Although Lexington, North Carolina is located in the frequently sunny and humid Piedmont triangle, the temperatures can get chilly during winter. Not to mention, we can end up with inches (or even feet) of snow. If you’re one of the many who enjoy using their fireplaces, you need to guarantee that your own is ready to serve you well during the frigid season. Although there are several top-notch chimney companies in Raleigh, NC and Charlotte, NC, and Greensboro, NC, there are not many who serve the remote areas of Piedmont, especially out where we are in Lexington, NC. We are your local rural source for knowledgeable and efficient chimney sweeping: Midtown Chimney Sweeps of Lexington!
Areas we Serve, and Something about the Area we Serve: Winston-Salem, NC to Lexington, NC
Lexington is the county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, in middle and eastern side of the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of just under 20,000 people in our forest of green trees.
Our original settlers of Lexington, NC named their community in honor of Lexington, Massachusetts, the site of the first battle of the American Revolutionary War. Lexington was incorporated as a city in 1828, and Silver Hill Mine, located a few miles south of Lexington, opened in 1830’s, and was the first operating silver mine in the country. A bit of trivia for young and old alike!
Located in central North Carolina, 20 miles south of Winston-Salem, Midtown Chimney Sweeps of the Piedmont is your local source of fireplace and chimney services, serving cities in a 40 mile radius such as, but not limited to: Bethesda, Reeds Crossroads, Winston-Salem, Bermuda Run, Wallburg, Gumtree, Welcome, Midway, High Rock Lake, Denton, Silver Valley, Salisbury, Rockwell, Richfield, Pooletown, Tuckertown Reservoir, Healing Springs, NC, Southmont, NC, Thomasville, NC, Ashboro, Siler City, Pittsboro, Carthage, Sanford, Liberty, Biscoe, Seagrove and more.
Fireplace and Chimney Cleaning Needs in Lexington, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
Why Is Chimney Cleaning Important?
The main reason for cleaning a chimney is to clear away the creosote that builds up inside. Soot is flammable, and it could lead to a chimney fire.
What Are the Chimney Inspection Code Requirements?
There is a national standard for Fireplaces, Chimneys and Vents, called the NFPA211 (National Fire Protection Association). Chapter 14 discusses this subject, and fireplace manufacturers recommend that wood and bio-fuel pellet stoves get swept clean every year.
“Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.”
Even if you seldom use your fireplace, an annual inspection can help prevent serious damage if your fireplace has fallen into disrepair. And an annual cleaning will help you get to know your fireplace more, and we will teach you how to properly use it!
Masonry and factory-built fireplaces should be cleaned when the soot level reaches 1/8”. These standards must be followed in order for most manufacturers to honor their warranties. So cleaning and inspecting every year is a good protocol all the way around!
How Midtown Chimney Sweeps Cleans Chimneys in Lexington, North Carolina
Use of the Best Tools in the Hearth Industry Trade
Our HEPA dust-extractor vacuum is safe to use on both carpet and hard surfaces. It sucks away dust and debris in a single pass using triple-filtration, leaving the air particulate-free. It’s a quiet device that’s made in Germany and unsurpassed in the industry.
Types of Inspections
The are three levels of chimney inspections recognized by the NFPA 211, and will be discussed briefly here. For more info learn about them here: two levels of inspections
Level I, or the Basic Inspection, is a thorough visual scan of the external parts of the stove or fireplace, which satisfies the annual regulation for inspection.
Level II, or the Advanced Inspection, which is required by the NFPA 211 for property managers, buyers and sellers, (when ownership changes), realtors, and new homeowners, combines the external inspection with a live-video scan of interior of the flue, and attics and basements where accessible. The technician will use the video inspection tool to look for damage and debris buildup inside the chimney.
Level III is includes all aspects of a Level I and a Level II, and additionally includes some hidden portion of the chimney or flue that the chimney inspector needs to examine.
Dryer Vent Maintenance in the Piedmont: Winston-Salem, High Rock Lake, and Asheboro, North Carolina
Why Is Dryer Vent Cleaning Important Here in the Winston-Salem and Lexington, NC?
Unfortunately, it’s possible for debris (such as lint and pet hair) to accumulate in your clothes dryer vent. The accumulation of debris and the high electrical heat can cause a fire if the vent isn’t cleaned regularly. As your clothes dry, the dust and dander and pollen and physical debri comes off the garment and floats down the vent and often sticks, accumulating.
How Often Should Your Dryer Vent Be Cleaned?
Once a year is typically sufficient for cleaning the dryer vent, but the area around the vent should be checked every 6 months to be sure there’s no damage to the venting. Very small holes can form in the flexible connector (which is behind the dryer) and cause dust or carbon monoxide to leak into the residence, or building envelope. Additionally, many homes have outdated plastic flexible connectors that are not up to code and must be replaced.
Please note:
If you have an electric dryer, temperatures can get very hot if there is resistance in the dryer duct.
If you have a gas clothes dryer, please inspect your flex hose regularly and all connections behind the dryer- this appliance is PUSHING carbon monoxide through the pipe at high velocity. If you have a pin hole leak it is conceivable that it is poisoning the building occupants slowly, at a light level, over a long period of time.
For all your chimney sweeping and dryer vent cleaning needs, choose Midtown Chimney Sweeps right here in the greater Lexington, North Carolina area. We will make sure that your wood or gas-burning fireplace, wood or pellet-burning stove, or clothes dryer vent is in good condition.
