Roto-Rooter Reviews and Services (2024)

Table of Contents

Background and Availability Roto-Rooter Coverage Plumbing & Drains Water Damage Restoration How Much Does Roto-Rooter Charge? Roto-Rooter Coupons Customer Service Roto-Rooter Reviews Our Conclusion Roto-Rooter Overview FAQs References

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Background and Availability

Founded in 1935, Roto-Rooter has hundreds of independently owned locations across North America that provide plumbing, drain cleaning, and water cleanup services. Roto-Rooter is available in all 50 U.S. states, including Washington D.C.

Though services, pricing structures, and guarantees vary by location, many Roto-Rooter locations are available 24/7 and offer a no-hassle guarantee and upfront pricing. Continue reading for more details on this company.

Pros	Cons
Has 85 years of experience	Services, pricing structure, and guarantees may vary by location
Most locations don’t charge trip fees or for estimates	Customer reviews on BBB webpage are mostly negative
Available 24/7 and provides emergency services

Roto-Rooter Coverage

Roto-Rooter offers services in two core verticals: plumbing & drains and water damage restoration. Here are the specific services offered under each category.

Plumbing & Drains

Drain cleaning
Emergency plumbing
Toilet repair
Sewer lines and excavation
Faucet repair
Sink repair
Sump pump
Garbage disposal repair
Shower repair
Dishwasher installation
Video camera inspection
Leak repair
Washing machines
Pipes
Commercial services
Water heater

Water Damage Restoration

Water damage cleanup
Water removal
Emergency flood services
Basem*nt flooding cleanup
Mold remediation

Note: Many Roto-Rooter locations offer a no-hassle guarantee, which states that the company will return to fix anything that breaks after the company works on it. Contact your local Roto-Rooter location to see whether this guarantee is offered.

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How Much Does Roto-Rooter Charge?

The cost of Roto-Rooter services depends on the repair or replacement needed. Pricing may also be impacted by where you live. According to Angie’s List, Roto-Rooter typically charges between $160–$450 for common plumbing issues such as dripping faucets, line repairs, or clogged drains.

Roto-Rooter Coupons

Many Roto-Rooter locations provide local coupons and deals that may be able to save you money on your service. To find out whether there are any deals specific to your location, enter your zip code, city, or postal code in the coupons section of the company’s website.

Customer Service

Roto-Rooter offers 24/7 availability in most of its locations, and most locations don’t charge extra for service on nights, weekends, or holidays.

After you contact Roto-Rooter, a plumber will usually be able to visit your home or business in two hours or less. Once the plumber arrives, they will assess the problem and provide an estimate for making necessary repairs or replacements. Most Roto-Rooter locations don’t charge trip fees for estimates.

Roto-Rooter Reviews

Roto-Rooter received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and is accredited by the organization. Negative reviews often mentioned technicians trying to upsell customers and that the company provided poor customer service. In contrast, there were several positive reviews from customers who felt that they received quick and professional service from Roto-Rooter.

Here’s a sampling of Roto-Rooter reviews:

“Do not use Roto-Rooter. Use an honest plumber who won’t try and sell you something you don’t need.” — Anthony S. via BBB on August 8, 2020

“My technician busted my sewer line, releasing sewage into my crawl space. He didn’t even tell me. I had to find out from the next technician.” — https://www.thisoldhouse.com/home-finances/reviews/choice-home-warranty-vs-first-american-home-warranty D. via Yelp on June 3, 2020

“I called Roto-Rooter and the same day, the job was completed in two hours from when I called for an appointment. [My technician] was professional, knowledgeable, and took the time to explain everything he did. I was impressed with the services I received.” — Terry M. via Yelp on January 8, 2019

“[A technician] came to our house on Sunday for a total sewer blockage while we had six house guests. We were stressed! He remained pleasant and courteous and did a great job!” — Linda E. via BBB on February 19, 2020

Our Conclusion

With its industry experience and a wide variety of plumbing, drain cleaning, and water cleanup services, Roto-Rooter may be an option worth considering. Because the quality of service may depend on local management, we recommend reading third-party reviews of independently owned Roto-Rooter businesses closest to your residence and getting quotes from companies in your area.

