Birds nesting in chimneys

The Sweep Guy

Its in the Early spring birds begin to nest.

And as a chimney sweep, we hate nests.

Under the Wildlife and Country Act, it is an offence to destroy or remove a nest during the nesting season which lasts from March to August.  It is necessary to wait until the end of August before checking that the nest is empty and can be removed.

According to James from the Edinburgh’s Bricklayers and Masonry Co, ”birds pose a far bigger risk than people assume”. Having birds’ in your chimney can lead to dangerous blockages, chimney fires, infestations and damp.  Even if you don’t intend to use your fireplace – you should still remove a nest. A nest will completely block your chimney,  this can cause damp issues in the form of condensation build up. The chimney should be vented at both the top and the bottom as air is still allowed to flow through the chimney.

The second significant danger is bird poop that will end up in your fireplace and can actually lead to diseases, some even as serious as histoplasmosis.

This is why I always advise my customers to have a cowl fitted.

SIGNS THAT BIRDS ARE NESTING IN YOUR CHIMNEY

  • If you start to find twigs and other debris in your fire grate then there is a strong possibility that nesting activity is taking place.
  • If you see birds flying back and forth dropping material into the chimney pot.
  • If you normally hear pigeons cooing or traffic noise and then the sounds stop there might be an obstruction in the flue.
  • A fly infestation is often a sign of a collapsed nest or a dead bird in the chimney.
The Sweep Guy

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If you think you have a birds’ nest in your chimney – DO NOT light a fire.  

“The best course of action is to close your chimney damper so the birds don’t get inside your house, and wait them out. Birds usually will leave on their own in a few days and your chimney will be bird-free once again. Or you can help them by shining a flashlight upwards the chimney so the birds see their way out of the chimney better. After the birds have left, put a chimney cap on your chimney to prevent this from happening again and enjoy your fireplace”

“However, if the birds exhibit no signs of leaving, you need to call for professional help. They will be your best and quickest bet to rid your chimney form the bird’s nest.”

From the end of August through to March a sweep can remove the nest – this involves specialist equipment and can be quite time consuming depending on the size and material.  A CCTV inspection is carried out to ensure that all the debris has been cleared.  Finally, a smoke test is performed to confirm the correct draw is available to the fire.  A successful test means that there is a smooth passage for the products of combustion to evacuate freely, with the nest no longer serving as an obstruction.

If you suspect you may have birds nesting in your chimney, give us a call  and I can book you in for the the start of September 07961 845837

if you have any questions contact ‘The Sweep Guy’