Patricia B.

01/08/2023 12:00:00 SA

They came the same day we called! Beau and Manny (Emmanuel) were both professional, friendly, and efficient! We will always use your service from now on!

Kyle J.

05/08/2023 12:00:00 SA

WARNING: TRUST ALL OF THE HORRIBLE REVIEWS ABOUT THIS COMPANY!

Our sewage main backed up late at night on a Friday, two days after my wife and I had just returned from the hospital with our first child. After a quick Google Search for 24/7 plumbers, I decided to give Roto-Rooter a call. At around 11:30 the next day, a technician came out and discussed the different services available. After discussing with my wife, we decided to root the main (a must in order to use water) and the camera search because we could see what other underlying issues could be there, totaling in at just over $1,100. We were also told we would be getting a digital version of the video taken of the pipes to refer back to if we decided to delay work. After about 15 minutes of rooting the cleanout drain, the technician told us he had cleared the blockage, and showed me the cleanout. The water flow was still extraordinarily slow. Soon thereafter, the camera tech arrived and took a video of our plumbing inside and outside the house. After only about 5 minutes of running the camera, he called me outside to show me his findings. According to him, there were tree roots that had broken through the T-joint on our sewage main, which was what was causing the back-up. They explained to me that this would need to be fixed immediately, because we couldn't even flush toilet paper without it causing a blockage (again, according to the technician). We were quoted $7,500 for an excavation of the soil (which included removing a couple of small bushes), fixing the t-joint, and backfilling the soil. The cameraman said he'll talk to his boss to see what he could do price-wise; coming back about 10 minutes later with a discounted price of $6,800. This price was all contingent on if we agreed to do the job with their company. The camera tech even had the balls to say I mean if you don't book with us, I'm going to get my $500 either way. In other words, book our services or we're going to charge you full for the other two services. Also, when I asked the camera tech when we would be receiving the digital video, he replied that they didn't do that and I would not be receiving it, claiming they only used it for court hearings.
After wanting to get a second opinion and finding out that we have family members who repair and replace sewage mains, they were astounded by what Roto-Rooter quoted us. He said he could get two people to do the job, one hand-digging the hole and the other repairing the plumbing pipes. We decided to go with them instead of Roto-Rooter. Long story short, after they dug down to the break in the t-joint, they realized something ridiculous. They came back and told us that somebody had stepped on the main clean-out and snapped the t-joint! Now, I can't prove it, but we almost know for a fact that one of the technicians stomped on the cleanout, breaking it knowing very well that with us recently having a newborn, we would be very desperate to fix the issue and fix it quickly. This company is a total scam; everybody working for this company are con-artists and I don't know how they sleep at night. I would not recommend this company to my worst enemy.

STAY AWAY!!!

UPDATE 5/12/23:
After spending over 45 minutes on the phone with a representative from Roto-Rooter's corporate branch, I fully stand behind my review. Throughout the entire conversation, the representative talked in circles, defended their employee's actions and behavior, and talked over me nearly every time she asked for details or clarification. She did not even offer up so much as an apology for the way we were treated. This conversation was another shining example of Roto-Rooter's disrespect towards their customers.

Donald Y.

5/13/2023

Called Saturday morning with a blocked line to my septic. 15 feet away. Came in two hours and quickly advised they would have to remove the toilet which is reasonable. Asking the cost and was told $1,000. When I indicated that was outrageous. They said there would also be an additional charge of $10 for the toilet seal. Not here.

Shawn T.

4/26/2023

The 1 star rating(generous) reflects the morality/integrity and care of this company towards its customers.

I needed a p-trap and a faucet installed. Straightforward setup, nothing complicated.

I called to get a quote, but was told they needed to send someone out to get a quote in person, and that it would cost $100 to do so for the consultation fee.

The guy came, and quoted me $800 for the labor only. I asked for a breakdown of the very high quote, and he told me it was corporate pricing, and he can't break it down. Convenient reasoning.

I declined his service, but had to pay the $100 fee because they couldn't give me a simple honest quote on a p-trap/faucet over the phone.

I ended up going with another plumbing company with a 5 star rating, and they gave me a quote right after I texted them some pictures of the setup, and it was for A THIRD of their price.

Terrible Company that will try dirty tricks to get their $$.

A S.

4/30/2023

I had horrible experiences with this company. The charge of the services range from $150-$700. They will come out to your home 3 to 4 times before they get the job right it is horrific I do not recommend this company I do not recommend any of the workers in this company. Do not waste your money call someone else.

Karen B.

4/20/2023

I decided to use this company for 2 issues. Kitchen sink leaking from underneath the drain/basket area. Utility sink in basement leaking from PVC joint connection. The guy came out and gave an estimate of 750 dollars for the work! I knew it was a rip off right away. I asked what the price break down was and he could not say. He also did not provide a written estimate. So, I paid the 100 estimate fee and called another company. They charged 450 to fix both leaking sinks and this included parts and labor. How did Rooter come up with that estimate ?Not sure, he seemed to pull the $ 750 estimate out of thin air. I aslo got a follow up call from Rooter asking if I needed water damage remediation due to the leaks. This entire estimate and the follow up call seem really suspicious. I would not call or use them again.

Bianca G.

01/01/2023 12:00:00 SA

Terrible Company. Have been without water for over a week due to the company rescheduling 3 times. Just find someone else if you have an emergency.

Jessica N.

9/27/2022

We had an issue with our main line backing up into a unit bathroom. Roto rooter came out, diagnosed the issue and said the line was too impacted to work into. They went through another line in the basement and cleared that out, leaving the main issue still there. Two months later we had the same issue again. We called them and they said they cleaned out the line and would do it for free. A week after that and we're still having issues. Finally got a decent plumber to come check it out. He showed us with the camera how nothing had ever been cleaned and the main line was SEVERELY overgrown with roots. Do not hire this company. They did not to the work they promised and charged 3x the normal amount to do it. Complete rip off

Jean L.

1/28/2023

The plumber gave me a quote of over $700 to change a faucet. He Claimed the best he could do was $600. He didn't bother to properly inspect the sink and pipes and left after charging a $99 call-out fee when I refused their ridiculous price. I called Captain Rooter and had the faucet installed for $295! Their plumber also notices a leak and fixed it free of charge. Roto Rooter should be ashamed of themselves. Don't trust these guys.

Jerry W.

3/16/2023

Had sewer backup so called Roto-Rooter (who I've used in the past). Came out several hours later and claimed the furthest he could reach with the rodder was 40' and something prevented him from going further, however invoice states the main was cleared. The tech spent about 3-1/2 hours and didn't clear the drain. Another tech with a camera was scheduled to come out the next day to video the sewer line (no additional charge). Tech came out the next day and couldn't find the blockage but said we needed a clean out installed outside, about 7' of sewer drain replaced, and hydro-jetting to clear the blockage. Decided to get another quote and found a plumber who cleared the blockage in about 1 hour and said installing a clean out was my option and not needed immediately. So, spent 2 days with a clogged sewer drain and was unable to use toilets or shower, paid alot of money to Roto-Rooter for not clearing the blockage, and had to rent a hotel room for one night. I'd highly recommend if you have the same problem get multiple quotes.

Persa D.

02/05/2023 12:00:00 SA

Had them out for a clogged sink and after 2+ hours the problem couldn't be fixed and suggested I call to have the company come out with a camera to see where the problem is after running 75 ft of coil through the pipes. Booked this on like and was quoted $650 when he showed up wish was insane. Still paid $100 even though it wasn't fixed Had another company out the next way with the problem fixed within an hour. Worst experience!!!

Madeline B.

03/01/2021 12:00:00 SA

Actually the worst company I've ever worked with. Please do not use roto-rooter. They rob you of your money and fully take advantage of people.

The plumber showed up and immediately asked where the home owner was and who would be paying. I said me and he said where is the man of the house. Because I am a woman he immediately questioned me.

He took 3 minutes to fix the problem. Literally tightened the knob on the faucet and said he was going to charge me $400 and I said that was outrageous. He then said because you are so pretty I'll only charge you $300. I am so disturbed by this company and taking advantage of people. I have heard horror stories after I used them.

I would never use them again. I wrote them a review on their website and asked for a call and never received one.

Terrible terrible terrible. Never use ever

Kholoud W.

12/16/2022

We had water backing up and coming out of our basement kitchenette drain in the floor, they came out charged 7,800 dollars to excavate and fix the line in the floor by the drain that they said was damaged and causing our current problem.
I said the amount was high but they kept saying they are a big company that guarantees it's work and this is the problem

They did mention that a small section of the line from the house to the street also had some bellying or settling and would need replacement maybe in 5 years or later . They said it would be about 20 or 25k so we opted to wait and fix our current problem.

After they fixed the indoor pipe for 7,800 (which later turned out to be 5 feet long) we had to hire someone to replace the tile too.

When nothing changed , water stil coming out of the same area they started saying it needed jetting every few months (for 600 dollars) and argued they fixed what they were supposed to fix and that was the only problem in the house so anything now is due to outside plumbing and not their problem. We recently had the entire outside line dug up and replaced but water is still backing up in the same places in the basement !!

We had a new company come out and it turns out Roto rooter missed a big leak in the wall right next to where they excavated !
We have black mold there now and that was the cause of all our problems!

The last time I called, the guy I talked to was so argumentative saying it is an outdoor line problem and that of course if the outside doesn't drain then it will back up inside. I feel this was a lousy overpriced rip off of a job.
I had them come out while the new company had the wall open and showed them where the problem was and what they missed and that they basically fixed something that didn't need fixing, the guy didn't have much to say, called his manager Dan who was supposed to call me but didn't till I called him. He claimed he needed to talk to his bosses then said they would come out and fix the pipe leak ( my real problem) just out of sympathy and not charge me the now 8,000 dollars it should cost me. He got nasty when I told him this is not sympathy and that they never fixed the problem, his response was but they fixed something ie they did work gat had nothing to do with the problem, he said they are plumbers and won't replace the dry wall we had to remove that had black mold during the 1.5 year they missed the leak! And his company NEVER reimburses money!!

They do not stand by their guarantees or stand by their work more so hey act as if they are sure they know what they are doing! A bunch of kids doing unneeded overpriced work and very very rude and unprofessional . They are great when giving estimate and taking your money!

But I am one customer who is not letting this go !
Corrupt bunch of thieves !

Andres C.

11/18/2020

Absolute, irresponsible trash. Claiming to offer an estimate without actually providing an estimate is the beginning of a poor experience. I never post reviews on here, but I feel a true responsibility to make people aware and to make it known this company can not be trusted and the first of many reviews I will be publishing to reinforce the importance of reporting inexcusable business practices. The time windows they claim they do not commit to, and the sole intent on anyone from their company coming out is to upsell or begin upselling unnecessary services or inspections with improper and unprofessional assessments.

The main reason for reaching out to them was to diagnose a leak which they never actually determined. To diagnose required 350$. Upon reaching out to corporate customer service I was told by quite possibly the most poorly trained human being of a representative and an absolute waste of payroll, that the inspection was determined to originate from an improperly installed bathtub which from the time of this writing was determined to be a spout leak from behind the wall from an actual professional.

To say the experience was poor in its entirety would be generous.

Do not reach out or expend any energy into even beginning to consider this completely unethical company, to know that there are clients keeping them in business to whatever degree is apalling.

Arelys J.

11/28/2022

I saw $75 off for plumbing services and $69 fee wave if I let the plumber do the work this is why I schedule to have a tech come for the offer. I had a leak from my shower head. I asked for the quote it seemed extremely overpriced for a piece that cost like $20 and he kept changing his price. I let him know about my coupon and the waive fee and He didn't answer and did not want to apply discounts. He let me know he fixed the leak but I saw it was still leaking. He then told me there is nothing he can do. He didn't fix my leak. Left a mess. Took my hardware that was from my shower with and still charged me for parts when he took his out to put mine back which he didn't do and had water all over my bathroom floor. I spent $256 for nothing. Nothing was done and left a mess and leak was not resolved. I'm never doing business with this company again and total rip off and unprofessional

Alex K.

2/19/2022

My sink was rodded 2x and keeps backing up. The second technician suggested a person with a camera to come take a look.

After a few days of trying to schedule with the dispatcher, I had an appt for Saturday morning. An hour after that window, I called 2x to figure out when they were able to stop by.

After an hour on the phone, the dispatcher said they no longer had anyone with a camera and suggested another plumber come out.

I am very disappointed with the entire process including the communication and their unwillingness to fix the problem. Roto-Rooter has caused an even bigger headache.

Sarah M.

12/11/2022 12:00:00 SA

DO NOT CALL THEM IN AN EMERGENCY. Called them out for an emergency plumbing issue. No one ever showed up in the time frame they said they would and did not call to let know they wouldn't be showing up.They claim to be a 24 hour service but said it was too late for anyone to come and had me wait all day long u til 7pm when I called to check where they were.

Kathy K.

02/02/2022 12:00:00 SA

I had someone come out because the sewer to the street was completely stopped.

There were 5 guys outside trying to root out the drain, 1 working , 1 with a flash light, and 3 watching. It was about 3 hours later. They did not get anything done and charged me $625. Then told me it would be at least another $8500 to dig it out and replace it. I told them to forget it I'll get someone else.

I had someone else do it for $4800. Thanks G Angel Plumbing!!!!

Rick S.

11/08/2022 12:00:00 SA

Don't waste your time if you have a real emergency. Heres how their game works. They say they will be out in one hour. Then at exactly one hour, someone calls and says they don't have anyone available but they will be happy to be there tomorrow. If you have a real emergency call someone else.

Michelle L.

10/23/2021

Responsive in an emergency but would not recommend - ejector pump they replaced failed the next day. They came out to fix again but we had twice as much damage as a result of it not being done properly the first time.

Sean-Paul B.

02/09/2022 12:00:00 SA

We called Roto-Rooter to come out on a Tuesday afternoon, and they showed up within an hour and a half. First, Jeff and his colleague were here diagnosing our sewer before their supervisor Rolando showed up later that evening. I've never been so impressed with the level of customer service and professionalism as I was by this experience. Jeff was articulate and honest. Once Rolando showed up, they were able to explain the process and what needed to be done in a clear and concise manner with the upmost professionalism. After being there for almost five hours, they handed me the bill... and I was floored... by how low it was.

Incredibly impressed, and I will never call anyone else.
SPB

Carolyn A.

08/10/2022 12:00:00 SA

Our whole home system was backing up due to an inlet line the septic tank having dropped over time. The response time was rapid, the young man who made the repair was polite and efficient and the costs were reasonable. Could not have asked for more.

Susan P.

1/16/2023

My kitchen sink had a slow drain - enough that I was concerned and wanted it cleared before it got worse. $400 later the minor clog was cleared but I was told it might actually have been in the main line outside - which would be an ADDITIONAL $500. Forget it. A few weeks later I went under the sink to get something in the back of the cabinet and noticed everting was soaking wet and mildewed - when the pipe was reconnected the nut was not fully screwed on so had a slow drip leak. I had them come back after multiple phone calls and it was the same guy - who was fairly rude the first time. He said I signed a paper that said he wasn't responsible (really? Just do you your job) and that my pipes were old. That may be so but that doesn't have anything to do with not putting a part back properly - and then being combative about it! I can find someone else who finishes the job and doesn't have an attitude!

Justin R.

1/31/2022

I felt compelled to leave a review after my experience with Roto Rooter last week. I am leaving three stars, because ultimately I authorized the work, and Roto Rooter did respond to my complaint promptly and explained their policy/position. I am however generally disappointed with Roto Rooter's approach which was not made clear to me at all until after the fact.

I have a tenant occupied property, and my tenant let me know the valves for the washing machine and the basement sink faucet were both running, and they could not turn them off. I requested a Roto Rooter appointment online and a plumber was sent out the following morning.

Once the plumber had assessed the problem, he called and said, it'll be $15xx dollars. I balked - that much to replace two valves and a faucet, ~4 hours labor? Yep. I talked him down to $1400.

Long story short, after I complained via email and received a call back from the corporate office, it was explained to me that whether the repair takes 20 minutes or 8 hours, the labor cost is the same. Doesn't seem fair, and I wish I had known this very important policy of theirs prior to using them. So, if you have a very complicated, labor intensive repair, call Roto Rooter and take advantage of that flat labor fee. If it's not, don't.

Chris S.

1/27/2021

The job was done with good speed.. They are quick to setup a schedule and promptly send someone out. Those were pluses. This was not our first time using them since they had done a clogged bathroom tub for around $300ish before. In both cases, the workers were professional. The recent job had the worker practicing social distancing and wore a mask.
But replacing a kitchen sink pipe and getting a new faucet for nearly $1,000 was just too damaging to the wallet. Way more than we had anticipated for the job. $600 for a faucet was astronomical and to fix the pipe, they simply reused the PVC from the old pipe.

Again, nearly $1000 to fix a kitchen sink pipe and replacing a faucet.

Angie M.

2/19/2022

Stay away! I called them out due to a sewer backing up problem. They fixed it for $4800 but in the process caused more damage. They disconnected my perimeter drains, they knew what they were because the guy made a comment that they were done illegally, and DID NOT reconnect them. They left them disconnected without my knowledge at the time. Now I have flooding in my basemen. I spoke to the manager but he would only have his crew come fix the problem at a discounted cost. I'm sorry but I am not paying one cent more for a problem they caused. Now I'm out another $4000 to fix my new problem they caused. They will never get my business again! Stay away from this crooked company.

Jaquita M.

12/12/2022 12:00:00 SA

scheduled an appointment for someone to look at my drain. was told the hours of 10am-2pm a contractor will arrive. called off of work to make sure I was around for the plumber to get in. I called to get an eta on contractor at 1:57pm to be told that they were still waiting on a available contractor. spoke with a manager that was very rude! contractor came 3 hours late. the initial price was $600 then he changed it to $375 then one more time to $250. I declined bc it didn't feel right. not sure if the contractor was trying to do Christmas shopping on me or not. this company is totally unprofessional. Wouldn't recommend to anyone.

Al P.

07/05/2022 12:00:00 SA

Incompetent tech couldn't diagnose a leaking toilet. Corporate customer service is even worse ! Used them in the past with no problems but it's a crap shoot now if you decide to use them. I'll never call them again.

Kristin H.

3/14/2022

If I could rate zero stars, I would. I called roto-rooter because I was having sewage back up a basement drain and could not reach our regular plumber on a late Saturday night. They came out Sunday morning, told my my main line was clogged, allegedly cleared it (less than 10 minutes) but then problem was not fixed. At my husband's prompting, they checked the ejector pump and unclogged it. Charged me $925 and the problem was still only temporarily fixed. Quoted $2300 to replace the ejector pump PLUS $7300 to fix the main. I declined and waited for Monday. My regular plumber came out and replaced the ejector pump for less than half the rotorooter price and established that the main line was NEVER clogged and did not need any additional work. I was entirely ripped off and I am ashamed that I even called rotorooter, knowing their reputation but I was panicked (and they took full advantage of that.) $925 stupid tax. How is this company allowed to exist? DO NOT CALL THEM NO MATTER WHAT. Unethical, shameless, rotten to the core.

Saida R.

08/07/2021 12:00:00 SA

Worst service ever !!! I called and scheduled an app for a sat from 12 to 4 I waited all day just to be informed an hr before my window closed for them to come out they no longer offer this service I inquired about and when I asked why wasn't I told this when I first called they just replied with im sorry but what do u want me to do !! All employees should be informed of what services they provide instead of wasting customers valuable time !!!

J H.

11/18/2021

A toilet backed up today and I called the local Roto-Rooter number. The number was not local but after 22 minutes I was told someone would be at the house in 45-60 minutes. No show! I called again and was told my name and address were not in the system, but someone now would be at my home soon. Nothing! I called again and waited 35 minutes on hold, then was disconnected. The worst service I have ever experienced! Never use Roto-Rooter.

John H

J F.

2/28/2022

$620 to unclog.the sewage line, the process was completed in under 1 hour. Make sure to ask for pricing prior to work and call other service providers to avoid my mistake.

Laura P.

08/02/2021 12:00:00 SA

TERRIBLE SERVICE AND MANAGEMENT. DO NOT HIRE THEM FOR YOUR SERVICE. RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. DESERVES ZERO STARS.

I received service from Roto Rooter to getting sewer rodding done. I was given a two hour time frame when I initially called. Two hours later, I received a phone call that the technician was running behind schedule. The technician said it would be 400 hundred dollars for an outdoor rodding service when he came. We came to agreement to a lower price that would include both the rodding service and for camera inspection a couple days later included in that price. The technician mentioned I would hear from Roto Rooter a day or two later regarding the camera inspection...I never heard back, so I called the following week to get a status update.

When I called to get an update, the dispatcher not only raised her voice at me and argued with me, but also hung up on me without listening to the full story!! They were going to charge me an extra couple hundred dollars to have someone come do the camera inspection. I told the dispatcher that is not what I was told and what was written on the paper. I also have video proof of the conversation through our doorbell with the technician stating the camera inspection was included in the price.

I had to call back off a different number for them to answer and speak with management. The manager was not willing to listen to the story of what happened, but instead was defending the employees while also being rude. What kind of company allows their employees to speak rudely and raise their voices at the customers and hang up on them. She said she does not allow customers to raise their voice at employees, but was okay with the employees raising their voice at me and hanging up. What kind of training and service is that!! It was very rude and disrespectful.

I DO NOT plan on using this company ever again. They try to scam you out of money for a service that won't take long, while being rude and disrespectful. Like other reviewers have mentioned, there are other companies providing higher quality services at a lower price, who have better customer services skills than the employees at Roto Rooter. It is unbelievable they allow their employees to talk like this to customers. Never using them again!

Eugenia G.

9/22/2020

I m not sure about others review but i m telling what i really experienced with this company.
First of all overpriced but could still go on with that cuz its not that important the work has to be done good, and if you ask me they did the work for me but not the way i was expecting but anyway its done now and iv'e seen no problem yet. and the last point i want to mention is that one less star is because i was expecting more friendly and cool behavior.

Joe N.

08/11/2021 12:00:00 SA

So went online and scheduled visit. Called and confirmed

Left work early for my 4-6 appointment. Never showed up. Called at 545 and got rudest person ever. Zero help. Clearly do not value my time

Will be calling another business tomorrow.

Strongly recommend to avoid.

Victor D.

10/21/2020

This company is absolute garbage!!
Do not trust them I. Your house to solve your plumbing problems!

John D.

1/16/2022

I am a property manager, and needed and emergency service to rod a kitchen line. My usual plumber was busy so called these people in a pinch. It took four hours to get someone out, and then they wanted $625 to run a snake down a kitchen line. This is more than three times what it should cost. Do not hire these criminals.