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Roto-Rooter Overview

Company name: Roto-Rooter
CEO: Spencer Lee
Years in business: 85 years
Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH
Phone: 800-768-6911
Website: https://www.rotorooter.com/

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.

FAQs

What is the difference between Mr. Rooter and Roto-Rooter? ›

Rooter and Roto-Rooter offer a standard lineup of plumbing services, including emergency response. However, Mr. Rooter has an edge with more comprehensive water line, well pump, and sewer repair and replacement services.

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What is the Roto-Rooter class action lawsuit? ›

This class action lawsuit alleges ongoing wrongful conduct by Defendant Roto-Rooter Services Company (“Defendant”), by its unlawful failure to separately compensate Plaintiff and proposed class members, for rest breaks, or provide compensation for missed rest breaks; failure to compensate Plaintiff and proposed class ...

How long does it take a Roto-Rooter to unclog a drain? ›

After a call, Roto-Rooter usually sends a plumber within an hour or two. In some locations, they can get to your home in just 30 minutes. For a simple unclogging, it may take only an hour to fix the problem. If the job does run longer, Roto-Rooter charges at a flat rate rather than hourly.

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Does Roto-Rooter fix leaky pipes? ›

Roto-Rooter's licensed and experienced plumbers can find and fix any plumbing leak, even hidden leaks behind walls and beneath floors and foundations.

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How much does a Roto-Rooter cost to unclog a toilet? ›

You'll likely pay between $300 and $450 to unclog your toilet with Roto-Rooter. However, the price could change depending on if the clog has caused a lot of damage, which your plumbing pro will want to inspect during your service appointment. Keep in mind that you won't get a quote from Roto-Rooter over the phone.

What happened to Roto-Rooter? ›

In 1980, the Blanc family sold Roto-Rooter to Chemed Corporation, and Roto-Rooter moved its headquarters to Cincinnati but continued to manufacture the famous Roto-Rooter drain cleaning machines, cables, blades and other parts at its own factory in West Des Moines, Iowa.

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What happens if Roto-Rooter doesn't work? ›

If the Roto-Rooter machine can't get through the pipe, your service technician can request a video camera inspection of the sewer pipeline to ascertain where the blockage is and its cause. A trained eye will then be able to recommend repair options to the homeowner.

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Can I Roto-Rooter myself? ›

When you are facing plumbing problems, there are many things you can do on your own to fix them. For instance, you can dislodge disposal blades, remove hair from P-traps, and use Roto-Rooter products to keep pipes clean.

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What happens if you leave a drain clogged too long? ›

The Consequences of Ignoring a Clogged Drain

A clog that is not addressed may also cause long-term damage to pipes due to the accumulation of waste. This build-up of residue and debris can erode the inner walls of your pipes, resulting in corrosion, leaks, or even bursting pipes.

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How do I fix a leaky sewer pipe under my house? ›

Fixing a broken drain pipe underground

Without digging up the surrounding area, a tube and patch liner is inserted into the waste pipe.
Then, this is inflated so that the patch bonds with the section of damaged pipe.
Once the patch has hardened, the inflatable tube is removed, and the repair is complete.

Does Roto-Rooter fix slab leaks? ›

Roto-Rooter provides water leak detection and water leak repairs. We can locate the source of your water leak and help advise you on a variety of leak repair options.

What is the difference between Roto-Rooter and hydro jet? ›

While rooters scrape the sides of a pipe, the hydro jetter will blast off all debris in the pipe and wash it out. In addition to being 30-50% more efficient, the hydro nozzles spraying pressurized water can be as aggressive or gentle as they need to be – which makes a huge difference in the quality of the work.

How long has Mr. Rooter been in business? ›

Established in 1970, Mr. Rooter is the second largest full-service plumbing and drain cleaning company in the United States.

Who are the competitors of Roto-Rooter? ›

Roto-Rooter Group, Inc.'s top competitors include Rooter-Man, 1-800-plumber and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.

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What is the purpose of Roto-Rooter? ›

The famous Roto-Rooter machine was invented to cut through sewer clogs caused by tree roots and other debris then clean the entire length of an underground sewer pipe to get it flowing like new again. The machine was invented in 1933 and was patented by its founder, Samuel Blanc of West Des Moines, Iowa.

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