A Step in Time Chimney Sweeps

07/28/2026

You would not believe what we discover during a routine sweep. We often find third-stage creosote buildup, dampers that have not been moved since the Clinton administration, and enormous bird nests clogging the flue. Sometimes, the squirrel is even still in there!

We see it all, and honestly, we love our jobs. But these wild surprises are exactly why you need a professional to inspect your system regularly to ensure your fireplace is safe to use.

Do not wait for a surprise of your own. Contact A Step In Time Chimney Sweeps today to schedule your annual inspection.

Call us at 833-CHIMNEY
Visit us online at chimneysweep.com

07/24/2026

"It smells like wood..."

Many homeowners think a wood smell means their chimney is fine. But did you know that’s actually the smell of creosote buildup?

A clean chimney should smell like absolutely nothing! At A Step In Time Chimney Sweeps, we start with a thorough inspection and sweep away that dangerous creosote so your family can enjoy a safe, odor-free fireplace.

Ready to keep your home safe?

Call us at 833-CHIMNEY to schedule your annual inspection today! Or visit us online at chimneysweep.com

07/20/2026

Your chimney has complaints. A lot of them.

Complaint #1: nobody's cleaned out the creosote in years, and it's not getting any lighter up there.

Complaint #2: the view from up here hasn't changed since the 90s, and neither has your inspection schedule.

Complaint #3: that crack didn't just show up overnight. It's been building for a while, quietly getting worse every season nobody checked.

Your chimney isn't asking for much. Just an annual inspection so it doesn't have to deal with all this on its own.

Don't wait for it to file a complaint you can't ignore.

Call 833-CHIMNEY to schedule your annual inspection or visit ChimneySweep.com to schedule your appointment.

A Step in Time Chimney Sweeps, Virginia.

07/16/2026

If you are buying a Virginia home with a wood-burning fireplace, here is something most buyers find out too late.

The home inspection will note that the fireplace and chimney exist. It will not tell you the condition of the flue liner, the stage of creosote buildup, whether the damper seals properly, or whether the crown has been compromised. Those details require a chimney assessment, not a general home inspection.

One visit before you close costs a fraction of what the first repair costs after you move in. We do pre-purchase chimney assessments across Virginia Beach, Richmond, and Northern
Virginia.

Call 833-CHIMNEY to schedule before your closing date.

Visit chimneysweep.com for more details.

A Step in Time Chimney Sweeps, Virginia.

07/07/2026

Your chimney has been dropping hints all season.

The smoky smell you blamed on the candles. The alarm you silenced and forgot about. The soot you wiped off the mantle and moved on from.

None of it was random. It was your chimney doing what it can to get your attention before it has to do something you actually cannot ignore.

The small signs are not inconveniences. They are a heads-up. And a heads-up is always cheaper than an emergency.

Book your inspection before it gets to that point.

Call 833-CHIMNEY or visit chimneysweep.com to book your appointment.

A Step in Time Chimney Sweeps, Virginia.

07/04/2026

Happy Fourth of July from our family to yours.

However you are spending today, with family, friends, good food, and fireworks, we hope it is exactly what you needed. Thank you for letting us be a small part of taking care of your home. Enjoy every minute of it.

833-CHIMNEY | chimneysweep.com

07/03/2026

Just spoke with our Empire State Building Climbers to see what they were doing.

Want to know the real reason for their climb:-)

07/02/2026

What people will do for advertising these days:-)

07/01/2026

That white powdery residue on the outside of your chimney is not just cosmetic.

It is called efflorescence, and it is your chimney's way of telling you that moisture is actively moving through the masonry. What you are seeing on the surface is mineral salt left behind after water passes through the brick or mortar and evaporates. The stain is the evidence.

The water movement is the actual problem.

Left unaddressed, that cycle of moisture intrusion continues with every rain, every humid day, every morning dew. Over time it breaks down mortar joints, causes brick faces to spall and flake, and works its way into the structural layers of the chimney itself.

Seeing it this spring is actually good timing. Catching moisture-related chimney damage before summer rain compounds it is exactly when a professional assessment does the most good.

Call 833-CHIMNEY to schedule or visit chimneysweep.com to book your appointment.

A Step in Time Chimney Sweeps, Virginia.

06/29/2026

Dryer vent cleaning does not get much attention. The statistics behind it do.

Lint accumulation in dryer vents is one of the leading causes of residential fires in the United States. The warning signs, a longer drying cycle, a dryer that runs hot, reduced airflow, are easy to attribute to an aging appliance rather than a vent that has not been serviced in years.

A Step in Time Chimney Sweeps clears dryer vents as part of our home services. One scheduled appointment, completed in under an hour, removes the buildup that most homeowners do not know is there.

If your dryer vent has never been professionally cleaned, or you cannot recall when it last was, that is worth addressing before it becomes something more serious.

Call 833-CHIMNEY to schedule or visit chimneysweep.com

A Step in Time Chimney Sweeps, Virginia.