Steve J.

6/27/2021

These folks are unbelievable. Only good thing is they came out about when they said they would.

$640 to snake the drains!!! I called another company in the area, $200.

But they did offer a 6 month warranty. If you believe they'll snake your drain for free within 6 months, you deserve to be ripped off.

DO NOT USE...

Susan C.

1/18/2022

They are reliable brave they show up in time. They have been able to unclog my toilets every time, and I have a kid who is constantly overusing toilet paper...

Qaisar I.

09/12/2022 12:00:00 SA

I placed a service call to unclog the bathroom pipe. First technician named Max came in and informed me that the pipe is clogged and he needs to open the toilet to fix it. After trying to open the toilet for 30 minutes he informed me that he does not have the right tools and skills to open the toilet and a more experienced technician will come to fix it. 2nd technician named John came and informed me there was no need to open the toilet and Max should have fixed it through the tub drain. I asked for lower fee as now the work is less and no need for toilet disassembly but he said that I have already signed the paperwork and no I have to pay for $550 just to put a rod in the pipe. I agreed as I did not have a choice and I needed the bathroom to be fixed. John informed me that everything is good and I paid the service fee. Next day I noticed the water drips from the roof. John again came in and cut the rood in couple of places and informed me that the toilet is leaking. John said that he needs his manager approval to perform the repair free of charge and I need to call them on Monday. On Monday I called again and explained the situation and I was told that the work is covered under the previous contract and the technician should not charge any money. Technician came after 2 hours and started asking for $520 to fix the leak. After several calls to the customer support and the corporate, they refused to fix the leakage unless I pay $450. This is simple fraud. You come to somebody house, cause a leakage, and refuse to repair it. I am left with water damage, roof damage, and now I am working another company to fix the leakage that was cause by unskilled technician. Worst company to work with. Don't recommend anybody to use it.

Philip V.

4/19/2022

If I could give 0 I would. I called on Friday to have them come give me an estimate on some sewer work, they said they would be here today between 10 and 4 (which is a ridiculously large window) and they didn't show or call.

Jeff S.

6/24/2021

I called roto rooter yesterday and it was easy to schedule to have someone come out during business hours the next day. Josias came out and did a nice job clearing the drain within 30 minutes. I would have given a higher rating but the price of $585 is absolutely ridiculous. Yes they claim to give you a 6 month warranty (which is not documented on the paperwork I have). I called a few other local plumbers and the ranges they typically charge would be $275-350.

Sam O.

3/15/2021

They charged $450 for 1 hour of work and the simple job of installing a bathtub faucet.

Shana V.

05/03/2021 12:00:00 SA

If I can give less stars I would. worse company ever. Cheats you out your money.
1st they tell me it's your drain clogged. still had the same problem a week later. Now it's another problem. I need a new pump. Just to get more money. When they coils have said all this on the first visit. Customer service was rude. Took advantage of me, paid over $2000

D A.

08/09/2022 12:00:00 SA

I called Roto-Rooter (Bronx, NY) on Saturday, August 6, 2022 to clean a main sewer line. After the operator took all the pertinent information, I asked how much it would be, she said the technician had to assess the situation first and then would give me a price but if I didn't agree there would be no charge. I then asked if she could just give me a general idea of what it might cost because I prefer to pay cash and wanted to make sure that I brought enough. She still said she could not say. They texted me and let me know that the technician would be arriving in 30 to 45 minutes. I left in approximately 10 minutes but he still arrived before me. While enroute my tenants were frantically trying to reach me--I didn't hear my phone at first--when I answered my tenant wanted to know if they had told me how much the clean-out would cost, I said no they hadn't. The technician quoted her a price of over $600. The technician, Pedro, was still there when I arrived and I of course declined the service. However, I was livid, I was expecting to pay more than it has cost in the past because it was Saturday and it was Roto-Rooter, but this kind of price gouging is unconscionable. Not only did they waste the technician's time but they wasted my time and then I had to hang around for a few hours waiting for another company; which charged $160. I apologize to Pedro if I was discourteous--no, there was no yelling or profanity--but I was probably short with him, but I take a very dim view of people trying to rip me off and this was the worst that I have ever experienced. Avoid this company if at all possible!

Brian D.

6/27/2021

The plumber they sent out went above and beyond to fix the plumbing issue. Took his time and explained everything that was going on.

Uriah H.

8/30/2021

the fucking worst company to call for any drain/sewer problem. they will fuck you over and steal your money. they are doing it it me now. saturday emergency call to clear my backed up sewer line. snaked a couple times and popped a hole through so when sewage receded, i was told it is clear and good to go. two days later it backed up again. they did not do what was needed but charged me over $600 to pop a hole through the roots. stupid mother fuckers. they should have just came and did the root cleaning instead of the $600 snake, followed by the you should get the camera feed for another $300 and then clean the actual roots for $1,200 more...so they actually wanted over $2,000 fucking dollars. i got the money rolled up, wrapped in some tree roots, to shove it up your ass roto-rooter. go fuck yourself.

Katie S.

9/28/2021

I had a kitchen sink leak and they came out told me the garbage disposal would need to be replaced. They quoted me more than double what I had paid at a previous residence for the same job. When I said I would not be using their service, I was then argued with about how there is no cheaper service as I was holding a receipt from within the last year at the previous place. Very rude and terrible pricing. I'll wait the extra day for my normal company. Unless you're completely desperate for service, do not use them.

Holly L.

09/03/2021 12:00:00 SA

The worst company I have ever dealt with. A simple garbage disposal hook up was $755, that is highway robbery! They never showed up the day they were scheduled and then when they came the following day they charged $1000 for 2 hours of simple basic plumbing. Spoke to home office and they simply stated that $755 is their flat national rate to install a garbage disposal... disgraceful.

Richard E.

12/13/2020

Didn't show on the Saturday, waited all afternoon and evening. They called Sat night to reschedule for Sunday, 11 - 1pm. 1pm they called to say they would be there in an hour or so. 4pm, still no word. I called to enquire and they said they had no one available. Finally gave up. Really poor communication.

Organized S.

08/10/2020 12:00:00 SA

If I could give no stars, I would!!! I should have read the other reviews on Yelp before engaging in any type of business with this company. The fact that customers are leaving such detailed reviews with 1 and 2 stars, tells me that these are not isolated encounters and that the reviews correlate with my experience. There's definitely a reason they have 3 stars! To clarify, I never made it to hiring them to do any work because my initial encounter with of all departments, customer service, was so terrible!!! If you have customer service issues with a company before you've even hired them to do the work, that is not a good sign!
Minor Issue(s):
Tech did not practice COVID safety precautions

Major Issue(s):
They advertise that they offer free estimates, but this is very misleading.
Tech looked at my exposed leaking pipe in my basement and said he would have to tear out my countertops and cabinets in my kitchen to diagnose the leak in my basement.
Tech called two different other employees (field managers) to get guidance on the repair.
Tech then quoted $1500 to diagnose (see pic) with no details on the estimate explaining what the $1500 was covering.
This quote and his explanation did not make sense to me, so I contacted customer service to request another tech assess the repairs. I was transferred to the customer service liaison' who was EXTREMELY RUDE & UNPROFESSIONAL. She proceeded to tell me they would not send someone else out and that quote on quote: their company is expensive and if I could not afford their prices, then maybe I should hire another plumbing company. Nowhere in the conversation did I say I could not afford their prices. When I began to tell her that her comments were very unprofessional and assumptive, she abruptly transferred me to someone else's voicemail without notifying me of her intentions.
Upon speaking to her boss she was not very concerned about rectifying any of the issues that I brought to her attention. Her consolation for my inconvenience and the negative experience with her rude and unprofessional subordinate was that she could send someone else out to diagnose the problem for $325??? If the free quote made sense and was done thoroughly the first time, there would be no need to request to have second quote.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I am very disappointed that the corporate department of this company only cares about $$$, NOT customer relations, customer retention, or best practices. From the looks of the reviews they do not provide very good craftsmanship either.

Emily W.

09/05/2019 12:00:00 SA

I have never had a worse experience with any company in my life. My new condo kitchen sink drain was apparently clogged between my condo and my neighbors upon move in. I called roto rooter. They sent someone that day to quote me. They quoted my $400 to snake/unclog my drain. I said no way so they walked out and came back in and quoted $275. Wow. Nice. I said I'll look around because that seemed shady but had to call them back since no one else was available Labor Day weekend. This was Thursday so they came back Friday. They tried for 2 hours (one guy seemed to be training another guy) to snake/clean out my drain. They could not get to the blockage and then recommended I hydrojet the drain. They told me roto rooter doesn't do this but they do.

I then called roto rooter to do they jetting and they said they would send someone out Saturday in the morning. I waited all day and someone showed Saturday night. He was the camera guy that needs to inspect the pipes with a camera before hydrojetting and said this was never a hydrojet job, this pipes won't even fit his camera and said he had to leave for an emergency but someone would call back.

I had to call 3 times before someone finally responded, sorry, yeah, you need to have a tech come back and try and unclog it again. Maybe they went the wrong way in the pipes. I waited all day Sunday and was led to believe someone would come out. No one did. Same thing happened on Monday. My entire Labor Day weekend was spent waiting on this company. I will never recommend them or speak positively about them moving forward. Worse customer service than Comcast.

D&B plumbing came out Tuesday morning and fixed the clog in 30 minutes. Do yourself a favor and book that lovely company and never touch Roto Rooter.

Zita B.

6/16/2021

This company is a absolute ripoff, my handicapped sister had a float in toilet that needed to be changed. A absolutely easiest job ever so I called roto-rooter for her because I thought they would be a reputable company. THIS WAS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE. They said on the phone it would be a $69 fee to come out. I told them ok how much for the float in toilet. They said they have to diagnose the problem first and they could not quote. They came out and my sister who is handicapped said they had to change the whole inside of toilet and she figured she had to do it because they are there so it was done. Roto-Rooter charged her $570.00 for 5 minutes of work. That's all he was there for. That's over $2000 a hour for labor cost. I was told by my brother who was a plumber that it should be 150 or so because they came out. So this company will not give quotes over the phone because they rip them off when they get there and customers feel obligated because they want the job done and really hammer them. THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A HANDICAPPED PERSON. THEY GET 0 stars. DO NOT USE THEM. Unfortunately I had to hit 1 star which they do not deserve.

Peter D.

6/25/2021

Wow. The only positive reviews are from the same script where they list employee name and #.
Paid about the same as everyone else- $585 to get our main snaked. Nearly every review, regardless of the project, pays in the $500s.
Roto Rooter was done in about 15 minutes saying the job was completed and said his boss was coming w/ the camera for a complimentary scoping. The water in the clean-out had receded. and we handed him his check.
Boss comes, scopes it, and says the clog remains. We need to pay $7700 to excavate and remove sewer line. Does the ole FeldCo hard sale, pay now and we can have someone out next day (before the storms hit).
We complained that his employee had taken our money and not done anything which he offered to take off the sewer line tab. Would not refund despite their guarantee.
Had another company come by and paid $350 and problem was resolved.
This is their business plan, people. Charge $585 whether to rod or pull hair out of a P-trap.
The employees that work there are rejects from Lincoln Towing. Here's my new script for their Yelp reviews: Eraldi (#3963) and Tony are lumps of human excrement for participating in this outright fraud.

Rob S.

6/23/2021

The company is a bunch crooks. They scheduled my appointment from 4-6pm. Didn't arrive till 9pm. I needed them to unclog my kitchen sink. Only took him about 20min using the snaking tool but ended up charging me $435 (and that's with a $150 discount for showing up late)!! Only giving 1 star because the technician was a nice guy. Never again!!!

Dhananjay B.

5/20/2020

Cheaters, unprofessionals and confrontational.

I am down $250 and I am still not sure the problem is solved.

The persons on the phone are very rude and unprofessional..

Makita K.

06/04/2021 12:00:00 SA

My cousin called for a clogged laundry floor drain. The technician tried to unclog with a machine. There was a cracking/crunching sound. He stopped immediately and said he couldn't unclog it. Now all sinks and drains in the house are clogged, with water from toilet backing up into the tub. The technician cracked what he described as clay pipes. Roto Rooter is refusing to repair what they broke. They shouldn't use tools that will cause more damage than what was there when they started. Initially, he couldn't use his washing machine. Now he can't use anything.

Marie L.

04/08/2021 12:00:00 SA

I would highly recommend not going with this company. We hired them because we were in a pinch and they WAY overcharged. What's worse... they didn't actually fix the problem and still tried to charge over $1k. Then they come back and say it'll cost $12k to fix the problem. We got quotes from other plumbers who said roto-rooter's 12k quote was total BS and that they are the biggest crooks in the business...

Chris L.

8/15/2021

Had an appointment 2-4 confirmed day off. At 4pm didn't hear anything so I called they said they are a bit behind schedule. I called again at 5:30 and they didn't know when they could send someone, and eventually gave up at 6:40. All times I called they acted like they were a bit behind schedule and it was nothing out of the ordinary, even being multiple hours late.

Nicole H.

03/03/2019 12:00:00 SA

Owning a commercial business, had a clogged drain, spent hours using personal jetter on hand to pulled up the clog(physical things causing block)

when it wasn't fixed (after several hours of trying) figured to call a professional with more powerful tools. The man was nice enough, but in the time he spent using his equipment he pulled up NOTHING. Starting to clean up, we realized the drain was still clogged, he came back *from outside at truck* and ran his equipment again. Still not pulling up anything and suggesting the floor needs to be torn up to get into the line. Charged $1000 as a deal. For total 2hrs time spent at shop. ($630/hr) no price quote given at the outset or what the outcome was expected to be.

After he left ended up Going to a store spent another $400 on a rodder, and spent another hour and a 1/2 from getting back from store, opening box and setting up, pulled up more gunk on a rodder and ultimately the (seemingly) final blockage - drain has been functioning fine since. The call was a waste of time and money.

As roto-rooter, would have expected them to rod the drain, but was never suggested or attempted, and ultimately that was the fix. Very expensive disappointed.

Updates:
**email sent to reply to this review 6:08p on 3/5**
03/08 - got a call went over details again of what happened, offered $400 refund (basically the cost of what we had to spend to fix the problem they did NOTHING to help with) -- appreciate it, however I now own the tools that I would need to fix the problem if comes up again in the future so still wasted $600 for someone to come, and do nothing except suggest we tear the floor up insurance will cover it *eye roll* ...

Karen B.

06/08/2021 12:00:00 SA

Called Roto-Rooter on a Sunday at 12pm, and they were at my house within 2 hours. Our tech Borce #1474 was very professional and accommodating. They fixed our problem promptly. Thanks Borce from roto-rooter.

Cary J.

3/27/2022

my washer backed up and goes in to my bathroom sick he the tec snaked it but that caused my up stairs shower in to my sicn down stairs left a mess wow dont waste your time with tec downget a real plumber u be glad u did.

Mary Lou C.

03/04/2020 12:00:00 SA

DO NOT CALL THIS COMPANY! They are incredibly OVER-PRICED and UNRESPONSIVE.

In what universe does a simple kitchen faucet replacement cost $1,000.00! Especially when the job takes LESS THAN ONE HOUR.

Calling Roto Rooter was a gigantic costly mistake I will never make again.

I hope I can prevent you from making the giant error of calling Roto Rooter so you don't have to learn the hard expensive way that I did!

Rob T.

10/30/2018

I've tried working with Roto-Rooter twice now.
The first time they sent someone who was an apprentice who was not able to actually work in my condo, he was was extremely late and tried passing off a $500 bill for work that probably could be done for half of that. I say this because I found the part he wanted to bill me $100 for online for $25, thanks for the upcharge roto you guys sure know how to be fair.

The second time around roto rooter showed up way too late to even come and do the fix. I've wasted 2 months on these idiots and I'll never request another thing from them again.

Do not waste your time because they really dont give a shit.

Max E.

10/11/2019 12:00:00 SA

We had a clean out installed in December of 2018, 4 months later our basement floors in a storm because the clean out is clogged, we call and state the 12 month flow guarantee and they come, water jet it out and leave. No camera, no offer to repair the damage their failed 12 month guarantee caused. 4 months later to the day! We flood again, cleanup is clogged. The come fish it out, come back with a supervisor and camera, they cant find any reason in our pipes it would jeep clogging other than a small lip at the connection from the new clean out to the old pipe. We are asked why was it only 3 feet, we say we dont know we were told 5 feet. No idea we had to ask is that 5 feet horizontally or vertically. The pipe is 5 feet down 3 feet and cost $6000. We were told by the supervisor with the camera $6000 pays for up to 10 feet. So he leaves takes copies of our contract to review just what exactly we agreed to a week goes by we get a call from another manager. He says they reviewed the video on the camera and see nothing wrong with our Pipes other than the little lip at the connection from that clean out to the old.pipe and under warranty roto rooter will come dig up the front yard again and repair it...... great right! And nothing. No calls again, no appt set, nothing.
We had two floods, one that totally destroyed the basement and the second that did damage but not as bad. I didnt pay us and repair your work. I said just come repair the work done wrong. Now I am thinking maybe I need to have them repair the bad clean out and reimburse some of the damage it cost us to repair everything because failed... every rain I worry, is it clogged, will it stop.water from leaving the house again, can i go to sleep or will there be a huge mess. Come on roto.rooter i already paid my 6k, i held up my end. Now hold up yours. 12 month guarantee for flow failed twice in 8 months.

Benjamin W.

09/04/2021 12:00:00 SA

Needed water to my fridge shut off and I couldn't find the valve. Called roto rooter and they told me they would be out the following day 8am-1pm. They called the next day to say they were running late. Then they called again saying the couldn't see me today and I would be the first stop the next day. The next day comes and no one shows. They call at 5:30pm and tell me they can't see me that day either. I canceled and will take my business was elsewear. Will never use this company again. If you are too busy to see me just say so, don't keep breaking commitments.

Gerardo C.

01/12/2022 12:00:00 SA

Called Roto-Rooter to unclog two slow draining drains, one in the kitchen sink and the other in the tub. Roto-Rooter does not provide an estimate for the work when you call to make the appointment. This is upsetting because I discovered that they have a list of the cost for each plumbing repair task, but they do not share this information when you call. So, you have no idea of the potential cost of the repairs until the repair person shows up. Since they were the fastest plumber I could schedule I decided to use their services. When the repair person came to do the work he quoted $650 for each drain, for a total of $1,300. I was confused as to why he was quoting each drain individually since the drain line is practically the same and the work can be done during the same visit. The drains are accessible and I know very well, because I have had this done before, that this is a simple one-hour job. After some complaining, the repair person offered a $200 discount, that's $1,100 now. This, in my opinion, was still excessive for one hour's work. As predicted, he was done within one hour. I protested about the charge yet again and he agreed to charge $850. Granted, this is better than the original quote of $1,300. But to charge $850 for one hour of work is highway robbery. I will not use this company again. Better to call a local licensed plumber. At least they will provide an estimate for the work when you call them.

Donnie J.

10/15/2016

I needed to have a kitchen faucet replaced .
I decided to call my favorite plumber service
roto rooter . The plumber arrived as scheduled
he replaced my old faucet with a new faucet.
The plumber was very professional and Quick.
Great job ROTO ROOTER!!!

thanks again Don
technician 3145
invoice #19254746

Michelle O.

03/01/2021 12:00:00 SA

We were charged $5600 to fix a leak issue in our basement. They drilled open the floor so we also had to pay for our floor to be replaced as well. One week later and the same leaking issue is back. Now, they are saying they need an additional $500 to fix it. I do not recommend. Go somewhere else.

Paulina D.

9/19/2018

Horrible!
I wish I could give this company negative stars. My hot water heater went out this morning. I called them and was told that someone would be out within 2 hours. 3 hours later no call no show. I called back and was told they were SERIOUSLY delayed and had no idea if or when they could come out. Really??? When I called at 9:30 am you didnt know you were that far behind? Why tell someone you will be out within 2 hours when you are that delayed. When I questioned them on it the woman was rude and said she would have someone call me back. That was over an hour ago...just cancelled on them. After reading other Yelp reviews this seems to be a common issue. Call another company.

Nancy J.

12/16/2021

wanted to charge a 69$ bill for no work done and no labor done. there was no agreement. no one on the phone told me that there was going to be a charge. they did no call no show!! had to call to see where plumber was at! then came late and then the guy was only here for 5 minutes!!! there scammers!!!!! dont call beware!!!! scam alerttttttttt.

Penny B.

6/14/2021

My husband called them on a Friday .Our kitchen drain was not draining. He was told that they would be out the next day between 10am and 2pm. It got to be 2:30pm and no call no show. He called and asked if they were still coming? They said they would call the tech and call back and let him know. NOTHING!! So Sunday morning we called a different company. When my husband called Roto Rooter they were like were going to see IF we could get someone out to you today .We called J & S Plumbing they were out with in about 45 mins and got the drain working.

Todd B.

6/16/2018

Called at 9am asking someone to come to my house on the south side and unclog a drain in the bathtub, an emergency request as the faucet was also leaking and filling up the tub somewhat quickly. They couldn't even offer a specific time, and instead gave me a window of between noon and 4pm. So i waited, and waited, and at 3PM they call and say they're running late, so i wait until 4:30 and call again, and they just cancel on me.

I sat around the house all day on my one day off this week, neglecting a ton of other things I needed to get done (including calling another plumber who would actually show up) so they could just cancel on me. Don't waste your time.

Dane C.

08/12/2018 12:00:00 SA

I want to be sure to differentiate the repairman (5 stars) from the company's service as a whole (2 stars).

Harold (#2004) was great. He was knowledgeable, fast and friendly. I'd gladly recommend him anytime.

The customer service, however, was neither customer- or service-oriented. The original service window I was given was 8am-1pm. I received a call at 10:30 telling me service was delayed and there was no timeframe for the technician's arrival. The next update I received was 1:30, well after the already generous 5-hour window, to tell me they hadn't forgotten my appointment but there was still no timeline - just hang on and be patient. Then silence until 3:30, when I received a call from a manager (Jeremy, I believe) who gave me a similar version of the same narrative. Before we hung up, he promised to find a resolution and call me back (he didn't). In the end, the repairperson arrived at 5:30, completely unaware of any of my back and forth with customer service. He hadn't even begun his shift until 1, when my original window was already over.

Here's what I find really egregious though. The customer service representative had offered me 10% discount for my patience, but failed to tell the repairperson. When I told him about the discount, he informed me that the 10% she promised didn't come from the company's bottom line, but his. So essentially the most reliable part of the entire experience was punished for the incompetence of the management.

I've used Roto Rooter exclusively for the last 4 years, but this experience lost my business.

Angelia Y.

