New Lanarkshire chimney sweep goes into battle against sooty chimneys

Kris McLernon of Wilkins Chimney Sweep, Lanarkshire

LANARKSHIRE has a new chimney sweep in the form of ex REME soldier Kris McLernon.

After 14 years as a recovery mechanic with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Kris (33), who lives in Forth with partner Ashley, is now a fully trained chimney sweep and the proud owner of Wilkins Chimney Sweep (Lanarkshire).

Kris will be sweeping open chimneys, wood burning stoves, Agas, Jetmasters, Rayburns, biomass boilers and any other type of flue where provision for sweeping has been made. He will also be fitting cages caps and cowls.

Kris will be offering this vital safety service to homes and businesses across Airdrie, Armadale, Bathgate, Bellshill, Braehead, Rigside, Carluke, Carstairs, Carnwath, Fauldhouse, Forth, Lanark, Livingston, Motherwell, Newbigging, Shotts, Tarbrax, West Calder, Whitburn and Wishaw; he will also consider jobs outside of this area.

Kris explained: “I loved my time in the army which I left just as Covid struck, but now it is great to be back in Lanarkshire after many years away on postings; I am proud to be offering this vital safety service to homeowners and businesses across my local area.”

He continued: “A blocked chimney can result in deadly carbon monoxide poisoning or a chimney fire and it is very satisfying to know that when I remove three bags of soot from a chimney that hasn’t been swept in years, I’ve probably prevented a chimney fire, or worse, in that home.”

Following a sweep, clients are issued with a ‘certificate of sweeping’, which many insurers insist on seeing to validate a claim for damages as a result of a chimney fire.  The certificate is valid for 12 months.

Kris has been up and running for a few weeks now and is delighted with the response he’s getting from customers: “Most of them love the fact that I am really local, and some are slightly horrified at the amount of soot I remove from their chimneys!  Using my automated booking system, I’ll contact them again in good time to get their chimneys swept again for next winter; however, if they are using their chimney daily, I recommend two sweeps a year.’

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