Mosquitos, bees, ants, and more are notorious for being pests in the summer months by biting, stinging or simply annoying. And even though they often are just a nuisance, bugs of all kinds can wreak havoc on your home if they nest in your chimney.

Insects can gain access to the inside of your chimney through cracks in the mortar, or through the top of the flue. Gone unnoticed, infestations can damage your home, create a potential fire hazard or contribute to poor air quality.

The first step in ridding your home of a suspected infestation is identifying the extent of the problem and the type of creepy-crawlies you’re dealing with. Simply shine a flashlight into the chimney from your fireplace to inspect it. If you find an infestation — or simply can’t see what you suspect is an infestation — contact a professional exterminator to more thoroughly inspect your chimney and rid your home of the problem.

After the nuisance is eliminated, contact a professional chimney cleaning service like Rooftop Chimney to clean and inspect the structure for any damage caused by the bugs. After your chimney is serviced, consider the following options to keep insects out of your chimney:

-Patch all cracks on your chimney and mortar. This will prevent bugs from entering your chimney, and your home, minimizing the threat of an infestation.

-Install a chimney cap. A chimney cap will keep out other animals tempted to use your chimney as their home. A chimney cap also will prevent rain from pouring into your home, which can create a host of other issues.

Rooftop Chimney can assist you with cleaning your chimney and inspecting it for any damage caused by bugs and other critters. We also offer chimney cap installation or chimney cap repair to prevent bugs from getting into the chimney in the first place.

Whether you’re in Alexandria, Falls Church, or McLean, you can trust Rooftop Chimney to provide you with the fireplace service and chimney cleaning you need. For more information on ridding your chimney of bug infestations and how to keep your chimney insect free, contact us today.