11/19/2019

Wish I could give ZERO stars...Called today to secure a quote to replace a 40 gallon, gas, water heater (its 20 years old so I know it should not be repaired). Roto Rooter technician comes out, is onsite 15 minutes and quotes $3200. I've already received 2 other quotes ranging from $1000-$1200. It took everything in me not to tell the Roto Tech to kiss my entire ASS!!!! I'm not sure if he quoted that price because I am a woman, but whatever the reason, its outrageous. A new water heater retails between $400-$600, labor is about the same cost, so how did Roto come up with $3200? I am beyond irritated. PLEASE BEWARE!!!!!

Juliana B.

3/27/2020

Service was good a little on the pricer side but thanks for all the repairs. My kitchen sink needed to be repaired in several ways.

John J.

06/11/2018 12:00:00 SA

Just terrible when it comes to actually getting here on time and rescheduling appointments. Nothing like the one today. They tell us they'll have someone here between 4:00 - 8:00 only to call at 8:30 say the tech is running late followed by, I think we can reschedule you for tomorrow. Nope. Too many other plumbers out there who can get it done when they say.

We've used them four times in the past year and every appointment has been either late (well past the time slots they've given us) or the tech complains about parking (which is not a problem in the least).

On the plus side, 2 of the 4 techs who actually showed up did a great job.

Black H.

10/03/2018 12:00:00 SA

I called them yesterday, they advised the quote is free and came out. The guy was very professional polite he covered his shoes, protected all my things. He gave me a price, I FAINTED!!, explained the situation he and his manager worked with me. Cleared the drain to the main line, cleaned all his mess, was quick and reasonably priced. He explained everything even showed me what caused the problem.They even warranty their work,

Dmitry O.

01/08/2020 12:00:00 SA

so I called RotoRooter to request someone to come out to take a look at water seeping into the house, technician called me to get more info and when I mention that I assume this maybe related to a french drain he abruptly (and rudely) said that they don't work on these and didn't want to hear me out.... I did ask that I needed someone to come out to make determination what is the problem of the issue I am having but he just repeated that we don't work of French-drains....
Pretty bad for business I think to deal with customers like this, in my opinion. I never said I know what the problem is and wanted some who specializes in these issues to come out and determine to cause, if they would have came out and told me that this is definitely related to french-drain and due to this they can't proceed as they don't work on these...; I would understand, but now I need to find someone else and start from scratch, I did tell customer service that I suspected possible french-drain as a problem but it can be anything.

Gjin G.

01/02/2020 12:00:00 SA

Unbelievably rude, expensive, unprofessional.
Technician given me over the phone price of $779.00 to rod sewer line from bathroom sink!
I have put a complain over the phone and i guess one of the office people call back saying they could offer me discounts if i remove my review!
Holly molly!
I got my sewer fixed for $249.00 with four season plumbing!
I wanted to talk to GM but i guess he is to busy for customer service.
Thanks roto rooter for your good service

Ty R.

8/21/2018

Service was fast and the tech was friendly. They were called to reconnect the gas line to the dryer and stove. VERY Expensive! $350.00 for each appliance. They did not discuss pricing when the appointment was made and I did not think it would be that much. He was in and out in less then 30mins.

Shkelqim H.

05/10/2019 12:00:00 SA

Tech 1910 Kelly. Very professional. He came to the front door booties on and he was able to find the problem in minutes. His service was worth every penny.

I will always call them

Joe C.

10/12/2019 12:00:00 SA

I cannot stress enough: DO NOT USE. I called them out after my basement flooded after a large rain storm. They rodded the lines, and sent a camera in for $700+. The first guy seemed like he didn't know what he was doing. He brought in his field supervisor who then informed me that my main sewer line had a 20' belly in It, and it needed to be fully replaced asap. This would entail digging up my concrete foundation, and cost me $12,000. He pushed me to sign now, so he could get a crew out by the next day. I said I needed to speak with my insurance, and he said I shouldn't do that, because they would decline me and just do the job first, then submit it. He also stated that I should consider financing if I couldn't afford it, which, shocker, they offer.

He told me I couldn't put anything through the line until it was fixed, otherwise it would happen again. No baths, no washing machine, no toilet paper, nothing. They left. Next comes a water cleanup guy from Roto rooter, who was incredibly rude and pushy, I didn't even recall asking for him. I declined his service and he left angry.

I called for a second opinion. The company came out, put a camera in the line and let me see as we went. Their estimation: nothing significantly wrong with my line. It's an old line, they said, but looks to be in good shape and shouldn't cause any problems. The backup likely, is from the city line, which I found out, my whole block had issues with that same night.

TL;DR - Roto Rooter uses scare tactics to try and force fake jobs on people and extort incredible sums of money out of them. Avoid at all costs.

Erwin A.

10/16/2018

I want to thank Elvir (3962) for coming out late night to fix our backed up sewer. Did a great and quick job cleaned up very well after service. Thanks again for the great service.

A satisfied customer.

Anthony H.

01/04/2018 12:00:00 SA

I was sceptical when they couldn't give me a ball park figure on how much the plumbing job would cost me over the phone.

My scepticism was confirmed when he estimated on site that my kitchen sink cleaning of the pipes was going to cost $400!

Needless to say I kindly asked him not to complete the job, knowing full well I could find someone way cheaper.

Never again!

Margaret O.

11/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

If you have an ankle bracelet and are confined to your home then this is the company for you. I scheduled an appointment for Thursday and they never showed up after giving me a 12:00 - 4pm window. They called after 5pm to tell me they wouldn't be able to come on Thursday and I re-scheduled for Friday between 9am - 12pm. They never called nor did they show up.

I called them at 4:15pm on Friday to check on the status of the plumbers and they had no response for me other than, would you like to reschedule for another day? I asked to cancel the appointment at which point the operator told me she couldn't cancel the appointment and I had to hold while I was transferred to dispatch to cancel. I said you just can't cancel this appointment? Now I have to hold to hold and wait for you again? Of course this would happen here.

Good thing these plumbers specialize in toilet repair cause this company is pure sh*!

Alyssa G.

01/03/2018 12:00:00 SA

Roto-Rooter is by far the worst company I have ever tried to work with. My bathtub stopped draining a week ago, and 4 technicians later, there's still no answer. Not only can no one tell me what is wrong with my drain, I have been hung-up on 3 times, not called back 5 times, techs missed time slots by hours 2 times and one tech just didn't bother to show up/answer his phone.

I am a very understanding person. I never raised my voice or spoke in profanity, but for some reason the dispatchers insist on being rude. I finally had a specialized plumber who was in my bathroom for 2 minutes and told me he didn't know what was wrong. He left my bathroom a complete mess, walked around and grabbed towels and paper towels as he pleased and left without telling me what my next steps were.

If I could score lower than 1-star...I would.

Jim R.

3/13/2018

On March 13, 2018, I requested emergency plumbing service and was told that the plumber would arrive between 10 am - 2 pm. Around 1:45 pm, I received a call from a Roto-Rooter dispatcher stating that they needed to delay the appointment and would call later to confirm the new appointment. At 5:49 pm, four hours later, I called Roto-Rooter dispatch center and was told that no one was available and urged to reschedule for tomorrow morning. I promptly cancelled the appointment.

I feel that my entire day has been wasted awaiting for a plumber that never arrived and I still have the leaking water in my Crawl space. I don't understand why a company that advertises emergency services responds in such an unprofessional manner. I would not recommend this service to anyone.

I give in 1 star.

Hiu Fung W.

10/30/2020

I paid them $ 650, they took the toilet out and rod it. And the plumper said the mainline might be the problem. He promised to bring the camera to inspect for the problem inside the line. I call them a few times, and Every time I call them to request for the camera guy to come out.They said someone will get in touch with us. Yesterday the same problem again. I call them to come out and they said they need another $650 for the same problem. They told me for the camera guy to come out we need to pay another $650.

Zizzi Z.

10/18/2017

The biggest lesson I learned today is that I should have read yelp comments before making appointment with this company.

I came across the same thing with several former comments, scheduled a leaking pipe fixation with them 10-2 today, got phone calls from them several times to be told it would be delayed and finally was told I had to reschedule to another day. For god's sake, I waited at home for the whole day and lost one day's payment! This company totally have no idea how fast their employees can finish their job. And they TOTALLY lacks the basic respect to their customers' time. That is why the same thing happened so many times.

Without any doubt, will not trust them anymore. Thank you for this lesson!

Julija D.

8/27/2020

The worst service ever! I scheduled work on Monday for Thursday 12-3 (that's the only time my building shut off the water) and I was promised that plumber will be here to finish the work. Nobody showed up by 12:30- I called and dispatcher said that she will call me back with ETA. 1:21pm - I'm calling again only to be informed that nobody can come in the next 3-4 hours. Not only that I will be charged $ 200 by the association because water was shut off but plumber was no show (of course Rotorooters didn't think about covering this), but also nobody called me to tell me that that plumber can't make it on time. Poor customer service, and no professional service provided at all.

Andy T.

7/16/2018

Mark tech id 2840 is awesome. He arrived promptly, professional, takes time to explain, and provided estimates before starting the job. He diagnosed the problem, retrieved the plumber snake and unclogged tub.

Dashee J.

12/11/2019 12:00:00 SA

I am tears on how they treat the customers! Do not go here. I called them after already paying a licensed plumber a week earlier, unfortunately my plumber did not do this line of work so I called Roto-Rooter. After I spoke with one of the ladies answering calls and explained the problem she said someone would come . I explained I did not need another camera due to I just paid for it the week prior. Which she nor the person she sent out listened . And lord be hold the exact same problem and location is where the other plumber stated . It of course they just took another $500 , and told me to repair everything it would be $5700 . Like who has that sitting around . And the manager Chris , hears me crying & basically says I will give you a 100 back really?

Barbara S.

03/04/2020 12:00:00 SA

HIGHWAY ROBBERY
I have one toilet in my condo. A Sloan Valve type of toilet. It stopped flushing late one evening. Roto Rooter/Chicago came out the next day. Their plumber quoted $545.00 for the job. I gasped in astonishment, but said to go ahead, as I needed a working toilet. I assumed it was the part that was so expensive. Came to discover the part was only $45.00 (plumber had it in stock in his truck) but the labor was $500.00! The plumber was in my condo for less than 15 minutes - tops. I find this simply outrageous.
Roto Rooter/Chicago refuses to budge on their rip-off pricing, since I'd agreed to it beforehand, stating they do not charge by the hour but by the job.
The job consisted of dropping in a 'Sloan Drop In Kit A-36-A'. That took all of 5 minutes. Safe to say I will NEVER use this company again.

youtube.com/watch?v=k3fs…

Eric W.

10/15/2017

Tyler Mills did an excellent job.
Roto-Rooter cost $100 more! I had Quality Plumbers do the same thing. They couldn't do it as quickly as Roto-Rooter did, but it shouldn't cost me $100 more. I won't use Roto-Rooter again.

S S.

7/22/2017

First- a rewrite of the jingle tag: send customer service, down the drain- Roto-Rooter

I had an appointment for Friday, July 21st for a time window of 8-12. What they failed to clarify is what this really means is a 8-12 HOUR window... They called every few hours ALL DAY to tell me that they were running late and at 4:30pm called to say they will not be sending anyone at all. I wasted an entire work day on these idiots. I was told that if I scheduled a new appointment for next day (today) that I would be a priority, get 10% off labor and they'd come between 8-11am. I have no idea what their labor rates are because they refused to tell me (more on that later). The time is now 10:31am and I've now received two phone calls in 15 minutes telling me they are running late *AGAIN* and something tells me I'll be here all day again... I plan to update this later on as I get more angry. Stay tuned!

UPDATE 1: it's 2pm. They called before 1pm asking if I still needed a plumber and that someone could be there within an hour... And I'm still waiting...

UPDATE 2: guy showed up to assess that a leaking shower needs a new cartridge ($20 part), which they don't have and cannot get today meaning they'd have to come back! And the best part it'll cost aflat rate of $409.

Run. Do not let this company do any work for you. It's a rip off like nothing I've ever seen.

UPDATE 3: just when I think the insanity is over I get another call from their dispatch asking if I know where their plumber is... This guy is awol... Run, be free little plumber tech! It's not worth it!!!

UPDATE 4: Still not over! Received the comment below from Pat, who plays damage control on bad reviews. He requested that I send him this info and my service address, which I promptly did. He did respond that day with the following:

I have submitted a formal complaint to the General Manager in Chicago, Paul Cecil. You can expect to hear from a member of his management staff shortly.

Thank you,

Pat Swanson
Customer Satisfaction Manager

It has now been 4 days and I've heard NOTHING. So, management is just like dispatch I guess. Time is meaningless to them.

A.J. W.

11/16/2017

First, my tech Harold #2004 was great! Very professional, figured out what was wrong with my sink quickly and fixed the part. Also, got a couple phone calls from dispatch and took them quietly in the bathroom while I was on a conference call for work. Harold gets a 5.

As for RotoRooter themselves, I wish they were anywhere close to Harold. Originally I was told they would be here on Tuesday at 4pm, only to find out it was a 4-hour window from 4pm - 8pm. And then at about 5:30pm got a call that they didn't have any techs available and would have to reschedule to Thursday AM from 8am - 12pm. I had to take off of work both times.

Got a call at 8:30am on Thursday that Harold would be here within an hour...only to call back an hour later and be told Harold was still another 20 minutes away. Then finally after about 40 minutes Harold showed up.

Lastly, the prices seemed really high. They use a flat rate, so I know he was just quoting me the price for the exact service that was in his book, but over $430 to fix a pretty simple P Trap pipe piece seems high.

So, RotoRooter got the job done. Once on-site Harold was great, but the prices and customer service prior to his arrival was fairly frustrating.

Work with them at your own risk and with appropriate work flexibility.

Erica B.

11/22/2017

UPDATE-I was left uneasy about the amount I paid to have our kitchen sink un-clogged yesterday (over $400 and that was with the discount). I called around today and was told I paid more than double!!! I was also told that Roto Rooter employees are paid on 100% commission and can charge as they please. Disappointed to be taken advantage of like that.

#1479 Leonard was very nice and polite. Quick same day service just in time for the holidays. He un-clogged the kitchen sink in about 30 minutes. Pricing seemed a little high compared to other places but there was a 6 month warranty that other plumbers didn't offer. Hoping we get what we paid for! Thank you.

Matt F.

05/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

Was quoted a service call time of 12-4. Got a phone call at 3:30 saying there were going to be late. 4:45 I had to call the dispatcher and they told me they still didn't have a tech for me.

Thanks for the waste of a Saturday. Someone else will get my business.

Ugochi B.

5/27/2017

My appointment time was for a crazy (10pm-2pm) time block with a promise to call to confirm ETA of technician. It is now 1:45pm and still no call even though I have talked unsuccessful to 2 people in customer service who could only confirm that someone was still coming. Horrible service. Hopefully the technician who eventually shows up will redeem the company. Will update my post to reflect actual visit.
Update: it's is now 2 hours past my block time block and I am still being told that they are looking for a technician who can come out.

Kristine C.

12/12/2019 12:00:00 SA

Can someone please point out where this coupon says it can only be used on jobs that cost $1,000 or more? Because according to the man who just fixed our toilet that's the deal. Of course, we were only made aware of that after the work was done. We definitely would have worked harder to find the best deal had we known Roto-Rooter handed out misleading coupons.

Ron S.

04/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

India call center?
My new house has a lot of bugs despite all the new stuff. No hot water again and it's Sunday so I called to avoid another cold shower because Google search for hot water heater repair came up Roto-Rooter 24/7. Arlene was nice and assured me she had someone, and explained the process. Three hours later, no one called or showed up, and no hot water. Roto-Rooter is a call center for technicians who will get to you when they can with no real guarantee beyond that. I will take another cold shower tomorrow, and call a reputable repair service that you know and trust or someone else trust. I see stock messages to every negative review from Pat asking us to contact him directly with problems. Fix it! This comes off as a scam and Roto-Rooter will be stained with this kind of customer service if you don't. BBB is next.

I reached the national office via Twitter and they apologized. I also got a call from the local office who called to apologize saying they were really busy over the weekend and offered to send someone today. I told him no thanks, accepted their apology and wished him well. I still won't call this place again but they do seem concerned I'm upset and that's good customer service.

Greg B.

09/04/2019 12:00:00 SA

Gabriel and Josh came out quickly and on my schedule to rod out my stairwell drain. The were courteous and explained what they were doing in advance along with the price. They were very thorough going through the system to figure out where the problem was and correct it.

Thanks

Aranya T.

5/13/2019

Just had a really terrible experience with Roto-Rooter. We recently moved into our new condo and the garbage disposal, which worked fine during the inspection, did not work when we tried to use it for the first time yesterday. We called Roto-Rooter and they told us someone would be at our place between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. today. The guy showed up right at 1 p.m. and did not seem to know what he was doing at all. He couldn't locate the reset button (even I figured out that much the day before) and after barely looking at the garbage disposal, he proceeded to tell us it was clogged and it would cost $390 to fix it. When we told him that seemed expensive because you could buy a new garbage disposal for that much, he immediately got an attitude about the whole thing and started asking us why we bothered to call a repair company. We also pointed out that it seemed odd that it would be clogged, since no one has been using the disposal in the last month and it worked fine a few weeks ago, and he started yammering on about how unused garbage disposals dry up and can get filled with dry stuff, which makes absolutely NO sense at all. My boyfriend put off running errands and wasted his whole morning waiting around for this guy, who was both rude and absolutely useless. Definitely won't be calling Roto-Rooter ever again, and I don't think anyone else should either.

UPDATE: We Googled how to fix a garbage disposal and we were able to unjam it ourselves. It was super-easy and it's mind-blowing to think we were going to be charged almost $400 for something that simple.

Julie L.

7/22/2019

Never use these people. They are ripoff artists. They charged me $420 to rout my drain, but it backed up again. When I called them again to come back out, they told me it was the mainline, not the floor drain (which is the one they routed). They tried to charge me $6000 to replace part of the mainline drain. I called a local plumber for a second opinion, and it turned out that my mainline didn't need to be replaced at all- it was just some tree roots that needed to be drilled out. He charged me $300. He recommended that I ask Roto Rooter for my money back since they routed the wrong drain. I called their administrative offices and I got an insane woman who kept screaming at me and hung up on me when I asked for my money back. I called back again and she hung up as soon as she answered. These people are totally unethical. Avoid at all costs.

Timothy S.

11/18/2019

Poor service. Couldn't clear our blockage (after 2 hours) but did mange you break our garbage disposal. When we complained they told us that we couldn't prive they did it. They are right but I can prove that I'll ever use them again. With so many alternatives in why call Roto-Rooter?

Jessica R.

1/21/2019

Very unprofessional service. The service guy just came after rescheduling us 3 different times. He had not left the original estimate and he said he could not remember what his quote was. He said it was either 423.00 or 400. He goes on to say I will do the work for the lower price I then tell him I have a coupon also and he smirks and says I am already cutting you a deal I am not taking a coupon. I told him sir I save more with the coupon then your so called deal, it's simple math he then responded I am not taking your shit, I am not doing this work and stormed out the door. WOW!!! super unpleasant, unprofessional service over a coupon!!!!!!!

Stephanie A.

11/05/2019 12:00:00 SA

STAY AWAY! Company posted publicly on here for me to email them months ago, I did (right away), and they never responded. Terrible company, call someone else for plumbing issues. zero customer service and they over charge by A LOT.

Ryan ..

1/25/2019

Called them last night and explained my situation. Ideally, needed someone to come out that night. Because they said they could come, I obviously didn't call elsewhere. Said they'd be there between 8 and 10pm. At 940pm they called and said they wouldn't be able to come. But they said they could make me the morning's first appointment, 8am.

I called at 825am because they weren't here. They said the guy was 25 minutes away.

At 905am I called again. The woman got super defensive, telling me they were 45 minutes away and said well there's traffic! So she wants me to believe that at 825 they were 25 minutes away and traffic suddenly became SO bad that they instead arrived around 10am???

No, of course not. They obviously just didn't care when they got here, and then they lied. And even if traffic was the sole reason, was that not something they could anticipate? People go to work in traffic every day, but they don't just show up a few hours late all the time.

You can't rely on them and they lie to you, so look elsewhere.

Mausumi C.

04/10/2019 12:00:00 SA

I was ripped off by ROTO ROOTER guys, they had come to fix a leak, my husband is elderly and suffers medical condition, the roto rooter technician # 3407 scared my husband and added lot of extra work besides fixing the leak ( MIND YOU THE OTHER THINGS THAT HE ADDED WERE NOT NEEDED----have verified with other plumber) and gave a bill of $1800. he had come to fix a leak . This is a service never to be used.

Regina I.

10/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

A leaky faucet is every homeowner's common nightmare! Most especially when it's a problem that you've spent some time on and after several attempts you finally throw in the towel... It's times like this where you need to call for help. The help you can trust to bring into your home and get the job done right!

Roto-Rooter trucks are a common sight when it comes to driving around in Chicago! They're everywhere you go! Naturally, when our Kitchen Sink became a problem that we couldn't take care of ourselves our first choice was Roto-Rooter! How could we go wrong?

Upon calling Roto-Rooter we knew we made the right choice! The telephone assistance went above and beyond to set up the quickest appointment possible. We threw in the towel on Friday (9/30), made the call on Saturday (10/1), and our Leaking Sink was fixed on Sunday (10/2)! One thing I should mention, because this was a weekend call you'd think you'd be paying extra for their services, there are no extra fees for weekend calls! What a relief! Roto-Rooter to save the day!

On the day of our appointment, we were called by the telephone reps who informed us that they could see us sooner - that was great! The telephone reps went above and beyond when it came to keeping us informed, again - above and beyond customer services!!

Our Plumber, Grant 3176, called ahead upon his arrival - he too made great contact. Grant was professional. He came in, saw the problem, and educated us on the issues and his game plan! It's nice to know what the problem is and even better knowing he knew how to fix it! Before we knew it, our out-of-order kitchen sink was back in service! Not only was our sink back in service, it seemed to be draining a lot better too!

The service provided was all around amazing! The process of making an appointment and seeing it through was made easy and convenient! Roto-Rooter went above and beyond fixing our leaky sink! They've gained our trust and (should we need them again) gained a future client! Thank You Roto-Rooter Chicago! We hope we don't see you again anytime soon but if we need you - we know who to call!

Gabrielle B.

9/19/2017

The issue began Sunday night at 9pm, our entire drain system for the home started to back up. It backed up so badly that our ceiling in the basement was pouring water (I mean gushing). My fiance instantly turned off the water to the house and we gathered pots, pans, buckets...anything to catch the water. After we failed to reach our home warranty company for an emergency dispatch (apparently that's not a thing?), I proceeded to call 5 plumbers that were in the area for emergency service. Only one answered and recommended that a plumber NOT be dispatched that night because there was very little they could do with the sewage draining into our home at that time. I was stressed, devastated, completely lost as to what to do.

