About Expert Chimney Services

Our Story Started in 1979

Jock Rotella began with a ladder, a chimney brush, and a borrowed station wagon. The business he started became Expert Chimney Services.

Three members of an early Expert Chimney crew beside a company work van — We honor Mike Ladd (far right), our longtime sweep who passed away in 2021.

The Early Years

How Expert Chimney Began

In 1979, at the age of 29, Jock Rotella set out with his ladder and chimney brush in a borrowed station wagon, beginning a career that would span more than four decades. His first foray into the chimney business came after reading about a new business opportunity in Mother Earth News.

In the late seventies, Jock was among the first professional chimney sweeps in the U.S., along with August West and other early companies. At the time, he had no idea of the major need for honest sweeps and chimney experts.

Jock took on chimney sweeping and repair jobs, doing the work himself in the beginning. As the business grew, he hired another sweep and a mason, expanding the work the company could take on. Before long, the first Expert Chimney Services trucks were on the road, traveling all across CNY.

Serving Syracuse & Central New York

We serve Auburn, Baldwinsville, Brewerton, Camillus, Canastota, Cazenovia, Central Square, Chittenango, Cicero, Clay, Cortland, Fulton, Liverpool, Manlius, Marcellus, Mattydale, Onondaga Hill, Oswego, Skaneateles, Syracuse, and surrounding communities.

Expert Chimney Today

We’re still locally owned and serving Central New York nearly 50 years later. Our work includes chimney inspections, cleaning, repairs and restoration, as well as gas fireplace insert sales, installation, and service.