Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

When Animals Live in Your Chimney

Animals in Chimney

There is nothing cute or cuddly about animals in chimneys. Thankfully, the vast majority of homeowners realize that, even if they are not fully aware of the danger that animal intrusions pose to a fireplace system. Unfortunately, too many undertake the removal of animals from their chimneys themselves, placing themselves in harm’s way and often inadvertently causing more damage.

Removing Animals from your Chimney – Ann Arbor MI – Clean Sweeps

A Difficult and Dangerous Position to Be In

Extracting a live animal from a place like a chimney, where it is completely cornered and surrounded, is extremely difficult and dangerous. Removing a dead one, along with associated debris, droppings, and snagged tufts of fur, is difficult and altogether unpleasant. Both are difficult and both are hazardous for your chimney as well if you do not know what you are doing.

Animal extraction for chimneys should always be handled by certified chimney professionals. If the animal is alive, its humane handling is guaranteed and all involved are less likely to be injured. Homeowners worried about what happens after removal can relax as well, because animals not ready to be released back into the wild are first taken to vets or local shelters.

Concern for the animals in their chimneys is often the reason homeowners do not call for professional help. Certified chimney sweeps, however, are specifically skilled in this, have experience and love animals as much as you do! Furthermore, they are highly trained to examine the condition of your chimney once the animal has been removed, and this is critical.

Now the Animal is Gone, What Now?

The same claws that can scratch you up so badly may have done the same thing to the interior of your chimney. Even the animal’s movement and tight turns in such a small space could have damaged your flue. Extracting the animal – dead or alive – is first. After that, a professional sweep can inspect if any impairment was caused by the animal and what can be done to restore maximum safety and efficiency to your chimney.

Why Every Home Needs Regular Dryer Vent Cleaning

When most people do their laundry, they do not give very much thought to dryer vent cleaning. Then, when their dryer stops working or their electricity bill is high, they wonder what the problem is. Having dryer vents professionally cleaned on a regular basis can help solve a number of common household problems.

Anyone who is responsible for household laundry knows how frustrating it is to find the cycle finished and clothes still sopping wet. Dryer vent cleaning is the best way to make sure that clothes are drying in a timely fashion and that they are not covered in excess lint. Having a professional cleaning is far less expensive than unnecessarily buying a new dryer when the old one seems to slow down.

These days, every homeowner needs to cut expenses in any way they can. Having the vents of the dryer cleaned is one of the most effective ways to lower the monthly power bill. When the vents are clean, the appliance does not have to use as much power to do its job properly. As a result, the amount of power used by the household each month will come down drastically.

Although money is an issue for many families, anyone would agree that the most important issue is the safety of the family. When a dryer vent is left without regular maintenance, lint and other debris builds up. This increases the chances that the dryer will eventually overheat, which can lead to dangerous house fires.

If the dryer is not working as well as it used to or the power bill seems to be out of control, it may be time to have the vents cleaned. It may seem like an unnecessary expense but the alternative is purchasing a new dryer or enduring a devastating fire. This simple home maintenance helps ensure that the dryer works as safely and efficiently as possible.