Our home warranty company sent out a plumber the next day, as we escalated the call. That plumber basically did nothing and suggested we pay $500 out-of-pocket for a call that wasn't guaranteed to fix ANYTHING. And would not be covered by our warranty. Again, we felt hopeless. Expecting to pay thousands with no relief. (imagine living in sh*t and not having access to water or toilets for an undetermined amount of time)

My mother recommended Roto-Rooters based on reviews and the specialized service they did. We called them instantly at 8pm on Monday night, and the dispatcher was lovely. Answered promptly and updated me thoroughly that the technician was in Waukegan and would be arriving within the next two hours. He exceeded our expectations from then on. Danny, Tech #19792129, was wonderful. He was able to troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve the issue on site. There may need to be further work, but at least we felt confident with his ability to assist without charging us the promise of our first born child.

I will recommend and keep coming back to this company. If you're in the northern burbs, request Danny - he's the type of guy you want to trust your home with.

Tony B.

07/10/2019 12:00:00 SA

I wish I would have read the reviews before using them!! I contacted Roto-Rooter for a clogged kitchen sink over my local plumber due to the $60 off service coupon they were advertising. I thought $60 would make a difference - but not so much when he told me the total would be $570!!!! They fixed the clog in 20 mins - so $570 for 20 mins of work felt extremely overpriced. I called my local plumber after and they mentioned they would have charged $180 for the same service. I'm livid. While the service was professional and satisfactory, it was oppressively expensive. I will not use them again!! Call your local/neighborhood plumber instead.

Connie M.

10/01/2019 12:00:00 SA

This is my second time with Rooter Rooter the employees' who came out were very professional. The 1st employee great job.
The second employee JUAN TECH#5155 was a nice person of character and professional respectful person on the job. He also let me know about the 6 month guarantee and contacted a Mr. Nelson to come out for a camera routine of piping to tell me what to think about if they should foresee anything long term or worst of many rainfalls to come if mud builds up again in my piping.

Mike B.

9/30/2019

I wish I had looked at Yelp before booking this plumbing business.

The gave me a 9-1pm window so I had to take off work. Of course, no one shows. When I called they said it had been canceled with no explanation. No offer to make up for their mistake.

So they set me for a new window and call a few times to let me know they haven't forgotten about me only to call at the end of the day to try and reschedule. Again, with no attempt at making up the fact they made a customer stay home the entire day.

Total rinky-dink, bush-league-ran business.

Whatever you do, avoid them.

Susan H.

6/24/2019

The reason I'm giving Roto-Rooter one star is because their prices are too high. My bathroom sink was clogged and after attempting home remedies (baking soda, vinegar), I decided to bring in a professional. I called Roto-Rooter early Saturday morning because they are a well known and established company. I should have checked the reviews first. The service that I received from Jeff (Technician No. 4164) was excellent but the price for that service was outrageous! They charged me $520. I gasped when Jeff quoted that price. Granted, the clog was in a pipe in the wall and Jeff had to use a wet vac to clear the pipes, but $520 seemed excessive to me. I decided to pay the price since I had been without my bathroom sink for more than a week but this will be the last time I use this company. I've had this same problem previously and was charged under $200 by another company.

Nat T.

1/19/2018

Beware with this company. I had a back up drain at my business and they came to check it out with snake camera for $500. They said they found a broken pipe under the ground and we needed to replace it for 13k!! 13000??
Other wise the water will keep backing up the drains by the toilet. My landlord decided to replace a women toilet and the drain stop backing up. It's been 3 months and no issue. They will cheat on you. You should get a second opinion if you already hired them.

Anne W.

9/30/2018

I have never left such a bad review on Yelp, but my experience with Roto Rooters this weekend is worth me writing a very long complaint. TLDR: I had to change plans my entire weekend to be home, they didn't show up twice (for two FOUR HOUR windows), dispatch was rude, the plumber was even ruder.

I called on Thursday night because our water generator was making noise and I wanted someone to come look at it and see what was wrong. The person I talked to was fairly nice and said that it would be a free quote, and they told me they could come Friday between 5-9pm. I changed my plans so I could be home from 5-9pm. I called around 5pm and they put me on hold for ~15 mins before someone told me that the dispatch was busy and they would have to take my name. Nobody called me for an hour. I called them back at 6pm and after a shorter hold, I got to dispatch and they could not tell me more specifically what time someone was coming--and that probably nobody would be able to come tonight at all because they were on an excavation and they didn't know how long that would take. The dispatch kept repeating that they'd be on an excavation (without really explaining what that was, or why it was taking so long, or why they had scheduled me at this time in the first place if there was an excavation) and insisted that I should reschedule to tomorrow morning and I'd be a priority and they'd definitely come right on time.

I couldn't do Saturday morning so we agreed for 3PM on Saturday and he said he'd move me to priority so I wouldn't have to wait. Again, I changed my plans so I could be home by 3PM Saturday. 3PM came and went. I finally called around 3:30PM and a fairly rude dispatcher told me that they were running with severe delays and that I was scheduled from 3p-7p and that someone would come in that time frame. She dismissed me saying that yesterday the dispatch had told me I was 'priority. Around 5:30pm i got a courtesy call saying that they were running with severe delays. Around 7:30pm I got a call from a very apologetic and nice person at Roto Rooters who told me repeatedly that this I shouldn't have happened, etc. etc. and I tried to say it was okay and that I'd just schedule with someone else but he said someone would definitely come Sunday morning 8a-12p and that I'd get a discount. I reluctantly agreed.

Around 7:35am Sunday I got a call saying someone was on their way and would be there in half an hour. Someone finally showed up an hour later around 8:35am. The plumber came in and started looking at our garbage disposal. I said it was our water heater and showed him where it was. We had some cat food in the area where the water heater was stored and he pulled it out and put it on top of my cat's current food, knocking it over and making a huge mess. He looked at the mess and did not apologize or verbally acknowledge it. He looked at our water heater and said it needed to be flushed. He told me it would be $320 and it would take anywhere from 1-3 hours. I asked for the discount and he said he'd give me the senior discount for $40 off. I was hesitant to accept it because I didn't know anything about plumbing or price points, so I asked if I could get a quote and I could call back later to schedule if I decided to do it. He told me, fairly rudely, that he had just given me a quote and was I going to get it done now? I said I didn't have enough time to do it now. He just looked at me and then proceeded to walk out while calling out have a good day.

I was probably most upset by the behavior of the plumber because it was my understanding that there was a free quote. While I do understand that he'd come all this way to look at it, his attitude was SO rude. I've had other people come for pest problems, etc. and they'd come for a free quote and were all very nice about it and willing to give me a written quote so that I could decide later whether I wanted to go with their services. That, on top of the excessive delays that basically ruined my whole weekend, made my experience with Roto Rooters worthy of my first terrible Yelp review.

Joe D.

5/25/2018

Daniel (#4709)

Amicable, professional. Daniel was timely, efficient, and very easy to work with. Went the extra mile to help my household restore our kitchen sinks and disposal. I recommend to anyone.

Chip G.

6/18/2017

We had Rotorooter out after seeing that Sewage was coming up from our basement floor drain.
Due to the rain, and lightening, the tech offered to have me either pay more, and he pulls the toilet, or do the clean out from the outside saving me some good cash. So I opted to wait until the storms passed, and after a quick call to the dispatch desk, the tech was back onsite to do the cleanout from the front yard.
They came back the next day and ran a complimentary camera down to the street and that is where we seen the issue, 1 foot from the sidewalk, pipe broken. :( Although will cost us more then we hoped, we're thankful that they were able to offer the Camera free, and help ID the true issue.
We will be going back to them for other services.

Jennifer L.

11/24/2017

We had a kitchen sink problem of which the water would back up and overflow. This happened the night before Thanksgiving, and we were worried that we couldn't get this fixed in time for Thanksgiving dinner. On Thanksgiving morning, a person came out to assess the situation and put in an order for a tech to come the same day. My roommate and I stayed home so that we could be available when they come. We later got a call saying that the tech would actually have to come the next day between 10a - 2pm so we had to cook Thanksgiving dinner with a clogged kitchen sink. The next day, no one came between 10a - 2p and it was very vague what the ETA would be.

When my tech Mark #2840 arrived in the evening, however, he was great and explained why my kitchen sink was clogged so it helped me understand the problem as well as prevent this from happening again. He unclogged the kitchen pipes pretty quickly. Overall, I'm very pleased with the service. I just wish there was more communication from the company about timing and when we were expected to be home.

Robert H.

8/15/2019

First -Roto Rooter is out to squeeze every dollar out of you, fixing the problem is a distant second.

Terry P.

8/30/2018

I made an appointment about three days in advance on line for 8am-12 noon. I took time off from work. At 10:56 am they call to day slight delay and they will call me. At 3pm I have heard nothing and I call to find out they still have no plumber. Although they have guys out there they say they are behind, I tell them I neeeeed a plumber as they are starting rehab on my bath tomorrow. I ask if they will send anyone at all today as I have sat home all day waiting. They cannot tell me. I cannot reschedule. I go to internet and find an emergency plumber who arrives in 1 hour-does the job lickety split and leaves. 5pm I call Roto Rooter to cancel. Beware just you because you make an appointment does not mean you are a priority!

John C.

11/05/2017 12:00:00 SA

I've been in my new house for a couple weeks and the kitchen sink backed up yesterday while making dinner for friends. Plunging it only brought up black sludge and Drain-O wasn't working either. So I called Roto-Rooter. They said they'd be out by 9pm (Saturday night...), but after 9:30 came and went, I told the dispatcher that called to come out the next afternoon between 1 and 5 PM.

Finally around 9:00 PM, Michael 2080 arrived. After working a long 13 hour day, he patiently explained what he was doing, showed me the problem and took the time to make sure I understood everything (I was asking and curious). He was friendly and professional.

Tiffany S.

09/09/2018 12:00:00 SA

I never even got to the appointment! I made an appointment for free estimate, and the man who helped me was great---but on the day of my appointment they phoned me 7 times in 2 hours asking to come early I had answered twice and said I couldn't be home earlier than my appointment time and please don't call me as I had interviews that day. Well 5 more times I was called!
When I called and cancelled altogether to go with a company with some respect the girl on the line said you're cancelling--that's good--our tech wanted to end early today
Really? Ok. My money goes elsewhere

lauren s.

10/05/2018 12:00:00 SA

Carl on dispatch is the RUDEST person I have ever had the displeasure of speaking with. He called to let me know my plumber would be arriving at may home within 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. I called back an hour and a half later to inquire about the ETA of my plumber- and he proceeded to YELL at me on the phone. He said do you want to wait or do you want to cancel? Talking over me every time I tried to ask a question. Meanwhile, there is literally water shooting out of my floor drain like the Bellagio fountain and flooding into my neighbors house. Its been a full 3 and 1/2 hours since my plumber was on the way and I'm still sitting here with water flying out of the floor and no idea when anyone is coming to help get this resolved. Carl is a rude human.

Denny S.

10/13/2020

Had to get an urgent item worked on and called Roto Rooter at 10:30 in the morning, when I was promised someone will be coming over within 2 hours. No one turned up, since then called them 5 more times, each time they said someone was coming. Eventually at 6:30 in the evening someone calls to say that no plumber is available to come in. Definitely do not recommend. I wonder if it is because they lack accountability or that they are making enough money to not care about customer service. If I could give 0 stars, that is what I would do.

Michael R.

10/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

Andre #8971 did a great job and kept things very clean. This is a case where I hope to not re-use his services because it means things are OK. Thanks again Andre.

Regards,

Mike Rodriguez

Mary C.

3/31/2017

Rotorooter technician Kemal came when expected, assessed the job and performed the work in a timely manner. He also showed me everything and ensured all was in order before leaving.

Kemal Popovic
Technician 5437

Andrew D.

3/14/2017

Needed my water heater replaced so I gave them a call. Kemal (5437), the technician showed up and looked at it for about a minute. He then quoted me $2400 without telling me how he came up with the price. I asked how he came up with that price, and found out $600 was to call a second guy to carry it up to my 3rd floor condo. I told him I would help him and he took that off. I then got him to come down another $100 to get it down to $1700 total. $700 savings for asking a few questions and 5 minutes of my help! He said it would be about 4 hours and that was right on. The work looked good, and he showed me what I needed to know on the new unit.

Price still seemed high, but didn't have time to get other quotes. Would consider using these guys again, keeping in mind that the technician has room to negotiate the price he quotes.

Alessandra R.

9/25/2019

The service is way too expensive even if they know what they are doing. Call them when you are using a canoe to move from one room to the next otherwise search for someone who is more affordable. Asking for an estimate visit may also the way to go - but ALWAYS, ALWAYS ask them for the fee AT THE TIME YOU ARE MAKING THE PHONE CALL, that way you are not surprised

Kris B.

8/20/2018

Roto Rooter told us they could finish our job today. They arrived around 10 am and left around 3 pm. We have two holes in our front yard and the job is definitely not finished. This is the last time.

Bill G.

6/16/2016

We had an appointment between 4:30 and 6:30- no one showed up and no one called. It's now almost 5 hours later and the dispatcher was just incredibly rude to my wife when she made the second call of the night to simply ask for an update.

She just got off the phone with a manager who was very nice and apologetic. I appreciate that he tried to make up for all the missteps, but still, I think that's the last time we'll be calling.

fatima n.

5/25/2016

We had a weekend emergency and called in Roto because their services stated 24 hours. However, they called us back later Sunday afternoon to tell us they'd be available Monday.
On Monday, the gentleman that came in was able to complete the job. It was pretty expensive but then again that's plumbing, right? He was very nice and finished the job within 2 hours. He told me to wait to use the shower till the evening. I waitied till the morning and when I went to the shower there was a mess left in the tub and the floor. He also left some product/spray bottle in the bathroom and grabbed one of our parts (probably accudentally thinking it was his).
Also, I noticed now that the shower pressure is weak and not how it was before...
Company seems legit maybe I just had a mediocre experience?

Sedall A.

8/17/2020

I had a bad experience overall with this company. I called Friday night to have my water heater checked as I believed it was leaking. This water heater was previously replaced by roto rooter within the last year so I was taking advantage of their warranty. Once the tech arrived, he confirmed it was not leaking and relit my water heater for me and charged me $259! Absurd as I am under warranty all he did was turn it back on. I complained about this and they are still charging me. Very unprofessional.

Felicia H.

03/03/2020 12:00:00 SA

Techs Sokol 1569 and Spiro 3104 were awesome and very professional. I had sewer back up and They got a difficult job done. They explained everything from beginning to end. And they explained how to maintain a healthy sewer system.

Jenna B.

03/02/2020 12:00:00 SA

Our water heater went out over the weekend and we were able to get a technician out at 8am on Monday. Cy #9823 was fantastic and explained everything well and completed the installation, as well as unclogged our 2 bathroom sinks, within 3 hours. And without any help! Would highly recommend Cy and Roto Rooter for prompt, efficient service.

Nam N.

5/24/2020

Worst company ever. Our contract was written to unclog my sink and do a video inspection to see the problem for $600. Yes they unclog the sink but couldn't do the video inspection because they said it was too many turn. The guy said the video inspection was free so if they cant do it I still have to pay, what the hell.. Call their office, Lady pick up and said the same thing. It was written on the contract to unclog and video inspect, didn't write free video inspect.If i know I don't get a video inspection I wouldn't pay that much. Now i got letter and email saying they gonna send to collection. To this day I still don't have a video inspection, if you don't do your full job how you want me to pay you...If only I have read all this Yelp reviews before calling them , I would have never.

R C.

2/23/2020

I called roto rooter at 6pm on a sunday evening with a broken drain pipe pouring water into my place. They said they could have some one come out on monday. 24/7 is a lie.

Andres G.

4/17/2016

Someone was supposed to come between 8am and 12pm. They kept on telling me a plumber will be there very soon at 6pm they told me sorry no one is available.

The following day a plumber arrives (2hr after the time frame) with out equipment !!!! Just to see and call another person and tell them what to bring.

Felt like a prank ! Difficult to believe that a company can be so un professional not caring about the customers needs and no respect for time...

NEVER AGAIN ! If you call R-R make sure to have a comfortable chair to wait for the problem to be solve.

Andrea G.

01/06/2018 12:00:00 SA

Here's why they're a 1 and not an if I could give it a zero, I would. Fair warning, this is long because I feel ripped off. Feel free to skip to the bottom for my lesson learned.

A. Very pleasant initial convo with the phone rep and she was happy to book an appointment! Nice lady.

B. First call to notify me that someone would be coming was cancelled while he was still on the phone with me, so he said they'd call back to give me notice when they had a tech free up again. That didn't happen. A tech called me an hour later to tell me he was standing outside. NBD, though. I was happy he came!

C. He looked at everything (shower drain clogged and I'd done the whole baking soda/vinegar move, plunger, etc. stuff) and said that my old ass clawfoot tub setup could have a clog further up the pipe. He could run his machine through it for $495. $495!!???!! I shower. I have long hair. I shed. That won't stop. So I figure it needs to get cleared out (like a nice pipe detox cleanse, right?). Green light. I'll stomach the cost b/c I have no point of reference & he says if it were him, he'd do it. I'm a rookie.

D. VERY NICE tech guy. He really was friendly and pleasant, and didn't pressure me at all. I'm just a plumbing noob and didn't do my homework or call the landlord first like I should've.

E. He did the deed and his auger broke a PVC pipe. I wasn't in the room, so I have no idea how hard he was um...auger-ing...but he knocked about a 1-inch hole out of the corner of what's apparently a pretty important L-shaped pipe. That's where it went bad. Would've left me unable to use the shower without pouring water straight onto the floor below ol' Clawfoot the Tub. Called landlord. He was pissed. It was obvious Mr. Roto broke the pipe, but he wouldn't admit he'd done anything wrong and said he had nothing to fix the pipe with. What?? You're in plumbing and you drive around with nothing but an auger in your truck??? I magically had plumber's putty, so the tech used it to patch fill the hole so I could at least shower until my landlord could replace the pipe. Again, tech was nice and felt bad, but...c'mon. You broke a pipe that was fine before you touched it, then wanted to leave me stuck with the problem. You sprayed brown crap on my wall, floor, and rug as a gross bonus.

F. He lowered the cost to $300 when I begged. Still twice as much as it would've cost if I'd just called a plumber, as it turns out. So they prey on noobs who just don't know any better or are in a bind and need help. It's effective, but a jerk move IMHO. I wrote him a check vs. letting him scan my CC with his not-very-legit-looking CC swiper gadget to put into his cell phone after opening some app. Seemed sketch.

So thanks for the expensive lesson, Rooter. I wish I'd done more homework, so that's on me. Learn from my mistake! Just call a plumber if the baking soda/vinegar/hot water doesn't do the trick. I'm happily now no longer a total plumbing noob & won't be calling you again!

Katherina G.

10/13/2018

Spiro (tech #3104) was very friendly and professional! I've had issues with my bathtub drain since moving in and initially thought my previous plumber fixed it. However, after a few weeks, the water wasn't going down anymore. Spiro got the job done in under an hour and even stayed extra time to make sure everything was working properly.

Becky K.

9/24/2018

I called Roto-Rooter this morning after not being able to clear a clog in our kitchen sink last night. Manny(1916) came to unclog my kitchen sink today right at the beginning of the two-hour window. He was very polite and clear with the services, and worked very efficiently to unblock our drain. He also gave some advice for how we can prevent blockages in the future. I am very pleased with the services we received today from Roto-Rooter!

Van N.

03/08/2017 12:00:00 SA

Our bathtub got clogged again, why I don't know. It seems to occur once a year. I have always been successful in unblocking the drain using my own Roto from Home Depot but this time I was unsuccessful in unblocking the bathtub drain after fighting all day.
I called up Roto-Rooter around 6pm and they had a nice gentleman arrive within 30 minutes.

He explained the procedure and gave me to cost upfront and also gave me an instant discount. I left him to it to do his thing. He a good battle with the drains as I had done he was successful in his mission.

Now my daughters can stop complaining about not having a shower tonight.

I strongly recommend Roto-Rooter if you need your drainage unblocked quickly.

Good job guys.

My guy was Elvir.
Technician 3962

Melanie T.

1/29/2016

I contacted your company on a Sunday afternoon and Chris (3393) came out within 2 hours. He was extremely nice and even gave me a coupon from online, without me mentioning it first. The work on my main line pipe was completed within hours and I was very satisfied.

The only reason for not 5 stars is because there was supposed to be someone with a camera calling me to set up a time to see if there was any more damage to the rest of the line, and he never called. There was also supposed to be a cleanup guy to give an estimate and he no called/no showed the day of the appointment.

Poor follow up but excellent execution.

Julia W.

04/05/2018 12:00:00 SA

If I could give a 0 I would because the guy never showed up!!

We got a call saying he was coming in 30min. He never came, so we called about after an hour and half. They told us he came, saw that there was another plumbing tuck and left...

What is that about??? Our condo place is gigantic, has tons of parking and many units...is he scared of a little competition?? I don't understand, why he would just leave.

We called trying to get someone to come out again and fix our water heater...We spent an hour on the phone after being hung up on twice with still no results.

This is the worst customer service I have ever received and I will not be using them.

Heather F.

04/01/2018 12:00:00 SA

I first called on March 18th because the tenants below my condo reported a leak coming from my bathroom and my HOA asked me to get it fixed ASAP. My HOA recommended Roto-Rooter as they had worked with them in the past. Roto-Rooter had someone come out that evening, but all he did was look at their ceiling and said, oh it's not that bad. He said an actual plumber would be out in about 40 minutes. 2 hours later, I got a call saying they would have to come the next day. I waited another 3 hours on the 19th for someone to arrive. I paid him $255 to open my neighbors' ceiling to find the leak. He said he was 99% sure the leak was coming from the faceplate on my shower wall and that resealing it should fix the issue.

On the 27th, the tenants downstairs reported the leak was still occurring. I called Roto-Rooter on the 28th to schedule an appointment. I falsely assumed that if I scheduled in advance, I wouldn't have to wait so long. I scheduled an appointment on March 31st, they said they would arrive between 12-2pm. I called at 1:40 to confirm someone was still coming, they said it would be about an hour. I then called about every two hours and kept getting the same response - that a technician had been assigned to me, and that they will be over as soon as they finish their current job, in about an hour. I was hung up on twice as they were transferring me to their dispatcher. Around 10pm, I was told that they tried calling me twice to have someone come out, but the number they called was incorrect, the area code was off by a digit. I'm not sure how this was possible considering they had already been to my condo two weeks prior and I had called them 10 times that day. They knew my number well enough to hang up on me while I was being transferred. I asked for a refund and they refused. They rescheduled me for 8am Sunday morning, April 1st.

