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You should never block both the top and bottom of your chimney. Proper airflow is essential because the temperature inside the chimney will still fluctuate as your house warms and cools. Moisture can build up without ventilation, leading to dampness in your walls over time. Blocking the top prevents debris and animals from entering, but the chimney still needs air circulation to avoid condensation issues. Allowing the chimney to breathe maintains the health of your home and prevents long-term damage.

When it comes to keeping birds from doing their business on your porch rails, you have several DIY options and home remedies you can try: 

• Tie a fishing line from one end of the deck post to the other. Birds won’t be able to see the line across the railing, so they can’t land on it.  

• Hang wind chimes close by, which may scare birds away. 

• Apply a bird gel repellent to the railings, which contains smells that birds generally don’t like. Or, similarly, you can apply citronella or lemon oil around the railings, since birds don’t like strong smells.

No, you shouldn’t have to worry about bats in your yard as long as they don’t make their way inside your house. Typically, bats hang around backyards in order to consume bugs, especially if they’re located in the U.S. Bats that are native to North America can consume more than 500 bugs per hour, so they may actually benefit your yard if mosquitoes are prevalent.

You’re not likely to find water bugs in your house. They may accidentally come in an open door when flying, especially since they are attracted to lights. But water bugs tend to stay stationary in bodies of water. You’re much more likely to see a roach in your home, not a water bug.