Serving Firewheel, Duck Creek, historic downtown Garland, and Camelot with humane, urgent chimney animal removal — 7 days a week.
If you're hearing scratching, chirping, or thumping behind your fireplace wall in Garland, you're not imagining it. From the mid-century ranch homes around Duck Creek and Camelot to the older brick chimneys near historic downtown Garland, wildlife regularly finds its way into uncapped or damaged flues looking for a warm, dry place to nest. Squirrels, birds, and raccoons don't ask permission, and the longer they stay, the more damage — and mess — they leave behind. Lowes Chimney Sweep handles live-animal removal throughout Garland with humane methods, then seals the chimney properly so it doesn't happen again.
Most Garland homeowners notice the problem by sound or smell before they ever see an animal. Common signs include:
If you hear any of this, avoid lighting a fire and don't try to seal the chimney yourself — a trapped adult animal will panic, and babies left behind can die inside the flue, creating an even worse odor problem. A proper chimney inspection is the safest first step to confirm what's living up there before any work begins.
Garland's housing stock plays a big role here. Many neighborhoods — Firewheel, Duck Creek, Camelot, and the streets around historic downtown Garland — were built between the 1960s and 1980s, and their original masonry chimneys are now reaching the age where crowns crack and mortar joints erode. Hail, high wind, and the freeze-thaw swings typical of North Texas winters widen those gaps year after year, and a damaged or missing chimney cap is essentially an open invitation for squirrels and birds looking for shelter. Raccoons are strong enough to pry loose or damaged caps off entirely. Once inside, animals often worsen existing crown and mortar damage while digging in to nest, which is why removal and capping tend to go hand in hand with a broader chimney crown repair conversation in older Garland homes.
We start by identifying the species and locating any nest, since squirrels, songbirds, and raccoons each require different handling. Adult animals are given a safe path to exit or are removed by hand using humane techniques, and if young animals are present, we account for them so the family unit isn't separated in a way that leaves babies to die inside the chimney. Once the chimney is confirmed empty, we remove nesting debris, and if needed, follow up with a full chimney sweep to clear soot, droppings, and leftover material the animal brought in. The final step is installing or repairing a proper chimney cap so the same animal — or a new one — can't get back in.
Garland homeowners in Firewheel, Duck Creek, and Camelot can get same-week humane removal — call now.
(214) 225-8874Removal solves the immediate problem, but prevention is what keeps it solved. A properly fitted chimney cap installation is the single best defense against repeat visits, especially on the older masonry chimneys common in Garland's established neighborhoods. If your existing cap is rusted, bent, or missing spark-arrestor mesh, it's worth pairing capping with a look at surrounding mortar joint repair, since gaps in the crown or joints give animals another way in even with a cap installed. Our guide to spotting chimney wildlife early covers more warning signs worth watching for between seasons.
Every job we quote starts at $99, with the final price shaped by a few real factors: the species involved, how deep into the flue or smoke chamber the animal or nest has gone, whether young animals are present, how much cleanup and sanitizing the chimney needs afterward, and whether capping or additional chimney repair work is needed to prevent a return visit. Homes near historic downtown Garland with older, more weathered masonry sometimes need extra attention to the crown and cap fittings compared to newer construction. We don't invent flat prices over the phone because every chimney and every animal situation is different — instead, we provide a Free Online Quote so you know what to expect before we ever step onto your roof.
"Very pleased with the professionalism and promptness of service. The chimney sweep was done quickly and efficiently at significantly less cost than the first quote I got from another company. Happy to recommend Lowes Chimney Sweep to anyone in Plano!"
"Outstanding chimney sweep service from start to finish. They were punctual, courteous, and left our chimney spotless with no mess in our home. I won't use anyone else for chimney services in Dallas TX!"
More reviews from homeowners across the metroplex are on our reviews section, or learn more about our team before you book.
Squirrels and songbirds are the most frequent visitors in Garland's older neighborhoods like Duck Creek and Camelot, while raccoons are more common in homes with damaged or missing chimney caps. Bats occasionally roost in unused flues as well. The right removal method depends entirely on which animal is involved.
No — sealing the flue while an animal is still inside can trap and kill it, which creates a serious odor and pest problem that's harder to fix later. This is especially risky in older Garland homes where crown damage may already be giving animals extra hiding spots. Always confirm the chimney is empty before capping it.
A lot of it comes down to age: many chimneys in Firewheel and around historic downtown Garland were built in the 1960s through 1980s, and their original crowns and mortar joints are now cracking. Add in North Texas hail, wind, and freeze-thaw cycles, and small gaps widen into openings animals can exploit for nesting.
Yes, our process accounts for nests and young animals so families aren't separated in a way that leaves babies trapped inside the flue. We locate any nest before capping and handle removal with animal welfare in mind throughout.
After removal and cleanup, we install or repair a proper chimney cap so the opening is sealed against future entry. For Garland homes with older masonry, we also check the crown and surrounding mortar, since gaps there can give wildlife another way in even with a new cap installed.
Straight answers from our DFW chimney pros before you book.