9:15am Sunday morning I called, they said they called the incorrect number again twice. Finally, somebody showed up at 10:30am. He replaced the shower head, faucet, and resealed the hardware, which should have been done the first time. This cost me an additional $300. He was initially going to charge me almost $500, and I refused, showing him that I had already paid $255 to have this fixed two weeks prior.

While we were finishing the paperwork, the technician said to make sure the orders are in my name instead of the name of my building's maintenance man, because his name sounds Chinese. The plumber said most of their plumbers don't want to work with Chinese people and this was probably why I had to wait for so long for someone to come out. This is clearly against Roto-Rooter's non-discrimination policy in their contract.

Hopefully the leak is finally fixed, but if not, I'm definitely not calling Roto-Rooter again. This is the most unprofessional, incompetent company I've ever dealt with.

Kathleen G.

10/14/2017

If i could rate them zero star, i would. We were quoted a 2-4 hr window time from 9am this morning, saturday. We postponed our family plans. Got worried our basement will get flooded since It will rain all day. Placed several calls after 4 hours and was told they are coming in late. Basement got flooded, all weekend plan cancelled and they never showed up until 9pm, finally told us they cant provide service not until tomorrow afternoon!

Ervina K.

12/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

Jay #1057 was great, arrived the day we called and did everything he could to fix the issue as fast as he could. They ended up needing to come out the following day, but he worked diligently and was very thorough to try and fix the issue and give us pointers on how to prevent it from occurring again. I would definitely recommend him to anyone in need of a great plumber.

Erin F.

11/29/2017

We woke up this morning to our kitchen sinks full of water. Immediately, we decided to use Roto-Rooter based on its reputation and it's been recommended by family members.

The appointment process was quick and easy, and within 3 hours the associate, Roberto (#4341), was at our home. He was very nice and professional, and after understanding the problem, he got right to work. He was able to fix our issue quickly and accurately. Definitely 5 stars.

While the cost is higher, there is a coupon, a 6 month warranty, and immediate and quick service. I would rather pay a higher premium for quick, quality than wait longer to have my issue fixed.

Contrary to other reviews, I would recommend this company (especially Roberto) and use this company again if I have a future issue.

J G.

01/01/2019 12:00:00 SA

It is New Year's Day and my sewage drain backed up. I had the main line done 5 months ago so it is still under warranty. I called and they answered right away and said they could get someone there in less than 2hours. I was impressed it being a holiday. Leonardo arrived in about and hour and was very friendly and efficient. He snaked out the drain and made sure everything drained well. I informed him about the prior service and he said it was all covered. He was In and out in 30min. Thank you so much

Jeff G

Ruby N.

03/05/2020 12:00:00 SA

Gabriel and Rio were very transparent about the process and fees. They were very efficient and answered all of my questions. Will use them again.

Laur S.

9/14/2017

They are awful! Poor customer service and follow through. Don't waste your time with them. I wish there were negative stars as they deserve 10000.

D O.

6/19/2018

I am actually being generous in giving this company one star as I have nothing to actually review. These people have a problem with being reliable. Twice I have made appointments for someone to come out, and twice they have canceled the last minute. This was so frustrating to deal with as we make time to be available at home during the time ranges they give us, only for them to call and say that no plumber is available!!

Steve S.

6/19/2016

(Review originally posted on Google).

Very professional and very fast. Have used them a few times over the years (once for a sewer line break and one for a sink that was causing a lot of trouble). In both occasions, Nick R. (#3444) was the one to come down. Very personable and takes the time to describe whats wrong, why its wrong, and the various plans to fix the problem. He keeps in contact with you, keeps everything clean, and knows the sweet spot between speed and quality. Highly recommended.

Michael C.

12/16/2015

In September my basement flooded with sewage. The next day Roto-Rooter came out. They stated I would pay no money; rather they would bill the insurance company. After the service man looked at the damage, we were talking and I brought up costs. I said my policy limit is $5,000, so if for instance Roto-Rooter would charge me $3K, and then I would have $2k to replace everything, right? He said yes and that's just about the amount he was thinking. That was the one and only time any figure was discussed. And I brought it up! The contact amount is blank.
A week or two later, I get a bill for $5,000! No one ever said, by the way, this was harder/costlier/more time consuming, so it will cost more. In fact, no one ever said anything about money.

Now how can you expect someone to pay a number that you just pull out of the air?

Make sure they put an amount in before you sign.

Scott H.

01/04/2016 12:00:00 SA

Yuri came out on NYE and fixed a clogged drain downstairs. He was timely, polite, efficient, and explained every step of the process.
Let's face it, I'm not a fan of household expenses like these, but I was really happy with the service and efficiency of his work.

Adrianne K.

10/28/2018

We echo many of the other reviews. We needed the mechanism in our toilet replaced. The parts were $40 and it took 20 minutes. They charged us $269. It was ridiculous and a total rip off. We were going to do an additional 2 toilets but declined as the charge would have been over $600. DO NOT use this company. There are far better and more economical plumbers in Chicago. And by the way, I did complain to the company. They contacted me, I provided my invoice and never heard another word. Terrible customer service as well.

Shahab s.

1/18/2016

Lets break it in Couple parts:
Speed of them and how easy it is to schedule------- Five Star.
call center and be flexible for your time in order to re schedule -----Five Star
Leonard knowledge of what to do to resolve the Issue -------Five star
Them being Not Messy and clean up after themselves ------Five Star
Leonard explains every thing and how to prevent of re-occurring-------Five Star
PRICE------ Lets say you have very better luck to find way cheaper Plumber and -------Two Star
I had to show Leonard a coupon from their website and got 40$ off but it was still sky high for open a clogged line .

Richard D.

7/15/2017

Absolutely terrible. Was told that I'd have someone between 12-6pm on a Saturday. First off who givesa 6 hr time frame. Second I was called at noon confirming that they will be here soon just running behind. Get a call a 3:30pm saying that they will definitely be here by 5:30. No call/No show. Get a call at 6:50pm saying that they are on the way and will be here in 30 mins. Woman in dispatch gave me attitude when I told her how ridiculous this was. Terrible communication, terrible scheduling and I'm sure the service would be be terrible as well.

Zach L.

6/19/2017

****DO NOT EVER USE****

Please call one of the following plumbing services to avoid a terrible experience:

- John Baethke & Son Plumbing: 773-570-1720
- Apex Plumbing: 773-477-7714
- Rocket Plumbing: 773-219-1200

I called this plumbing service on a Wednesday and scheduled them to come out on Friday morning between 8 AM - 12 PM. No one showed up and I had to call back to ask about it. The company rescheduled the plumber to come out Friday night between 4 PM - 7 PM. Someone showed up after 7 PM, but did not have the parts they needed to fix the problem, so they said they would come back on Saturday. On Saturday they were scheduled to come from 8 AM to 12 PM, and again did not show up. I had to call to ask about this again. By 4 PM, someone finally showed up, but still did not have the right parts. The new plumber had to go to the store and purchase the parts and finally come back to fix the plumbing issue.

My main points of frustration were:

1. Scheduling my day to work from home on Friday, but no one showing up
2. Not receiving a courtesy call to inform me the plumber would be late or needs to
reschedule, I had to call every time
3. The plumbers not communicating to have the right parts when they showed up for a third
time
4. The managers I spoke to seemed frustrated with me complaining about the lack of service
instead of trying to fix the poor scheduling issue at hand. Major lack of accountability.
5. The plumber who finally fix the problem, took money off of the bill, but informed me this
was coming out of his own personal check, not from the company. It was not the plumbers
fault but the company who schedules them.
6. The total bill was over $400 for a fix that took less than one hour once the plumber finally
showed up

Overall, this was one of the worst experiences with customer service I have ever had and I highly recommend going elsewhere for plumbing services. The plumber was actually very professional and understood my frustration, but he too also complained that management at his own company is very poor.

Jon N.

09/04/2017 12:00:00 SA

Mark came, did a great job of telling us what the problem was and offered some solutions. Unfortunately, when they built the piping for the sink they did a horrible job so the pipe was not cleared. However, he was friendly, knowledgeable and timely. I wasn't sure about getting RR to fix the problem but I was pleased with the result in that he offered us a lower price on the service and a bottle of their enzyme cleaner that might hopefully clean the pipe out on it's own.

Jose B.

10/21/2017

I came home to find my sewer backed up into my basement, late on a Friday night. Thinking I would end up paying a premium rate, I started calling plumbers. I made 4 calls and the only one that resulted in a callback was Roto-Rooter.

I had someone out first thing the next morning, they made a quote and there were no additional service charges for a weekend call. The charges were very reasonable considering the amount of work it took Doug to get the job done. He was in and out in less than 2 hours, with a basement as clean as when he had arrived. Doug's boss Greg came out to check on the job and I was able to ask him about some possible other work I may get done.

I expected a laundry list of additional work they would find needed to be done and the charges to be higher than I was quoted. That was absolutely NOT the case. I paid exactly what I was quoted and even have a 6 month warranty. The customer service from start (calling in the request) to finish was gold star and both Doug and Greg were friendly, knowledgeable, professional and down to earth. I can recommend Roto-Rooter with 100% certainty. And I am a very tough person to please!

Barbara T.

12/24/2015

It is December 24, 2015. I wake up and head to the kitchen to start my Christmas Dinner prep.
As if by appointment (major holiday and kitchen needs to be working) the disposal is not working. Water filling up the sink fast. I remembered that I had received a Roto-rooter email a few days ago and that they would be open on Christmas and during the holiday without premium charges. So I called at 8 am and scheduled a service call. Yuri arrived less than an hour later and proceeded to identify the sink problem and he fixed it. He was very polite, pleasant and he knew his business. I am so appreciative of how quickly he responded and his ability to access and fix in less than an hour. Hats off to Yuri (#1195). Thank you to Roto Rooter for making my day. BTF

Katie B.

7/15/2017

Our landlord booked this plumbing service and gave my husband and I a time frame of 12-6 on a Saturday. First off, that time frame is ridiculous. We received 2 calls that they were behind and then called us at 6:45 saying someone is on their way. Talk about waste of time.. Take your business elsewhere!

Tony T.

06/12/2015 12:00:00 SA

Update*
Spoke with lynette at roto rooter who reached out to me. I was told that technically this job should have been over 800 dollars due to the plumbing repair the technician needed to do. I was not aware that putting the stuff he took apart was an extra charge of $135. As mentioned before, the technician ran to Ace hardware for some glue, I was also told that I was lucky he did not charge me for parts!
All this for snaking out my drain which very promptly made everything work again, SHOULD have cost me over 800, and I was made to feel like I was getting a good deal by only being charged $295. Give me a break. Never again.

Rich N.

12/26/2015

Came home Christmas night to an overflowing toilet & backed-up sewer. Called Roto-Rooter at 7am the next the day. Prompt courteous on the phone, follow-up within half an hour that someone was on the way. Kyle was pleasant, courteous, professional, very thorough in his work, checking in with me to point out the issues & options. He was a such a nice guy to deal with & exceeded my expectations all the way around.

Though I'll need major sewer line work later this year, Kyle & his field supervisor Al inspired confidence in their assessment. I plan to have them complete that project.

Lauren B.

11/08/2017 12:00:00 SA

I had a really great service call with Grant. He was super helpful and professional. The customer service people were great too. They were able to get out to me within 12 hours, thank gosh! They are pricy, but I think you pay for convenience!

Rob L.

10/21/2015

I contacted Roto-Rooter yesterday to have someone come out and asses the situation with our water heater. I was able to make an appointment same day and pretty much when I wanted it! Joe 1101 came out and was helpful and answered all my questions. He had a solution that he got taken care of right away! He was really professional and easy to work with. Thanks again, Joe!
The process was as easy as could be expected. I won't hesitate to call in the future!

Lucas C.

7/21/2017

Was told the plumber would show up between 12-4pm. He finally arrived three hours late at 7pm. He didn't even really try to look at my problem, he said it would cost $250 to have him cut a hole in the wall to inspect the pipes and that my upstairs neighbor would need to be present (since the leak he was there to look at was probably originating there)

I would not recommend ever calling these people. Even if they did manage to not be absurdly late, they would still be unhelpful and overpriced.

Kristen H.

11/27/2017

Roto Rooter was very helpful over the phone and in person. They helped us understand what the problem was and how long we could wait to fix it. Grant, was especially helpful and quickly fixed our leak for a reasonable price. Overall, the service was speedy and made it easy for us. I would call them again in the future. Thanks!

Helen L.

10/12/2017 12:00:00 SA

I got an appt the next day b/t 8-12 and Sergio #3215 showed up by 8:30 (good). First told me $175 to unclog my toilet and if it required more work then could be over $300. I told him no thank u, so he offered $100 if it turned out to be a simple job. It sure was and I was pretty happy with his work. Then right after he left I found out on their website of a $40 off coupon. I quickly called their office and the lady passed on my request of honoring that coupon to her mgr. When she called back, she said bc I only paid $100 vs $250 the flat rate, the mgr couldn't honor that coupon. I have a problem with that.. the online coupon clearly stated save $40 on ANY service! She offered to have the mgr called me back but it has been 7 hours later so I highly doubt I'll ever hear back from them.

Jennifer C.

7/19/2018

Easy scheduling and on-time repairman (Pat #1899). The repairman was very friendly and immediately fixed the problem with our garbage disposal. However, that problem just required resetting the unit with the flip of a switch (I know-- we should have googled how to fix the problem ourselves...), and we were charged $369 for literally 1 minute of work. I get that we're paying for the time it took the repairman to drive out, but that price still seems extreme. My landlord hired Roto-rooter (and paid for the repair, thank goodness), but if I needed to hire someone on my own, I would definitely shop around for a better deal. These guys seem to be very competent and professional, but you pay a premium for their services.

(As someone else mentioned, they request that you write reviews and offer to enter you in a sweepstakes to cover the cost of your repair if you post [hence why so many reviews copied from Google, as mine is, reference an ID number for the repairman]).

Mike S.

6/20/2017

Called Roto-Rooter to come remove a toy clogged from the toilet. The tech was extremely professional, removed the toy, cleaned up after the visit, and we were very pleased with the work. We felt the price was a bit high for what was done but at the end of the day, the issue was fixed.

Lu B.

04/12/2017 12:00:00 SA

Update on April 14th 2017-------------
The manager Tracy finally gave me a call back after a formal complain is filed. and that bring my impression of their customer service from zero to NEGATIVE.
She was cold, arrogant and not helpful at all. She informed me that they have completed all internal investigation and the case has been closed. How can they conduct any type of investigation without talking to the customer first? During the frustrating phone call, All I'm hearing is it does not seem like we can come to an agreement/solution. what agreement did she want to reach? for me to agree that they did a great job and I should not have complained?
No one moved the toilet ever since Roto Rooter set it up (we live in a high rise and anytime a plumber comes in to fix anything it has to be approved and logged in. the problem of leaking is 100% caused by Roto Rooter plumber who simply forgot to put the plastics pieces underneath the toilet while setting it up, and according to Tracy, it is us the customer's responsibility to notice it and report it, within 90 days- (here I'm quoting Tracy), instead, it is NOT the plumber's responsibility to perform a decent job from the beginning, because the liability is on us the customers to notice and report. I was simply wowed by her way of thinking and tone of communication as a general manager for a successful business that have been in the industry for 80 years (here im quoting her, again).

Once again, STAY AWAY FROM THIS BUSINESS.
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This review is for the location of 5672 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693

I have tried to call them several times and left several voicemail before with no call back, no explanation.
I paid Roto Rooter this location 2010 dollars in 2015 to set up two of my toilets and my tub. Ever since they completed the work I have been noticing a little bit water leaking from the toilet. At the beginning it was not that much so I didn't pay much attention to it. Recently it became worse and bad smell started to come out. I called them asking for an explanation because they charge 250 USD to just set the toilet, they said since the work was done a year ago they cant offer anyone come to fix it, I then explained that the toilet was not moved, it was leaking ever since they completed the work, the manager said they will look into it further and then NEVER called me back.
I hired another union certified plumber to fix it as I did not want to wait anymore, they were surprised to find out that Roto Rooter did not put the essential plastics pieces under the toilet while setting the toilet to the spot and that's exactly what caused the leaking and smell.
I expected quality service when they charge 250 just to set the toilet, instead, I had to hire someone else to fix the problem they caused, and no apology nor any explanation from Roto Rooter.
Please AVOID THIS BUSINESS - bad work and zero customer service. Lesson learned.

Stone cold S.

08/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

I love that no weekend fee is charged. Burim 4326 was our plumber. Very friendly, communicated options veryvwell, and the price was way cheaper than Mendel, who wanted $800 for a $150 job?!!. Would absolutely recommend Roto Rooter, and ask for Burim again.

Emmet D.

06/11/2017 12:00:00 SA

Andre #8971 came out on a Sunday night and was beyond helpful. He unclogged the pipes in which chicken chili got stuck in. He walked us through the issue and gave us a variety of options on how to solve it. Would absolutely recommend him to anyone in a heartbeat!

Kirby M.

06/11/2017 12:00:00 SA

Called on a Sunday after trying about 10 other places and they had someone out to our apartment within the hour. Andrew was fast and efficient. They offer a month warabty and 24 hour service.

Yvette T.

06/04/2016 12:00:00 SA

We ran into a problem with one of our toilets. A quick call to Roto-Rooter and a few hours later the repair is complete. It's guaranteed and all works as it should've.

The repairman was prompt and courteous.

I would happily call them again. I highly recommend their service.

Ellen K.

12/13/2015

The good news is that Tim came out very quickly to help unclog a toilet.
The negative: 1. Very expensive
2. Tim could not clearly answer my questions
3. He was quite messy and left the upstairs floor very wet.
I would try a different plumbing service in the future in spite of their prompt response.

Scott D.

04/04/2019 12:00:00 SA

I had a clog in my sink, so I called Roto-Rooter. They sent a tech out in a prompt manner; one who was polite and professional as he politely and professionally explained to me how $560 was a fair price to snake my drain, which would have taken him 30 min to do. After my wife threw him out of our house, we called Rooter man, who did the same job for $149. Roto-Rooter is highway robbery-- most of the plumbers I spoke with said they take advantage of the situation home owners find themselves in when a drain is clogged. The price difference is so ridiculous that I just can't fathom how they get away with this nonsense!

Pete T.

8/19/2017

We had a clogged line Plumbing emergency on a Saturday we called Roto-Rooter and they were out within an hour. The person on the phone explain to me no extra charge for weekend calls or emergency calls or night calls they come out and assess the damage and then give a firm quote and that's exactly what they did! Felipe was very professional explained everything thoroughly they were very very clean and they did a wonderful job I highly recommend Roto-Rooter.

Rick K.

12/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

I received fantastic service from Rotorooter. I had a clogged sink that I was unable to get unclogged, and a chrome t-trap that I was unable to remove. My technician, Armiow, immediately saw the problem was not in the trap, but further along the pipe. He rodded away and was able to clear up the pipe, replace my old t-trap with a PVC one, and cleaned up in very good time. Armiow was very professional, and was very clear about the work he was doing. I was very pleased with the final result as well as the offer of a coupon to help lighten the blow to my wallet. Happy to use them, and I hope to never have to use them again, but they will be my first choice if I ever need to.

donna m.

11/18/2019

If zero stars was an option I would put it. In case you don't want to read a long winded review, in short the tech lied to me and the manager backed him. When I asked to speak to the next person in charge, I was denied that opportunity. I question the integrity and ethics of this company's business practice.

This company is contracted through my home warranty otherwise I would have never used them. They sent a plumber out to my house to assess a damaged pipe. I specifically asked him if the damage was due to cold as I know that would not be covered by my warranty. He very confidently said it was NOT due to freezing as there was no damage to the pipe other than it was separated at the joint by the valve and would require a new valve. He refused to stay at my house and call the warranty to get approval. Instead submitted everything the following day and apparently verbally told them the damage was 100% due to cold weather (complete opposite of what he told me and my husband, also did not write anything of the sort on any form given to us). Now instead of a $65 bill had he remained consistent with what he told me when speaking to the warranty, they are quoting me over $700 to fix this. I'm now stuck in a he said, she said battle. In addition when calling and speaking to the manager, she kept stating that she's sorry that the warranty is not approving the claim and nothing in regards to the inconsistencies of her employees report which is the real issue at hand. She accused me of asking her company to commit insurance fraud when I was only asking them to be consistent and honest with their diagnosis. When I asked to send another tech for a second opinion on the matter, she said it was not necessary and when I asked to speak to the next person in charge she simply said no. The call was not ended with a resolution.

UPDATE: I brought in a 3rd party who said the pipe issue was in NO part secondary to cold!!! And fixed it for $275... that's $425 less than Roto-Rooter... you guys are crooks!!! I'll be notifying my home warranty as well, hopefully they take this seriously and reconsider their contract with this company.

Ginger S.

5/21/2018

I have called Roto Rooter out to my home on 3 different leak problems. All 3 times they have told me that that they donot have the expertise to fix my leaks. They are total slalkers! I ebded up fixing the leak my self! Will never call them fir anything in the future.

Earl D.

1/31/2020

I contacted Roto Rooter to install faucets. The tech purchased a bag full of parts, didn't used most of them, said I could keep them and he didn't have the receipts for the purchase. The charge was $400 for them. When I called the office, they said they don't reveal their markups. The point, what's to prevent them from purchasing parts they don't need. Also, the tech was poorly trained and dishonest. For example, it says prominently on their website that they install dishwashers. He refused, saying they do not do this. That's not half the story! Beware, this is a dishonest company.

Brandon J.

07/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

My sump pump went out and I scheduled an appointment for this morning from 8-12. They called me @ 11:55 o let me know someone would be here in 45 minutes. Peter arrived and got to work right away. It wasn't cheap. But done soon enough.

Katie B.

09/03/2015 12:00:00 SA

Pat is the man! He had to saw off our tub faucet for me, after I accidentally stripped the screw trying to fix the problem myself. Some things you just can't do yourself. Pat (1899) was great and didn't give me too hard a time about my unsuccessful attempt at plumbing.
The whole organization was very attentive, punctual, and communicated frequently with me. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because I would have liked a more upfront in print pricing or fee schedule. However I don't think I received an unfair price. Happy with my service.

LuRania R.

4/15/2017

Rotorooter didn't keep first scheduled appointment customer care specialist did a good job communicating and rescheduling me to have work done. Service tech did a good job unclogging piping.

Alexis A.

