Bats find shelter in dark and warm spaces where they feel secure and protected. Unfortunately, chimneys are among these spaces. However, letting them stay in your chimney can result in bat urine and droppings accumulating inside, leading to odors and contaminated runoff, and may even mean bats getting into your home. In today’s post, chimney repair company Batts’ Chimney Services shares a quick guide on how to get bats out of your chimney flue.
Signs That You Have Bats in Your Chimney
One of the sure signs that you have bats in your chimney is if you hear high-pitched chirping noises and rapid wing movement in there at dusk and dawn. Bats may also swarm around the chimney. Based on noises alone, bats may be mistaken for birds except that the noises are heard during the day. Bat droppings or guano emit a strong smell of ammonia that may spread indoors. White stains can be seen inside and around the chimneys, as well as on the roof.
How to Get Rid of Bats
The most effective way to get rid of bats is to find chimney cleaning professionals who can perform the “live exclusion” method. This involves using netting and tubes that allow bats that are already in the chimneys (and other parts of the house) to get out but not get back in — like a reverse lobster trap. Many species of bats are migratory and do not stay at a single home, which means the live exclusion devices are temporary.
Wrong Ways to Get Rid of Bats
It’s important to discuss the things that you should not do when trying to get rid of them. You may receive advice to smoke them out by lighting the fireplace, or using poison or traps to kill bats. These methods are inhumane, and it is in fact illegal to kill them in most states, including Alabama.
If you need to stop them from going into your home while you wait for a professional, stop using the fireplace in the meantime and make sure the flue is completely shut. Once the bats are removed, you have to make sure that the chimney caps do not have gaps large enough to allow bats access to the chimney.
Whether you need help with getting rid of bats or if you need a chimney sweep, you can rely on Batts’ Chimney Services to get the job done efficiently. Just call (256) 660-1338 or (205) 956-8207, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.
