That job in the old theater on Elm Street taught me to always check the flue liner first

I was cleaning the chimney for a 1920s theater they were fixing up, and the owner said it hadn't been used in maybe 40 years. I sent my camera up and saw what looked like a big, round nest. Turns out a family of raccoons had stored a whole bunch of those little plastic prize eggs from a gumball machine up there. Must have been a hundred of them. Now I poke around with the pole before I send the brush up, just in case. Anyone else find something really weird blocking a flue?

3 comments

3 Comments

riverperry3mo ago

Always run a camera first, it's saved me from a few surprises. Found a whole owl pellet collection once, not fun. The pole check is smart, better safe than sorry.

casey9093mo ago

Oh man, I found a wasp nest that way once, total nightmare.

patriciam221mo ago

Three years ago I found a yellow jacket nest behind a loose piece of siding, and I swear I still get jumpy around ladders lol. Riverperry's right though, running a camera first is a lifesaver, I had to learn that the hard way. Hope the rest of your inspection goes smooth, those surprises are never worth the adrenaline spike.