02/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

Update III (6/22/2017): Called Burris and Sons and Mr. Burris was able to permanently resolve my issue for a fraction of the price (about half). Roto Rooters are crooks! Anyone else have a similar issue with them?---I'm wondering if any lawyers would be willing to pursue a class-action lawsuit against them.

Update II (3/2/2017): After my follow up visit, I received several calls from representatives. The main person who I spoke with was Tracy. She called me on 2/21, then called back on 2/22 and told me she was working on a resolution and would be in touch. More than a week went by and I didn't hear from Tracy (or anyone else for that matter). So I called Tracy today (3/2/2017). She apologized for the inconvenience and informed me that they would be willing to give me $225 (half) of my total back. She said that they were able to rod the line and I was without sewage backup for almost a month. I complained that this was not what I paid for, or what I expected. I asked if I could speak to anyone else. She said that this had been cleared with the general manager and that I couldn't talk to anyone else. She said the only thing that I could do was dispute the charge with my credit card company.

I talked to the General Manager Paul Cecil. He was INCREDIBLY RUDE and combative. He kept repeating that I was without sewage for a month so they did their job. He provided other car analogies that made no sense. I could not believe how I was treated!

Please do not use this company! They are terrible. I went with them because of the 6 month guarantee, but apparently that doesn't mean anything. They totally scammed me out of my money.

Update (2/21/17) Within one month I noticed that the bad sewage smell returned, and a couple of days later I noticed that I had water again. So I decided to take advantage of that 6 month warrantee and called Roto Rooters to come back. I got a different guy this time. He rodded for a much longer time than Andre (the previous guy). He also used a camera. After rodding for over an hour he tells me that there's a large root about 7 feet below the tree in front of my house. There's a different process to have that root removed and that would cost me an addition $6,000!

I was pissed. I paid almost $500 a month ago, now they're saying that I have to pay $6,000! Why would they think that I'd be willing to give them $6000 if the $500 was basically a waste of time. Further, if I don't have that done the water will continue to come up and my 6 month guarantee is null and void because it only covered 1 visit.

Next I spoke to a manager Kris Kauth. He starts telling me that instead of $6,000 I could pay $221 for a PDP where the City would come out and look at the issue and see if they can do something. This option has no guarantees and it's quite possible that the City will say that I need a full clean out on the property (the $6,000) job. Plus the City doesn't move fast so I may have to wait a long time, meanwhile my basement will continue to smell like sewage.

I was not pleased at all with any of these options. Kris was very smug and lacking in empathy! When I pressed him for answers about why was I charged for a rodding that didn't work, he told me I don't know. You have old clay pipes. I asked him if I could speak to his manager. He was very resistant but ultimately gave me the name of the General Manager Paul Cecil.

Stay tuned, I'll keep you updated.

Original (written on 2/7/17; service on 1/17/2017): I had a sewage backup in my basement. It smelled awful! I was so sad. I called Roto-Rooter and they came out within a couple of days. Andre #8971 cleared my drain, and I haven't had any issues since. The service was fast and Andre cleaned everything after he was done. Overall he did a great job!

I've had this issue once in the past. I payed a lot less for the service but I had a massive cleanup that I was responsible for. While it's more expensive than a local handyman, I am happy that I have 6 month guarantee, and I can call them back if I need to.

Caroline L.

4/24/2018

Andrew N. #2729 was able to assess and correct the drain pipe issue I was having within 1 hour of arriving! His expert advice on how to prevent future issues were insightful and so helpful. I highly recommend Roto Rooter to anyone in need of emergency plumbing and drain service.

J S.

4/23/2018

if I can give a ZERO I WOULD, NOT ONLY DID THE PERSON NOT SHOW UP FOR THE schedule appointment time, I had to call customer service to find out why he wasn't at my house, they told my wife , who had to miss work that they was in route, after a couple hours, my wife calls back. When you think about customer service you think of somebody that's polite and friendly. but the woman we talk to out of the concord office was rude an very unprofessional, in short I would NEVER recommend them for anybody horrible service.

Don S.

06/10/2020 12:00:00 SA

They are useless and Christina in Customer Service is unprofessional, wont let you speak. Had them come out to Jet a sump storm drain line. It was 900$ for 2 hours. They guy spent 1/2 hour filling his tank with my hose. Took about 5 phone calls, kept telling me he had 3 other jobs to still go to that day. He said he cleared the line. I didnt check, I assumed I could TRUST Roto Rooter. It rained thenext day and the line filled again. I called them, simply explaining my situation and that the line that he claimed he cleared was obviuosly not cleared. She told me there was no guarantee. I had to look very hard on the paperwork to find that he had hand written it on there. I said, I just need options now, what can be done? Can they send someone else out. She said yes for another fee, She said she cou;d send someone out with a camera for 500$. I asked for a reasonable dicount or something since the work performed was inadequate. She told me it wasnt her fault that I didnt read the fine print. I said I guess I trusted Roto Rooter to stand behind theyre work, She called me Stupid. I am currently disputing charges with Credit card company and leaving reviews about my experience everywhere I can. Worked was performed in Minooka Il, I guess form the Chicago Corporate office. I was ok with the original price, but the actual service and response was terrible.

Shelli M.

5/25/2017

I called at 7:26am and the call was answered by a person that was able to take my information and set me up right away. Wyatt came out and assessed the issue. Peter came out and did the dirty work of routing the pipes. He was really polite and explained what he was doing. Wyatt came back and put the camera down the pipes to assess the 'root' cause (couldn't resist the pun) and explained everything to me in a way that I could understand. He didn't push me to make a decision on the next step and was really understanding of my need to take a day to review and decide when I would move forward with the repair. That's the kind of service that makes me feel comfortable with a company. Thanks!!

melissa l.

10/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

We had a great experience with pat (1899) He was friendly, honest and very efficient!
Our problem was resolved quickly.

Anna L.

4/15/2017

We had a sump pump emergency on a Holiday weekend. Roto Rooter responded very fast and was there within the hour. Our Tech, Peter #709, friendly, knowledgeable and thorough. Overall, a great experience!

Kevin W.

6/28/2015

I annually have to rod out my sewer line due to roots.
The gentleman was professional and very helpful. It is a bit more than I had paid with other companies but I think it was worth the extra. The man changed blades 3-4 times to make sure he got all of the roots. He is going to have someone scope the line to see if it is a candidate for repair.
I think I will use them next time.

Bob L.

3/21/2017

Called to have a slow draining kitchen sink looked at and have a new garbage disposal installed. Don, the service tech, told me he would look at the disposal to see if it needed to be replaced. After about 5 minutes of wrestling with the disposal, he got it working perfectly! Saved us a lot of money in the process. The sink did need to be rodded out because of grease build up. Don was in and out in less than an hour and the price charged was very reasonable. Much less than I expected. Plus the money he saved me by fixing the existing disposal. Highly recommend the professionals at Roto-Rooter! Will most definitely use them again in the future!

Bezad S.

02/01/2018 12:00:00 SA

No stars!! Horrible!!, Roto Rooter have become like rubbers or thieves, they will rub you blind and make you feel terrible after you trust them to do a job for you. I had done business with these people years ago and they were decent then when it came to charging their customer but today after giving a huge bill of about $2000 for a small job they did in an hour, I have learned my lesson not to trust them or have them do any kind of work for me. When I called to object, the rep lady after talking to her 'manager', told me that they made a mistake and still charged me $970 for a job that should have been no more than $300. Later I found out she herself was the manager, too many lies.

Samuel S.

6/19/2016

The service was great ! The serviceman came a little later but it wasn't a surprise because of where i live, (about a half hour away from their location.) The service man gave us an estimate after looking at the piping for the tub, he even patched the bathtub stopper.
Service:Was excellent! The service people were friendly,(service even moved material out the way encase they got dirty.) OVERALL my only gripe was the pricing 300 dollars for unclogging the tub with a drain snake are you serious?! It still came with a 6 month warranty which made the price a little more bearable .

Dawn D.

3/23/2017

Pricy but worth it to use a company that has to be liable for their work. Our service rep was kind and took time to answer out questions. I am always happy with the service.

April S.

12/25/2017

I would give zero stars if I could. This is the worst plumbing outfit I have ever had the displeasure of working with.
Our sewer needed to be rodded out on Christmas Eve! We called at 930 am and was told a plumber would be out by 130. They called back several times throughout the day to say they were backed up, short staff, etc. we called again at 4pm to find out the status. Their phone personnel are vague, uneducated about plumbing in general and gave us the run around. We had a house full of people at 5. We called again at 7 and were given some other excuses why they were behind, etc. I said I am in the trade business and understand things may be behind due to previous jobs, complications, etc but dispatch should be in contact with their technicians regarding ETA, etc. Needless to say, they never called us back that evening and the party went on thankfully.
This could have been a real plumbing emergency!
Anyway, in conclusion, a guy showed up Christmas morning and had no idea what we needed him to do when we specifically told the operators on the phone several TIMES that the sewer needed rodding out! They sent another person two hours later.
How does this end?? He quoted us $469.00 !
We are in the trades, my husband and I. This is 3x what a typical rodding out costs, barring any problems.
We said goodbye. Have a nice Christmas. We'll call a private outfit tomorrow.
This company is unprofessional, unreliable and un dependable. Not to mention dishonest. . I'll check Yelp reviews next time.
Hope this helps someone.

Rabyya S.

12/19/2017

I originally scheduled an appointment for a Thursday in the 5-9 window and I call at 8:45 pm and they tell me there is no technician. Didn't have the decency to call me and tell me. They then rescheduled me for Saturday 12-2 and I again call at 1:30 and they tell me it will be later than expected. The plumber eventually comes and then gives me the incorrect solution to pour down my drain, the next day i use my tub and the drain is even more clogged.
I then call back to have someone come and they call me 4 times through out the day to see if they can come when i clearly stated a time I will be home. Then at the time I get home, I get a call that no one is available. I speak to a manager and finally get him to have someone come and look at it at 10pm on a Sunday.
Worst service i have ever had. Will never ever use them again.

Yui C.

5/23/2018

Had a leak from toilet tank.

Was told arrival between 8-12 and would get 30 minute call beforehand. Plumber showed up at 1:15 with no pre-call.

Cost was $476 dollars which is extortion. All he had to do was replace the ring at the bottom of the tank. $20 in parts (was charged $56) and just 30 minutes of work.
I later found out that Roto-Rooter plumber works on commission not hourly rate so he has incentives to charge as much as possible (so he took advantage of me). Thanks Roto-Rooter.

Should have just called usual plumber instead of first result in google.

UPDATE:
I received a call from Roto-Rooter.

They explained to me that installing the $20 toilet repair kit is considered a major toilet rebuilt and that the rate is around $300/hr for this work and that the plumber was on-site for 2hrs (though I only saw him for ~30 minutes).
So the cost was supposed to be $600 and I actually received a senior discount. Obviously I did not agree with this pricing.
And that it was my fault for accepting the estimate beforehand (though they were late and I had already taken the day off).

Jerry N.

12/08/2017 12:00:00 SA

We had a clogged drain this week and called Roto-Rooter. We were promised a service tech that same evening, which was wonderful.
What was really great, there were several calls from our tech, letting us know how far away he was. He gave us an estimated time, and he was here, after a long trip from the south.
Robert Welch #2954 was great. He was professional, considerate, and completed the job in no time. He knew his job and handled it while being courteous, and kept everything clean and neat.
Thanks Robert!

Dauray I.

05/10/2018 12:00:00 SA

Just awful. Someone came out after our sewer pipes ruptured. They charged us to inspect using the camera. Of course, they never mentioned they had a minimum pricing of $4995 and 10 ft of piping beforehand. They didn't get a good look at what was going on due to too much water coming out of the pipes. This was after we asked if we could continue using the water, and they said yes. Called Mr. Plumber, who came out, used their camera for free and offered a much lower price.

Emily H.

06/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

Kelly (2771) promptly came out to our apartment based on the phone call I received from the dispatcher at 9 AM. We had a 10-12 pm window and was happy to see they dispatched Kelly earlier. We needed a toilet replaced in our 4 story walk-up (not an easy task). And Kelly did the job with efficiency and ease. He was very informed and explained the pricing. We are very pleased with his work.

Louna L.

11/27/2017

Pat #1899 was very professional with the appointment time, quality, speed, and accuracy of work. Besides all of the excellent work he has done, he had a very fun and lighthearted demeanor to boot. A good man!!! We will be calling him again as he earned my trust. Thanks, Pat!

Lana B.

11/27/2017

My technician Pat was excellent. He came promptly, had the tools he needed to replace my kitchen faucet that I had purchased ahead of time. The old one was corroded and needed cutting to be removed. Pat was very friendly, fast and efficient. I did feel like the price was a little steep for a 30 minute installation, but it's also plumbing work and something that is worth paying to do right.

There was a scheduling issue beforehand, thus the 1 star reduction. I had scheduled something the week of November 13 for November 22. I was told that I would have a technician at my place between 10 and 2. 2:15 rolled around and no technician. I called dispatch and given it was the day before the holidays, all kinds of emergencies kept popping up and I could not be given an answer as to when someone would show up, or even at all. I know it was the holidays but it was frustrating that no one called to provide an update given they wouldn't make their scheduled window of 4 hours or even tell me if someone would be coming that day- I just cancelled myself and rescheduled later on.

Otherwise, couldn't be happier once we had Pat come out.

Justin G.

02/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

Had our tub drain unclogged yesterday by Terry. Great service and a great price. Will definitely be using these guys again!

Dani R.

1/30/2015

We just moved into our new home a week ago, and found we had issues when our washing machine was draining, and causing sewage to come up from the drain in the basement floor and start filling the basement.

We called Roto-Rooter, and they told us someone would be out within 2 hours. 10 minutes later, Danny, #2153, was at our door. He was very friendly and professional, took the time to check everything out and was very clear on what the cost may be to clear the drain. After going over all the details, he promptly hot to work, and had us flowing again in about 45 minutes.
The whole time he was very clear on what was going on, and didn't leave us in the dark as to what the problem possibly was. Also, since it was sewage that was coming up into the basement, he was able to recommend someone to clean up and keep our home safe.

Thank you Danny for all your help tonight!

Nicole E.

03/09/2017 12:00:00 SA

I had an emergency plumbing need on the weekend and Tim came out before the service window and helped me out. The service was prompt and Tim was knowledgeable and friendly even going beyond what I expected.

Marko D.

11/11/2017 12:00:00 SA

There is cheaper, but same day service is a plus.
Mark Tech no. 2840 was professional and polite and even put up with our dog.

yiyuan w.

11/05/2018 12:00:00 SA

Wasted entire Sunday and Monday evening waiting around at home, got rescheduled multiple times (after calling bring on hold) and in the end nobody every showed up. Pipes had been leaking for over 40 hours. I can't believe this company can possibly run like this. I hope this review helps people who really need the service and are considering Roto-Rooter to make their decision.

Victoria W.

04/12/2018 12:00:00 SA

How good they are seems to depend on what location you call.

Curtis from South Bend, IN serviced the kitchen sink in my home. It hasn't worked right since I bought the house in 2011. He arrived within the time window; and got the job done. He was nothing short of wonderful.

Not so fortunate with service coming out of Valparaiso, IN. I called for service for my 4 unit apartment building. I was given a time window of 8 am - 12 pm. At noon I called because no one showed up. I was told they were running behind; and someone would be there within the hour. At 1:30 I received a call from the technician stating he was on his way. He finally got there at 2:30. I wanted him to rod the main sewer line. We had a disagreement as to how it was to be done. He insisted he had to pull the toilet; and charge me an additional $200.00 to do so. I knew I couldn't get someone else out there at that time on a Friday; so I let him do it. I had tenants upset because their toilets weren't flushing. I feel I paid double what another company would've charged. I will never use them again for my Chesterton properties.

Both times I was sent e-mails about the service I received. I responded exactly as I've written right here. I didn't get a response from the company either time; so I guess they don't really care what their customers think.

John J.

11/18/2018

$703.67 for Cleaning One Single Kitchen Drian !!!

I have had a property (a 2 bedroom apartment) for rent in Honolulu since Aug. 2017. All the drains in this unit were working fine until 10/29/2018 when the tenant texted my manger and reported that the kitchen drain was clogged. My manager tried to reach me by phone but I was in a meeting and had my phone turned off. The tenant called my manager a second time and said he already called the Roto-Rooter Services Company to fix the drain. The tenant also asked my manager who was going to pay the bill, so my manager made the decision that I (the owner) would take responisbility for the cost. My manager called me after the arrangements had been made and considering my manager would be away from Hawaii for a couple of months, I agreed to pay the bill.

I was shocked by the amount of $703.67 that it took to clean the drain. I live in Los Angeles, California, and I know that in-home plumbing jobs are expensive but I never thought that cleaning ONE single kitchen drain would cost triple of what it would cost in California. Since my manager had more than three years of experience working for another Honolulu based plumbing company as a dispatcher and finicial consultant, I had her call the plumbing company, Roto-Rooter Services, to question this rediculously high bill. The lady who was on the phone could not explain it to my manager and said she could let the plumber (named Paul) who performed the job to call my manager. Once my manager got the plumber on the phone, he explained the billing:

$342 was the fixed rate for kitchen drain cleaning.
$61 was the cost for the 1 gallon of drain cleaner fluid.
$269 was the cost for one hour of labor for replacing the P-Trap. Additionaly, the pumber said that he forgot to charge the parts fee for P-trap, which would make the final bill even higher.
Then an additional $31.67 for tax , which brings the total to $703.67.

My manager requested him to provide his company's price list for the fixed rate for cleaning a kitchen drain and the hourly cost for labor. My manager also asked him how the 1 gallon of cleaning grease was not part of the job for cleaning the drain if the amount of $342 was the fixed rate for the cleaning? Without anwering my manager or providing her with the price list, the plumber hung up the phone. My manager called the Roto-Rooter Honolulu office twice (no one answered) and had to leave mesages about taking the matter to a higher authoirty. Only then did the plumber call my manager back stating that the Roto-Rooter supervisor has decided to refund the tenant the $269 labor fee since the tenant paid for it. My manager asked me if I was willing to settle for the $269 refund, to which I agreed because I believed the job was extremely overcharged but did not want the issue to last any longer.

It has now been over two weeks, (Today is 11/18) , and my tenant still has not received the refund. My manager called the company again multiple times and was forced to leave messages with the main office and the plumber because no one would answer her calls. My manager left a message saying I (the owner) will report this issue to the small business court in Honolulu and write a review on the company web site if my tenant did not receive the refund check in 2 weeks. My manager then received a call back from the plumber with the excuse that Roto-Rooter is a large corporation and it will take a long time (at least 6 weeks) to process a refund check. As a businesman, I cannot believe this excuse!

Any way I post the reviwes here today and recommed that you shoud be very very careful to ask sevice from Roto-Rooter Plumbing Company in Honolulu.

Attached is the plumber who performed the 2 hour job and wrote the invoice.

Rita S.

10/30/2017

I'm a little late for this review, but when Mark A. (from Roto Rooter came out to my home on 9/28/17, he was GREAT. Mark explained exactly what the problem was & how he was going to fix it & he did just that! Kudos to Mark A.
Thanks Roto Rooter for sending out another great Plumber.

Linda K.

08/07/2019 12:00:00 SA

If I could leave zero stars I would! DO NOT hire them for any of your plumbing needs. You will be sorry and $25,000 in debt. They allowed sewer water to enter both of my bathrooms and basement And Pat when I asked roto rooter if they were going to help me with my sewer water filled house, your representative said contact your insurance company.

Chris Y.

01/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

Harold #2004 was great, He was polite, informative and made sure to give me every option he could. He carefully explained what each option entailed, the cost, how long it could take, and then gave me all the time I needed to make a choice. He offered several money saving options and set to work. He was efficient and took pride in everything that he did.

Shanele A.

4/25/2015

I was able to set up and appointment online, and my drain that went to the street was roded in a timely fashion .... A little bit on the pricey side.

T W.

10/14/2017

Had a clogged sink, they came and fixed it. Straight qr or ward service so no complaints. I got a free bottle of Pipe Shield by submitting this review

Susan S.

02/05/2015 12:00:00 SA

We had a great experience. Very quick to respond and I had several people out within a short period of time to identify and start fixing the problem. Pete 3013 was one of the last people here, but Jeff who helped with the remediation was exceptional.
Naperville, IL

Richard G.

12/24/2016

I was a bit upset that my appointment had gotten pushed back so far, but when Andre #8971 showed up, he couldn't have been nicer or more professional. He discovered what the issue was and quickly got to work. He took less than an hour to remedy the problem and cleaned up so well, I couldn't tell that he was ever there. Great job! Hopefully, I won't ever need your services again, but if I do, I will call Roto-Rooter.

Katie S.

08/09/2016 12:00:00 SA

They charged nearly 900 for a job that took a total 45 min. Sent one guy out that couldn't complete all the work. Charged 350 for a super short incomplete job and then sent someone else out for another 15 min and charged 500 more. Both job I probably could have done myself! Frustrating. Rip off and employees not experienced enough to unclog a drain and repair a leaky sink.

Patrick A.

11/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

Just wanted to say that David from rotorooter came out today and did a wonderful job. very pleased with work done and time frame done in!

Jeff B.

3/20/2017

I needed a new Sump Pump, and Roto Rooter sent someone out within the hour. My tech Peter Tech # 709 was professional, showed up on time, and completed the work very quickly. The price was a bit high, which is the only reason for not giving 5 stars. Other than that, everything was great!

Michael S.

5/17/2014

Had a back up and Roto Rooter scheduled an appt - they rescheduled on me 3 times. For that I'd give them a poor review. However it was during some bad weather so I guess that happens.

The person that ended up doing the work on my house, Jimmy, was extremely nice, knowledgable and very helpful. If I rated based on his work alone they'd get a 5.

Neha J.

10/15/2016

They were quick to respond and showed up on time. The job was done quickly. Only drawback was that they are on the more expensive side.

Stephanie O.

11/18/2014

I work at Jack & Ginger's Dog Care on Lincoln Ave in Chicago.
We were having trouble with our toilet overflowing as well as our mop sink filling with water & overflowing. We called Roto-Rooter & they were able to come out & fix our problem within a half hour. Within 10 minutes of being here, they were able to tell exactly what was wrong with our plumbing. They finished up within 30 minutes & cleaned up the mess.

We would definitely call them in the future for any plumbing needs.

Kristina S.

08/12/2015 12:00:00 SA

So i called Rotor- Rooter to come out and fix my faucet. Two men walk in, look at the faucet, told me I need a new hose and they didn't carry that hose so I needed to order a new one. Now they were here a total of FIVE minutes! literally FIVE minutes...He charged me $205.00!!!!!
I said NO WAY! he kept haggling with me, finally I got it down to $100.00! Still a rip off!!!
The guy wouldn't stop talking just to waste time to make it look like he put time and effort into it.
BUYER BE WARE OF THIS COMPANY!!! THIEFS!!

