What Animals Enter Suffolk County Chimneys — and Why
Suffolk County's mature tree cover, dense neighborhoods, and mild coastal climate make it prime habitat for the animals most likely to enter an uncapped chimney. Raccoons are strong enough to push past lightweight caps and will den in a chimney all winter. Squirrels enter through open flues and frequently fall down uncapped furnace flues, ending up in basements. Starlings and chimney swifts build nests in flue tiles — a compressed nest of twigs, grass, and debris can partially or fully block the flue, creating a carbon monoxide risk when the heating system runs. Bats roost in chimneys in summer. In every case, the permanent solution is a properly fitted stainless steel chimney cap with animal-guard mesh installed over the flue opening. DME Maintenance removes existing nests and debris, clears and inspects the full flue, and installs the cap in a single visit — Suffolk County License #H-43223.
Raccoon in chimney — strong enough to displace lightweight or missing caps, will den and raise young
Squirrel in chimney — enters open flues, often falls down furnace flue into basement
Birds (starlings, chimney swifts) — build compressed nest that blocks flue; creates CO risk when heating runs
Bats — roost in summer; guano accumulates at flue base
All cases: stainless steel cap with animal-guard mesh is the permanent fix
Nest and debris removal included before cap installation — flue inspected for damage
Suffolk County License #H-43223 — same-day cap installation available