Bird nesting in chimneys

[sooty]

Lots of people are calling me regarding issues with nests and blockages in chimney pots. Usually Jackdaws they nest around 2 feet inside the chimney.
If you have any twigs or debris in the fireplace, or start smelling fumes of any kind please get a chimney sweep or chimney engineer in straight away, ( I am one, but there are others!) get a good bird guard fitted and the chimney swept.
Carbon monoxide is an invisible killer, and gas, oil and solid fuel flues can all kill. Remember birds nest cannot be removed once they become occupied, you will need to wait until July. thanks

 

[Gramaisc]

This style of bird-guard is the most common in Ireland, where the jackdaws don't seem to have followed the general down-turn in the building trade.

 

[sooty]

Thats the fella, fantastic guard if fitted well, wired down even the stiffest brush cant knock them off, wish there were more of them in the UK, bird proof, chimney breathing, sweep friendly marvels!

 

[Gramaisc]

Available with a 'Chinaman's Hat' as well, if the chimney isn't in constant use.

The birds round here don't seem anything like as determined as those further West. The chimney of the house behind ours over there was built in three times just whilst the chimney itself was being built ..

Thats the fella, fantastic guard if fitted well, wired down even the stiffest brush cant knock them off, wish there were more of them in the UK, bird proof, chimney breathing, sweep friendly marvels!

I decided to replace one of ours, as it was corroding away, and it was as much as I could do to get it out even then, un-wired..

 

[sooty]

the ones I use here are galvanised and coated so they dont tend to rust, its the acids in the soot and smoke that corrode mostly then the rain gets in. not keen on the hat version, prefer a c-cap for unused flues. Sorry to hear yours caused a problem, they all rot eventually its a pretty nasty place to live on top of the pot

 

[sooty]

just looked up the fireside product, I would avoid it, try a galvanised powder coated version, fullwood roofing prods are great for these

 

[Gramaisc]

not keen on the hat version, prefer a c-cap for unused flues.

The hat version is intended for flues that are not in constant use, not for unused flues - not quite the same thing - I wouldn't want to light the odd fire under a c-cap...

 

[sooty]

i wouldnt either!!! thought you meant unused totally, not keen on the hat version for any flue i use, chimneys are living beasties and need to breath, rain entry should not be an issue as chimneys get around 35 litres of water a year passing through them

 

[Gramaisc]

i wouldnt either!!! thought you meant unused totally, not keen on the hat version for any flue i use, chimneys are living beasties and need to breath, rain entry should not be an issue as chimneys get around 35 litres of water a year passing through them

That's why I said 'not in constant use' - would the hat significantly reduce the 'breathing'?

 

[sooty]

get what you mean now! not really, not really an ideal downdraft protector though. Cowls are tricky ones as hetas dont approve any, but also allow most to be fitted, if you are having an issue feel free to call me,07879048679 as i said happy to offer advice for free, but it is really dependant on flue type and appliance and what the issue actually is, downdraft, water etc
thanks

 

[Gramaisc]

I have a couple of the 'Fireside' type, without hats, the one on the little-used open-fire flue is virtually 'as new' - the one over the oil-burner, I persuaded myself to change and only realised after the struggle to remove it, that it actually had a great many years left. Ten euros for a new one and a fifteen minute job once every couple of decades seems a reasonable deal to me..

They're only there for the jackdaws really.

 

[sooty]

spot on, love the birds, but just not in the chimney!