Kristina

So after my review, I received a call from Roto-Rooter. They were extremely apologetic, and refunded my money. I feel much better about this company, They handled this situation professionally. I will consider them in the future.

Kristina

Michael W.

8/26/2018

Our sewer drain was backed up so based on the generally good reviews, we called Roto Rooter to come out. They would not give an estimate over the phone, but as soon as the tech got here, I showed him the cleanout located in the basement and he quoted $495. That sounded high, but since they were there and I had found a $55 coupon, we went ahead.
The tech started with a wider blade but then switched to a narrower blade to make the rodding faster. Then a second person surprisingly arrived with a camera to scan the pipe. He showed that the pipe was corroded and after about 10 feet the picture went black. He explained the camera was covered with sludge so we could not see. He ran the camera (including locator) to the main sewer and claimed the line was full of sludge and could only be cleared by installing a clean out. To install a clean out with a sewer line 9 feet deep and to jet clean the line, they quoted $8900 and could come out the next day. We thought that seemed unusually high, but since Roto Rooter is rated highly and thought of as reputable, we figured that was a reasonable cost. In hindsight, that was a big mistake.
The next day two guys came out with a small excavator and dug a 4' by 8' hole about 9 ' deep and installed the cleanout in 3-4 hours. It was not nearly as big a deal as they made it sound. Also, the drain pipe segment that was cut out about 20' in front of the house had corrosion but nothing like full of sludge they claimed. This leads to me believe that the clean out was not even necessary. The previous day the techs did not run water to see if the blockage was cleared, or if needed, use a wider blade, to make sure the clean out was really needed. I feel we were deceived and rushed into having the clean out installed and way overcharged for it. After I complained, the best Roto Rooter would do was to refund the $440 rodding charge. I am not close to satisfied and hope sharing my experience will bring awareness to others. I would strongly encourage getting other quotes before using Roto Rooter.

Leo S.

04/10/2016 12:00:00 SA

Had an urgent plumbing issue so we called Roto-Rooter as they are very well known. Our toilet had a leak and the source of the issue required us to have a new toilet installed. Neither my gf nor I are plumbers so we called them to do the install as the service would be covered under warranty as well. Unfortunately, I can't comment on the quality of their plumbing service as they never arrived.

We initially called around 1PM on Saturday and were quoted that a technician would show up between 4PM and 8PM that day. Waited around and they called around 7PM saying that they would have to push our appointment to the next day between 11AM and 2PM. We live in a 1 bed / 1 bath condo so not having a toilet is really not an option for us, but whatever. We ended up staying with her parents in the suburbs for a night.

In the morning, we scrambled back so we could be there for the 11-2 appointment. We called as we were coming back and they confirmed that we were still on their route for an appointment in that time frame. At 1:40PM, I called them again and again they said that we were still on the list and all the techs were busy. 2:30 PM rolls around and I found another plumbing company, Captain Rooters, and they were at my door in half an hour. Right after my call with Captain Rooters, Roto-Rooters called me back and said a tech would be on his way, but would take an hour to get there. At that point, I cancelled my appointment with them. After they hung up with me, they called my gf (who originally made the appointment) to confirm if we were really cancelling the appointment. Yes, I'm a grown man who doesn't know about free market competition or customer service, so OF COURSE I must be confused or incompetent if I want to cancel my appointment with them!

The ONLY good thing about Roto-Rooter is that their call center and dispatch were extremely courteous and willing to help. Not sure if they don't have enough techs or if it was just a crazy weekend for plumbing, but won't be calling here again for anything.

Irene K.

02/10/2019 12:00:00 SA

I had a clogged kitchen sink with a broken line. Called on Sunday and had Erion come in about 45 minutes. Fixed the issues, clean-up afterwards and was very pleasant and easy to deal with. In the future if I should have anything else that shall arise with plumbing issues they would be my first call.

Pam B.

11/21/2016

Our kitchen sink was completely clogged, so we called roto-rooter. We were able to schedule someone to come out within a few hours. The plumber was about an hour late, which was a little frustrating, but he was able to fix our sink and offered a fair price for the service.

Cube E.

1/27/2019

Adolfo came out to look at my dishwasher problem. He immediately knew about the root cause and did an amazing job.

Brittany C.

12/16/2017

Stephen H was such a big help and over all very nice guy! I highly recommend Roto-rooter when you are having a problem with a clogged toliet!

Debbie M.

8/30/2019

This company is deceptive. Do not trust these liars. They told me they'd be putting an access panel in the wall after they opened the wall to get to some plumbing. They did no such thing but instead ripped a gaping 3 foot wide hole and just left it like that. When I sought an explanation their administrative office called me back and laughed at my concerns, gaslit me stating no tech ever would have told me they would fix the wall. The tech by the name of Mark told me over the phone several times he would fix the hole. Mark if you're reading this- do you not remember me calling you several times to double and triple check that you would really be fixing our wall? You took advantage of us. Roto rooter lies and damages property with no shame.

Christine M.

01/04/2017 12:00:00 SA

Our mainline was clogged. We called on a Sunday evening in a panic. Was told someone would be out that evening but they later called saying they would be out first thing in the morning. Understandable because the weather was terrible! Kyle #784 came to our house and was working on our drains for an hour. He got it to clear and double checked to make sure it really was clear. Yay water! He also gave us a very helpful tips along the way. Will call them again! But Hopefully we won't need to!

Jenni E.

9/16/2016

We had a clogged kitchen sink in our new house. I called this morning and got an appointment almost immediately. The gal on the phone was very courteous and got me scheduled quickly. The technician #3980 was great. Came in and assessed the situation and got to work fixing the clog. i am very happy and satisfied with the service and the working kitchen sink!

Geoffrey D.

1/19/2014

Why, oh why, didn't I listen to my fellow Yelpers? If I had, I'd have saved myself a little bit of time and a lot of aggravation! If zero stars was an option, I'd give it to Roto Rooter!

I will say that online scheduling was a breeze, and someone showed up just shortly after my appointment window began. Unfortunately, that's where the good ends.

The quoted me an outrageous price for the work that was needed, and then immediately started backing down in $50 increments when I told him I could start my own plumbing company for what he quoted. Eventually, his priced stopped dropping and I told him that it was still exorbitant for what he admitted would be less than an hour's worth of work. I asked him why it was so expensive, and he told me that it's a big building (we live in a high-rise) and there was risk of damaging some of the common plumbing. He then informed me that they were not responsible for damaging any common plumbing. So, wait, the price is so high because you won't cover possible damage to a larger system? You'll have to excuse me if I don't follow that logic. You'll also have to excuse the plumber that was here, because at this point, he just turned and walked away from me. Very professional!

John G.

12/29/2016

Called Roto Rooter for hot and cold shut off valve under kitchen sink leaking. Thought I was getting a local Roto Rooter (Northwest suburb) but he came out of Chicago. Kyle (3269) was very professional and courteous.
He helped installed kitchen faucet along with replacing the hot and cold water shut off valves which I had purchased at Home Depot. Labor was very pricey for an hour and 15 minutes $400. Only negative was no estimate upfront before he started. I needed it repaired so most likely would have agreed to an estimate anyway. I will continue to use Roto Rooter and recommend them.

Nits P.

12/28/2018

Terrible terrible service and everyone in staff starting from customer service to managers higher up are bluntly lying to you all the time. They have told us early morning that someone will be coming between 10:30-2:30PM and then at 2:48pm I get a call from Samantha and her manager saying plumber is on his way and should be home in 20/30 mins. It was 3:48pm and no one showed up. I gave them a call again at 3:50pm and spoke with Samantha's manager she said technician is on his way from Sunnyvale and should arrive in another 30 mins as he is stuck in traffic during holidays, I was like really?? If you live in Bay Area does it really take 1.5/2hrs in any bad traffic to come from Sunnyvale to Foster city ?? Bad service they are lying all the time please use rescue plumber service and not root rooters!!!!

Megan D.

6/19/2017

The actual service was fine, but the scheduling was tricky. Grant came and did a great job today. His work was efficient. He made sure that everything was ready to go before he left. Scheduling was challenging because we got rescheduled twice, but they were very communicative about running late as well as apologetic. I would definitely continue using Roto Rooter for my businesses needs.

David P.

5/29/2019

Absolutely terrible! Would never recommend to anyone. Total scam artists! They do not give you any quotes over the phone, then they totally rip you off. I called Roto-Rooter to have a kitchen faucet replaced. They came out, took a half hour to replace a small kitchen faucet, and charged my wife $550. No parts, nothing but labor. $550! I called a manager and was told this is a standard price for replacing a kitchen faucet! And there is no guarantee on their work. Total rip-off! Worst experience with any plumbing company ever.

Jason J.

12/19/2016

Kyle #784 came today, was very professional and friendly. kept the work site clean and solved the problem.
Thank you

Russ B.

12/17/2016

We had a bit of an emergency situation with a floor drain in our home that was spilling water all over in the middle is a winter Saturday. I called Roto-Rooter and they told me they could be put that evening. I set everything up and went about my day. They called a half hour later to say they could come earlier. This was great as we had evening plans. The service technician, Tim, came to our home and after covering his shoes took a look at the situation and advised me what needed to be done and provided an estimate. I have him the OK for the service and he went to work right away. He explained everything he was doing and why he was doing it. He was able to resolve the issue quickly, and there was no surprise increase in price. We couldn't be happier with the service, and will definitely call next time we have plumbing repairs needed.

Bunny S.

12/15/2014

Wow, 5th (or maybe 6th) time's a charm , I guess. You know how it is when you have plumbing problems. You end up getting a lot of different plumbers giving you a lot of different answers to your problem with a lot of different prices.

We sure got lucky with Justin, though. Normally, I try to use small business guys, not franchises but I would recommend this Roto Rooter based on the honesty, innovation and general great work by their plumber, Justin. That also goes for price.

Yulia R.

1/27/2014

Awful company. Why oh why have I not googled for reviews prior to calling them!

I would not recommend them to anyone. Our kitchen sink got plugged. We called the company (because they had $20 coupon) first thing in the morning (before 9am). They promised us to come within 1-3 hours (which sounded great). They refused to give us even a slightest idea of how much it would cost us to fix it (wire it). Now I understand why they were being so secretive; had they revealed their prices before making people waste the entire day, no one would have ever hired them.

Anyway, the plumber showed up shortly after 3:00pm (which was over 6 hours!!) and he told us that it would cost us $300 to wire it, but that it will not solve the problem and we would need to buy some liquid for another $50 from him to complete the job. At that point I had a hard time being nice and told him in no uncertain terms just how unhappy I was with the situation (taking twice longer than their worst estimation to arrive, which made us waste an entire day, not hinting to us just how ridiculously high their prices were over the phone, and that I will be sure to write a review) He did not seem surprised at all. I guess counting on wasting people's time and then hoping that they would buy into their oddly high prices being pretty desperate at that point doesn't always work.

Long story short, we called another plumbing company right after the Roto-Rooter guy left and they agreed to come that very evening and fix the issue for.....$115!

The moral of the story: while some companies earn their money with hard work, others count of ripping desperate people off.

Omar O.

03/03/2014 12:00:00 SA

I used Roto-Rooter from Berwyn (my suburb) but didn't see a separate Yelp account for that so leaving my review here.

My plumbing problem: Backup sewage water was coming up from the basement drains.

Did they fix? Yes

Pros:
-Website is very user friendly and was able to setup my appointment on there
-My plumber (Keith) was very friendly and also provided other pieces of advice in regards to my unfinished basement while he was there!
-Keith found the source of the problem and advised me on how to prevent it in the future. He also let me know that I wouldn't need to have a new plumbing line to the main (city) line. I feared that there was a crack in the pipe and would need that.

Cons:
-I scheduled my appointment on a Friday but had to reschedule for Saturday because they ran behind schedule (although they did keep me informed along the way).
-For my appointment, they sent someone to give us an estimate first instead of sending a plumber that has the equipment to fix the problem. So my Friday morning appointment that got pushed to Saturday morning, then got pushed to Saturday afternoon.
-Cost seemed a little steep but I have nothing to compare it too so take that with a grain of salt.

Total cost for running the snake through the drain pipe and getting a pipe treatment to kill the little roots that come through for a year (additional): $594

Overall still gave 4 stars because Keith made the difference and provided great service.

Heather M.

7/20/2014

I'm in Naperville, IL.
Our drain in the laundry room flooded our basement. We didn't know what was going on and Roto-Rooter helped. We called on Saturday and they came out Sunday AM.

Pros:
Vono, the Roto-Rooter technician, was fantastic. He was very helpful and optimistic when we were in need of help. He did an excellent job and educated us about how to stop this in the future.

He came on a Sunday without the extra fees for a weekend.

He was respectful of our house with his machinery. He was also kind to our two dogs who were displaced during the flood.

Good communication from Roto-Rooter overall. Confirming my appointment via email.

Neg:
The whole job cost $800 which was more than I anticipated. My expectations may have been naive.

My appointment was between 9-11am but Roto-Rooter didn't arrive until almost 1pm. They did call to update me but it still cut into our day.

Elana E.

10/25/2017

Tim was out here within an hour, did a great job, I received a discount and hopefully this won't happen again. Thank you

Brad P.

11/22/2014

We've had really good experiences with Roto-Rooter. Nail came to our place today right within the time he said he would be here. He was very nice, helpful and professional.

Berwyn, IL

Nancy A.

11/14/2016

I had a leaking and badly clogged toilet at our new condo. It was a Sunday afternoon and after unsuccessfully trying to get an appointment with several other handymen and plumbers, Roto-Rooter was able to come out Monday morning.

Their customer service representative was very friendly when scheduling the appointment. They called the next morning to say they could send some out even earlier than scheduled, which was great.

Heto (service tech #3655) was very friendly and helpful. He explained the potential problems and gave me a quote on the spot. He was able to auger the clog quickly and we were back in business within minutes!

He even put on protective booties before entering the unit, and cleaned up before he left. Thank you!

Their prices are not cheap, but their quick and friendly service were worth it.

Jason C.

7/22/2016

i just had Andre (8971) finish a job involving my bathtub. My bathtub was not draining right, i have had problems over the years with the tub. Took him about 15 to minutes to root out the tub. Andre was polite and professional. We were able to negotiate a reasonable price for the service. No complaints at al. I called Roto Rooter at 3:10 pm, Andre was here at 4pm and left at 5 pm. Problem fixed with a 6 month guarantee. Also they will lower their price. They come to your house and won't give u a quote over the phone. Tell the plumber that the price is way to high. I told Andre that I had a quote for a lot lower and told him no thanks. He matched the offer. They know a common clog takes 10 minutes to fix so they don't wanna leave and loose money and then have to drive to a different place and hope they get their business. Do not go with their initial price.

Michael S.

03/10/2016 12:00:00 SA

Kelly (tech #1910) came out to our restaurant in Rogers Park on the north side of Chicago within about an hour. Once he came in he cleaned out the main sanitary line within ten minutes. He also gave us tips to prevent future backups. I was glad that he came quick and we didn't have to stay too late! :)

Steven O.

4/17/2019

Called to see what was causing the water to back up in to my house the first time the lady set me up for an appointment next day nobody came called to check and see if the technician was running late they say no appointment was supposedly set up, so we set up another appointment this time they had a supervisor came and to check what our issue was and immediately he tried saying that they cannot service our home because my sewage drain pipe is under my mobile home without even asking where it was located at (Its infront of my home sticking our from the ground and it's a pretty big tube it stands out ) after informing him of where its located he says ok well I'll let the technician know and he will be here in a few minutes, 2 hours passed by and he finally showed and after telling him my issue again he states it's the city's fault because there sewers were supposedly clogged so I call and the city workers come and obviously it was not the city the technician basically threw me under the bus saying that he never told me to call the city to come check out the sewer lines. Now after talking to the city workers and apologizing he tries telling me that to try and rod that sewage drain pipe he would normally charge 650 but could cut me a deal for maybe 575 after telling him no he tried lowering the price again to 500 maybe 450 if it doesnt take that long . No work was done by roto rotter and I went to homedepot and for 70 dollars and 15 minutes of my time I got the pipe cleared.

Phoenix D.

06/01/2016 12:00:00 SA

I recently had the pleasure of having a service call with Kelly Jones (2771) of RotoRooter. I do agree with most reviews that they are indeed expensive but I feel they were worth it. Kelly was completely professional and quick. He started by putting shoe covers on the moment he entered my home. I appreciate the respect for our house. He was very knowledgeable and made me feel comfortable having him work on our bathroom faucet. I didn't have the required information as to the brand of my shower faceplate but he was able to identify it in sight. He has the part necessary to fix my problem and was thorough and speedy. Thank you Kelly and RotoRooter for taking care of my plumbing needs. I hope to not need a plumber in the future :) but if I do, RotoRooter will be my first call.

Zola E.

12/22/2013

I bought my house in 2006 and have had unknown water leakage issues ever since. No plumbers could ever figure out the source until now. Dexa was able to repair the hole that was filled in with insulation that had been leaking and destroying my interior wall to include the interior and exterior wall. He did this in one service call on yesterday. I feel so much relief now!!! Thank you so much Dex and @RotoRooter!

V R.

04/12/2019 12:00:00 SA

I did talk with Olivia but she didn't help at all, she wanted me to feel that I did not need to agree to the work. I only agreed to the work as I felt that I was not able to get the technician to leave unless I agreed to the work. I felt bullied and intimidated Every time I said no he lowered the price, he would not leave.

Lisa F.

9/17/2017

It was nearly impossible to get them here! They kept stringing us along. They kept giving us time windows that would expire. We'd call and they'd give another window. We called other places but no one was available. So, we were stuck waiting for them! We were headed out of town for the weekend and ended up leaving 6 hrs late. However, when Bruce our tech showed up he was pleasant, professional and proficient. He got the job done quickly and we were on our way. Thanks Bruce! So, the stars are for Bruce and the absence of stars is for dispatch.

Cassandra G.

04/04/2016 12:00:00 SA

When you can't shower until the problem is fixed, you never want to hear that a plumber can't be at your house for two days. Roto-Rooter comes to fix problems on the same day, even on a Sunday, and you don't get charged extra. It's not cheap, but you can usually find one coupon or another online. Yesterday was my second experience with Roto-Rooter, and it was great, just like last time. Giovanni (tech #2910) went the extra mile to unclog my bathroom tub (thank you!). I'll keep using Roto-Rooter, even though I wish I didn't have to.

Lindsay K.

11/07/2013 12:00:00 SA

I had been using Roto-Rooter for quite some time for my plumbing needs. Today I was stood up for several hours. I was told that a call center had called me four times and I didn't answer. You know what? That isn't my problem. My phone blocks unknown numbers. Last time I was called by someone from Roto-Rooter with a local number to let me know that the plumber was on his way. This time a call center calls. Lack of consistency, on Roto-Rooter's part, is not my fault.

I made my appointment online this time, usually I call in. They had my email but I received no emails about my appointment, they just assumed I wasn't home and decided to not show up, at all. Why would I schedule something during a two hour period I wasn't going to be home? That makes no sense at all.

I am just so tired of national service companies and their anti-personal service and call centers. They are the bowels of the service industry. They are acquiring and ruining small businesses who do a much better job.

I called Priority Response Plumbing and they were here in under an hour and gave me better prices than Roto-Rooter ever has. The tech from PRP also let me know that a pipe issue I have in my lawn is very common and not necessary to fix if cleaning my main line on a regular basis is keeping my pipes from being backed up. Having that regular maintenance IS helping, it's so nice of him to let me know so I didn't give Roto-Rooter another 2500.00 that I can spend on other bills and necessities. Roto-Rooter was ready to take my money and not even let me know that the issue I have (Roots in pipes and a slight separation in pipes) is a common issue for all home owners. I also had a 30.00 coupon to use with PRP and the technician gave me a 50.00 coupon to use instead.

Roto-Rooter is dead to me.

Mike H.

10/15/2018

If you think $495 is a fair price for unclogging a kitchen sink (under a half hour, non-emergency), then by all means, this is the fraudulent company for you.

Jill N.

7/20/2016

I had a leaking valve on a very old (original for the house) toilet. I was leaving town in 2 days and needed someone out ASAP to replace the toilet and repair the water line and valve. I called several companies for an estimate, including Roto-Rooter. This was the only company to have someone at the house within 45 minutes. I fortunately had all the parts needed for the job so the quote was a fair price for just an install. Two hours after my initial call, the work was completed and I am a happy customer. Thank you for the great service!

Kyle G.

05/10/2016 12:00:00 SA

Mark showed up very quickly and got my sewer flowing again. Very grateful. Would use again.

Debbie S.

9/26/2016

They were very professional and explained what they were going to do very well. They cleaned up their mess when they were done. My only complaint is that if you don't answer the phone when dispatch is calling to let you know when the service man will be at your home they don't leave a message. And if you never talk to dispatch a service man won't be sent to your house. I never answer the phone if I don't know the number. Luckily, after the 3rd time calling I finally answered otherwise they wouldn't have come out.

Sheila R.

3/18/2019

I called and was able to get someone the next day and fix a leak I had which was great. The plumber took a look and stated the job would be 2 hours at $305 per hour plus parts, so I assumed the work would take that long. However, he fixed the problem but the job took less than an hour yet I was still charged for 2 hours of work. Seems excessive pricing and overcharging for actual work done at over $700. Not sure I would use their services again.

Mike O.

07/02/2016 12:00:00 SA

Roto-rooter came out on a Saturday morning to fix my piping for my outside faucet. Miles was very knowledgeable and did a great job of explaining everything to us. Job well done! Nail249.

Steven L.

8/13/2017

Overall great experience! Burim was my plumber and he was on time, honest, straight forward, and really knowledgeable. Explained everything that was going on, and we agreed on the price before he started any work. Called on a sunday and within two hours He showed up. I was really happy. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the prices were a bit higher than I expected. But overall very happy with my experience.

Chrystalle R.

6/25/2016

We had some issues getting our plumbing problem straightened out. The first day, the gentleman came late, but the dispatcher always called to keep us updated. It was a very stormy night and the plumbers were backed up. The guy that came unfortunately wasn't able to help us as he wasn't licensed in the right area, but he called the company and booked an appointment the very next day for us. The next gentleman that arrived, Armion #601, was able to fix the problem and even gave us a discount. He was very nice, professional and efficient. He gave us instructions on how to avoid the same thing from happening again. Of course, it's still expensive, but plumbing just is. I'm confident our new pumps will last a long time as Roto Rooter gives quality service and products.

