A squirrel blockage taught me to inspect for nests first.

I assumed animal nests in chimneys were rare. After removing a squirrel family that caused a blockage, I now check for nests first on every job. Do you encounter many animal issues?

3 comments

3 Comments

hugom401mo ago

Honestly, that sounds like letting one bad job change your whole process. Most chimneys I've seen are clear, so checking every single time just burns through a lot of clock for no real reason. You're adding steps for a problem that's pretty rare. It's not efficient to work like every flue has a raccoon condo waiting inside.

patkim1mo ago

My neighbor's house fire last year started from a blocked dryer vent (which is way more common than raccoons in chimneys, honestly). The fire marshal said lint builds up over time and can ignite from just one hot cycle. Now I clean my dryer vent every six months, even though it adds maybe ten minutes to my laundry day. It feels like extra steps for a rare problem, but seeing their living room blackened changed my mind. Sometimes one bad job does shift your whole process, even if it's not efficient. You just don't want to be the next cautionary tale on the block.

cole_lee91mo ago

My cousin's cabin in Vermont had a chimney fire from a bird nest. Insurance guy said it happens more than people think. I get why you check now.