional to inspect the area if you have a cap or wire mesh cover and find birds can still enter your chimney. Sometimes, chimneys have cracks or holes large enough for birds to squeeze through. Depending on the species, a bird can fit through an opening 3.8cm or smaller. Work with a professional to make any necessary repairs.
4. Clear Away Debris
During mating seasons and before winter, birds are searching for nesting materials. Your roof can have many options, including sticks, leaves, feathers, and more. The more a bird lands on your roof, the more motivated it is to explore the space, including the chimney. Keep your roof, especially around the chimney, clean. Contact bird removal in Markham to learn more about nesting materials and get more tips about bird prevention.
5. Trim Trees To Limit Perch Points
Like keeping the roof clean to prevent curious birds, you also want to keep tree branches trimmed away from the roof to discourage perching. When birds can perch right over a roof or chimney, they may explore the surface, searching for food and nesting sites. If branches don’t hang along or over the roof, it can limit interest and appeal.
Hire Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control
Bird-proofing a chimney is vital. Birds can become trapped in the structure, and even if they can navigate in and out freely, they can cause damage. If you suspect birds are using your chimney or roof as a roosting or nesting site, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control and request a home inspection.
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