Trice T.

04/03/2020 12:00:00 SA

My toilet was not flushing properly I called to have someone fix the issue. They send one guy out thinking I'm caller a Plumber and within an hour my toilet does the same thing. I call to get someone else sent over to my house as I paid $200 for the service and he comes in with the snake to do the exact same thing. I asked him what the actual problem was and if it was a bigger issue his response I wasn't here when the last person came your toilet is flushing fine now I call their JOKE of a corporate office and The Manager tells me that basically I got upper class plunging something called auger and that checking to see what was down there would about $500 oh and that someone in the house MUST HAVE declined that service. I asked for a refund because my toilet is STILL not flushing correctly. DO NOT USE THEM. Their full of shit literally! Money isn't the issue but I would never support a business that doesn't take accountability!

Wambui W.

06/03/2016 12:00:00 SA

I was too afraid to light the pilot on my water heater so I called Roto-Rooter. The tech came in, showed me how to do it and explained lots of things to me about the water heater so I'm good to go! He was awesome. I took 1 star away because I wish they were a little cheaper but hey....

James C.

06/01/2016 12:00:00 SA

Worst service in my life. We had a leak upstairs behind our shower wall causing damage to the kitchen ceiling downstairs. Instead of cutting a small hole in the dry wall in the utility room next door, this lazy genius cuts a hole in our shower surround which we then had to replace. When we complained, they did absolutely nothing. We'll never use Roto-Rooter again.

Steve Y.

02/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

Very timely response. Needed to replace a leaking water heater. Heto did a great job and completed the job within 3-4 hours.

Ken B.

4/24/2016

Great service, fast response. Took care of a massive basement clog quickly.

Eric K.

08/04/2016 12:00:00 SA

I just bought my first condo a couple months ago and the pipes under my kitchen sink started to leak. Of course I tried Roto-Rooter - they're the only plumbers I know by name. I was very happy to work with Grant (3176)! He was on time (he even beat me home) and was speedy. He knew what to do right away and even gave me explanations about everything under my sink and the parts he was replacing. I will be requesting him if I need any work done in the future. A little pricey but if the service is good, the products are good, and I'm happy with the result - I don't mind paying a little more! :)

Marc B.

5/18/2016

Wali Fnu (Tech 2660) was a very nice, honest, and knowledgeable Roto-Rooter Technician. Roti-Rooter was very willing to work with my on price as well, which i was very grateful for. I would use Roto-Rooter again, and highly recommend them to my friends and family.

Megan H.

1/20/2019

Jacob was able to immediately diagnose the issue with our hot water heater after two other people could not figure out the issue. We ended up needing a new hot water heater. Jacob was able to install one that same night! He worked tirelessly at our house from about 7:30pm-11:30pm to make it happen. He was friendly, professional and extremely knowledgeable. Jacob earned Roto-Rooter a customer for life. Thank you Jacob and Roto-Rooter for all your help!

Chris S.

7/30/2018

Needed plumber sink would not drain. They state open 24 hours 7 days a week except when I called NO ONE AVAILABLE. Horrible company doesn't even deserve a 1star

Ty J.

8/27/2017

Terrible company. Booked a 4:45-6:45 appointment. Time came and went. Got a call about 7:30 saying the technician is running behind. CLEARLY! Every hour after that I had to call them. If it wasn't an emergency, I would've cancelled them when they called me at 7:30. Didn't want to further delay my issue. Guy comes at 11:17 saying he's outside. Comes is and immediately says this will be expensive. Hadn't even looked into the issue yet. This guy was drunk. Smh. Never again. Zero stars. Dispatch/customer service/tech all were bad. No communication between neither of the three. Issue was a sewer backup that was cleared in 30min or less. These folks don't care one bit. Guy was out drinking. Not on a job. I'll be making a official complaint to corporate.

Anita O.

7/28/2013

they are swindlers!! the guy came out and estimated $400+ to remove my old disposal and install the new one (which I had already purchased)... and he said that there might be costs for add on parts in the process b/c he saw rust in the sink, and said there might be cracks in the pipes b/c in a high rise they should be brass.

Other plumbing companies out there were quoting less than his estimate WITH the cost of a new disposal included. after I said no thanks, and asked him to leave he came down to $320. but again, i reminded him the other companies were providing the disposal for that much! i'm so disgusted by his whole pricing and approach. I used J&B Plumbing ultimately, and Jeff was AWESOME! It only cost me $175 and there was no add ons -- the alleged rust was dried food stain that came out with a wet sponge, and the pipes were just fine! i'd highly recommend J&B.

Never calling Roto again. In hindsight now, I'm pretty sure I was swindled by them a couple years ago when then did a different repair for me! :(

Jamelyn C.

07/05/2018 12:00:00 SA

I made an appointment with this company as I had great service with them in New York. They were scheduled to come to my condo from 5pm to 7pm with a call 30 minutes prior to their arrival. I never heard from them and after 7 calls, I called another plumber. I took off work early to ensure I would be home when they arrived and this company not only did not contact me but could not even provide an ETA. What a waste of time and a huge disappointment!

Yana G.

10/26/2017

The high google score for these guys must be a scam...don't fall for it. They are totally disorganized and disrespectful of people's time. Never had more difficulty getting a service person out. Never in my life. 2 days they gave me a 4 hour window, missed the window both times and one day said they couldn't make it at all (even though the window was 9-1) and the other day gave my appointment away because I missed a call (called them back 15 min later and it was too late). The dispatch people were not friendly or helpful. I decided to go with someone (anyone!) else.

JW P.

01/06/2018 12:00:00 SA

Roberto (4341) came to help with a sewer back-up on a Saturday afternoon. He was knowledgeable and efficient and fixed the problem quickly. He called their clean-up team to come give an estimate, which they did within about 90 minutes. While we have high praise for Roberto, the scheduling folks were not as efficient. Roberto arrived nearly 2 hours after his schedulers said he would be here.

Marty J.

11/24/2013

Called Roto Rooters to come find out why our basement had sewerage backing into it. They were here late on a Thursday night and had figured out the issue in about an hour. They had a crew here the next afternoon repairing our main waste line and had us operational before they left(late into the evening). They returned on Monday to finish the job and made sure to go over every last detail.

Assuming the repair holds up, I would highly recommend their services. The technicians that did the job were happy to answer any questions we had. hopefully though, we do not see them for a while!

Michael S.

6/22/2016

Called roto rooter one day, and they offered me an appointment the same day. GIOVANN (tech 2910) was friendly, polite, fast and efficient. I felt the price was fare for the job, so I did not bother shopping around getting quotes. They did the work within about 35-45 minutes and water was flowing again!

Tom N.

1/24/2016

I called roto-rooter because I was having a problem getting a plastic nut off from the bottom of my toilet tank. I was trying to install a new ballcock valve as the old one was leaking.
Harold #2004 came out quickly, which was good. Before he started, Harold quoted me a price of $375 dollars just to replace this valve! I needed to replace this part so I went ahead with it.
To my surprise, Harold was also having quite a time trying to remove this plastic nut, (it made me feel good as I thought it was just me!).
After Harold was done with the job, he began to talk about his relationships with the dispatchers! I thought it was a little creepy and also unprofessional.
I know I probably would have paid the same with another company, but I may still go with someone else if I need plumbing service again.

Eloisa G.

5/19/2017

their corporate office cashed a check that didn't belong to them when i called to let them know, the lady transferred me to a different location and the caller had no idea what happened. I call back and she doesn't answer the phone.

Nilo D.

6/16/2016

Awesome customer service by Eddie. Very courteous especially coming out to Barrington, IL at 8pm from Joliet, IL. Eddie had the clogged laundry line fixed in no time at all. Have a great time on your vacation to Mexico. Safe travels.

Vincent P.

06/12/2016 12:00:00 SA

RotoRooter was able to solve our drainage issue quickly and to our satisfaction. Our technician, Andre was prompt, courteous and professional. They came out and snaked our drain on a Sunday night so that we weren't impacted further by our plumbing issue.

Val K.

12/01/2016 12:00:00 SA

Tech number 1101 Joe, was FABULOUS! Joe came out in a very timely manner to diagnose the problem. Excellent plumber- very knowledgeable and personable! We will be recommending Joe, and Roto- Rooter to all of our friends and family!

Linda D.

05/08/2019 12:00:00 SA

My husband called Rotorooter on Monday. He told them we have a problem with our tankless water heater. We were without hot water. He asked if they service tankless water heaters and they said yes. Not reliable. They said they would be here between 4 and 6 on Monday and then called about 7 and said truck broke down. They rescheduled for Wednesday between 10:00 and noon. At 2:30 my husband called and said where are you. The man said What did you want I want someone to come out and repair my tankless water heater. Oh, we don't do that. My husband said that's not what you told me on the phone. Very unreliable and someone lied.

Rachel N.

11/22/2016

The service done was done well. They routed a sewer between the house & street, cleaned it, camera review and said it had issues with the slope, and low points. What they did for $400 and two hours seemed pricey, yet it falls in the middle end. Hindsight, I wish I had had them inspect more carefully, especially if they were going to tell me there it was only clogged. Oh well. Advice ~ do your homework first, make some calls, compare services, prices, reviews.

Jennifer F.

8/26/2015

I had roto rooter come out to fix a clogged sink. Aside from being extremely expensive, I was fairly happy with the service.

That is until I opened my cabinet under my sink, the door fell right off of the hinge. This would annoy anyone, but the week before I just finished a 3 month renovation project on my brand new kitchen.

I called their customer service line and they were initially very responsive telling me that they would take care of the fee for my service or the cost of a new cabinet and that they would send me information on how to take care of this. 2 weeks later, I had to follow up after not hearing from them and now their story is changing.

I would rather have a clogged sink than a brand new kitchen with a broken cabinet door and an unresponsive customer service team. This is unacceptable in many different ways.

Beth W.

11/15/2016

We had the dreaded non-flushable toilet problem. For three days and countless hours and gallons of water wasted later we plunged, augured, CLR'd, and replaced tank innards. As one other reviewer noted, we threw in the towel and called Roto-Rooter. We knew that they cost a bit more but peace of mind in hiring a reputable company that is accountable for their technicians was, to us, worth the extra cost.

We called on Sunday and got an appointment for Tuesday--and that's only because neither of us would be home for the plumber on Monday. Our appointment window was for 12-2. Not only did the tech come early, but Tony (#1470) was gracious, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about helping us with our situation. A new toilet was recommended (we did see that coming) and in less than 1-1/2 hours he was complete with the job -- and that's after we had to rush out to buy a new toilet!

Overall cost (including new fixture) was around $700, and that is with the internet coupon. Hate to spend the money--who doesn't?--but sure feel it was money well spent.

Evan V.

06/07/2013 12:00:00 SA

Just had a tech come out to my house and give me a quote to unclog my bathtub drain. They wanted $400 for ~1 hrs of work ( time estimate provided by plumber). Someone making $400 an hour would earn $800K per year. This is 16 times the national average household income and probably 3x the average income for a medical doctor. Screw you I am not paying you $400 per hour to do a job. He offered to knock it down to $300...stop wasting my time.

It would be so much easier if they posted their ridiculous prices on the website. I never would have had to call the guy, a waste of my time and his time. You suck roto-rooter.

Don't even bother getting a quote from these guys they are out to gouge you.

Sarah P.

10/27/2014

Bloomingdale Illinois
Field Supervisor Silvano Hernandez (#903) was an excellent service man. We had back up that we thought that was in our house but when he came out he said it was not in the house it was from our drain trap outside. This happened at 730pm and we called and with in 20 minutes they called us back and got Silvano to come out here around 930. He had great customer service explained everything that was going on and why we were backed up and did and excellent job. He even let me watch the whole time too. Thank you Roto Rooter for the excellent service! we can always count on you!

Tutul B.

06/12/2017 12:00:00 SA

called roto rooter on april 11,2017 water leaked from faucet to the ceiling,water restoration tech came home while I'm working, wife called and I talked to the tech over the phone, they told my insurance will cover everything after $ 500 deductible, find out insurance is $ 2500 deductible, tech did not give me any estimates prior to work when I requested an estimates. charged me $ 500 on the service day and asking $ 729.16 more for 24 hours fan drying service, when I denied to pay $ 729.16 they reported to debt collector, I got the letter, but they never send me bill for $ 729.16 in my mail, the restoration service tech James kucenski lied about insurance coverage to get the work order. I am writing everywhere about them, filled complaintg to BBB. This is way over priced service fees, make sure you get an estimates before work and know your insurance deductible otherwise they will rob you blind. will never call roto rooter for my/ faimily/friends home service. This culprit needs to bring to the justice.

Karine B.

9/27/2017

Erion is a young professional and a very pleasant individual. I will ask for him by name. Erion took time to figure out the source of our plumbing problem. He offer us a quote that at fist sounded high to me. We had an adult conversation about what I felt would be a reasonable fee for this work. After talking to him manager (I assume) we where able to negotiate a lower price that I felt very comfortable with. Erion completed the job professionally and quickly. He left the place clean (which I greatly appreciated). I am very please with the work he did, and feel comfortable knowing that the work is warranted for six months.

Sarah B.

07/05/2007 12:00:00 SA

Flushing the toilet in our guest bathroom is kind of like opening a present- you never know what's going to be inside. When we greet our overnight guests, they get fresh towels and a plunger.

After extended embarrassment, I finally broke down and called the plumber. They were available to come within two hours. The guy who showed up was actually quite attractive in a worn/slavic/Marlboro man sort of way, so bonus points for sending a good specimen.

After an hour or so, the offending toilet was repaired. The total cost was $150 if you're dying to know. Is that a lot? I'm not sure. In a day-and-age when you can't get Doctors to come on house calls, I'd say well worth it. Besides, how much would I have to pay you to fix my toilet? I thought so.

Mira C.

02/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

My neighbor was getting some plumbing issues figured out for a 6pm appointment time. My neighbor told me that he arrived exactly on time. I've found with service people, that is half of the battle, making sure that they show up on time. I happened to be around and asked Pete709 about toilet issue at my house. It kept making a swishing/flushing sound at random times, it was really annoying.

After he completed my neighbor's house, he promptly came over to my house to take a look at my situation. He said he had all the parts and could do it on the spot. He pretty much gutted out the innards of my toilet and rebuilt it on the inside. I'm sure the price was higher than if I shopped around, but the convenience factor was an absolutely plus. I still can't believe that he fixed everything on the spot. That saves me time and time is money.

Katie J.

9/28/2012

So disgusted!

Back in January we had RR come to snake 4 toilets in our home. One toilet, which wasn't even clogged, was broken by the technician when he was taking the auger back out of the toilet. Roto Rooter wouldn't take responsibility for it and only offered us 10% off the price of a new toilet and no discount at all on the labor.

So, for $375 we ended up with 1 broken toilet, and 3 lines (although only 1 toilet was even clogged to begin with.) What a waste! Next time we are just going straight to an actual plumber--not some technician who only knows how to snake drains and can't even do that without breaking a toilet.

Tara M.

1/31/2012

Won't call this company again. 3 years ago I had a wax ring that had to be replaced. Called Roto Rooter and they replaced it. Those things are supposed to last forever: fast forward 3 years and mine's leaking again. Desperate for quick assistance, I called Roto Rooter again. My mistake. Set up a late Friday afternoon appointment. 1 hour after the 2-hour window time, I kept getting calls that someone was on their way. Finally gave up and rescheduled for a Sunday. They came on Sunday on time and replaced the wax ring. Paid $340 for this service. Less than 1 month later it is leaking again. I called them because there is a 30 day guarantee on their work and I paid a ton of money for them to fix a problem that might cost you $20 in materials if you knew how to do it yourself.

Had an appointment set for today between 4 and 6pm, knowing I was going to half to leave work early. Around 2:30 pm I got a call that they'd be there early, around 3. I hopped in a cab and halfway home, they called to say oops, sorry no we won't be there early. Grrrr. Just got a call that the guy won't be here until 6:30 pm. Meaning, I could have worked a full day and taken the bus instead of an expensive cab home.

The only redeeming factor for this company is that if you're having an emergency, and are willing to wait many hours, chances are good that someone will show up at some point same-day to address your emergency. That's the only reason they get 2 stars.

Amanda C.

08/02/2015 12:00:00 SA

Had an appt from 0900-1100 and was told I would be the first stop. At 1120, I called customer service as I had not heard from anyone. I was met with attitude and was told the technicians are running behind, someone will call you when they are available. If I am the first stop, how are they running behind? I am sorry, but I am not going to wait around all day for a plumber to show up when they feel like it. I went with another company that was respectful of my time and had good customer service on the phone. I would much prefer to give my money to a company that earns it. Disappointing on every level.

Keith H.

10/14/2017

Ervin arrived with-in a reasonable amount of time (I was told about half an hour, he arrived in about 50 minutes). He was straight forward and explained what would need to be done. I was having my sewer line cleaned to remove any possible clogs. Time will tell (during next heavy rain) if the job was done well. The cost was a bit high in my opinion ($429), but it had to be done.

Yicheng W.

04/04/2016 12:00:00 SA

Once again Roto-rooter came to the clean the blockage of my sewage line. it is so easy to schedule an appointment by a single phone call. Jemo (#5415), the technician, arrived on time. Since this is the 2nd time, he gave me some discounts, which is good to have. He started the work immediately and got us taken care of. Btw, It was such a cold day out there. I am very satisfied with his service.

Carl H.

04/05/2010 12:00:00 SA

Reliable and got the work done, but you pay a RIDICULOUS amount for it. I'd suggest shopping around first and only turn to them if you are willing to pay for the brand name ($270 for a simple clogged drain).

I had a simple clog happen in the kitchen sink of my condo. I'm an experienced handyman and knew that it could be fixed by snaking the drain. It's a fairly simple procedure, but I don't want to invest in a snake just to have it stored in our limited space.

I called Roto Rooter because I knew the problem was simple and they wouldn't have a problem fixing it. The dispatcher was friendly and could have somebody out the same morning I called. The plumber would give me a bid when they arrived. She said she couldn't provide me any price estimates over the phone because she didn't have access to that information.

When the plumber arrived he referred to the Roto Rooter standard pricing form (so I know the dispatcher would have access to this) and the price was $270!!!! I told him that was completely ridiculous and I wasn't going to pay that amount. So he took the price down to $190 using coupons and other discounts he knew of. I let him do the work (I'm questioning why as I write this) and he finished in a 1/2 hour.
Based on my past plumbing experiences, I think that if I had shopped around and been willing to wait then I could have had it done for around $100. Next time I'll do that and suggest you do too.

James B.

4/21/2010

On Sunday I tried to ship too much old pasta down my disposal and got a bad clog. I've dealt with this sort of thing before - so I removed and cleaned the traps underneath as well as the disposal. Apparently the clog was somewhere further down the drain, and my 15ft snake couldn't get to it. Because of the easy website and appointment confirmation, I chose Roto-Rooter. They also offered a 5pm-8pm time window, which was great since like most people I work.

First off the result. My drain was routed and fixed. The technician was actually a very nice guy, and though it was very late - did a complete job. My problem was with the actual process - which went as follows on the day of the appointment:

2:30pm - They called me to ask if I was available earlier than 5pm. I said I will be home at 4:30pm.

5:00pm - They called and said my narrowed time window was now between 5pm and 7pm. Great, thanks - works for me.

6:40pm - They called and said the technician was in the area, but running behind on another job, no ETA - but he isn't going to be there by 7pm. Ok I thought- at least they called.

7:50pm - They called and said the tech was on the way, will be there in 10-15 minutes.

8:35pm - I call them asking where the hell this guy is. Again, they tell me he'll be there in 10-15 minutes.

8:50pm - Technician arrives.

So the guy was fine, the work was done. The process sucked - I felt like I was dealing with Comcast. Not to mention the charge was $269 for a simple drain routing. I managed to get a 10% discount because of the lateness -- but I still think you could do better with a local plumber.

Audrey B.

3/15/2016

I had a horrible smell in my basement plus very slow drainage in my bathroom. I called rotor rooter out. Very professional was on time and the service was excellent Mr Guillermo was very patient with explaining what he was doing walk me through how to avoid future problems and resolved all my plumbing issues. Love it. Thanks for your excellent service.

Mark W.

9/14/2015

UPDATE!!!!
I spoke with Lynette regarding my poor review of Roto-Rooter. After being charged $1,700 for a water heater that their competitors charge around $1,000 Lynette said that they estimated too much so she agreed to reverse $63 back to us. I was still confused cause I was quoted a $700 installation charge and the water heater was only $500. So I asked for a breakup of the expenses which they never gave us in the first place. She said it was $700 for the installation which we were fine with since we agreed to that then the water heater with tax was $600 which we were fine with also, but here comes the part that they do not want anyone to know about. There was a 50% upcharge for the water heater so we got charged an extra $300. We were under the impression that there was only a $700 installation charge and they would pick up the water heater for us. They NEVER mentioned a 50% fee for getting the heater. Lynette claims that this is a normal business practice and that every company does this. I kept trying to explain to her that it's only fair for us to know every expense before we agree to buy a large item expense. If we knew they were going to charge an extra $300 to run up to Home depot (took him 15 mins) I would have done it myself. We still have the receipt and it says NOTHING about this charge. This is what you refer to as a deceptive business practice.
Also the technician tried charging us $357 for a running toilet and I asked Lynette about this charge, Cause it's only about a 5 min job and the part is $12. She said that a second job should only cost $105, so I'm noticing a pattern with their charges. They try to milk you for every penny unless you call them out on it. This has to stop.. I feel like they basically stole money from me by not telling us about the upcharges.
If anyone else has been a victim of a deceptive charge from them please contact me. This is so wrong.

Ujean B.

8/21/2018

Horrible experience. I scheduled for someone to come out the night before. My scheduled time was from 10-2pm the next day. The next day it gets to about 1 pm and I still haven't heard anything so I call to see what's going on. I get told the plumber is on another job and they'll call me when he's on his way. Two hours pass and no call so I call again and get told he's still running late so I say fine. About an hour passes and they call me saying they haven't forgot about me. Ok. Another couple of hours pass and I'm calling again frustrated but still calm and get told the same story as before. After another couple of hours pass with no word I finally give up and call another company and schedule an appointment. Some time later Roto Rooter calls and say they're sorry but they can't get anyone to come out today would I like to reschedule? After wasting the whole day for them when I could've had someone else come out I politely tell them no I don't want to reschedule. Never again.

Clarence H.

08/04/2017 12:00:00 SA

Only left one star because that's what was required to leave a review but I schedule a consultation for services at 12 they gave me a range between 1230 and 2:30 PM. The plumber never showed up until almost 4 didn't even get a call. He was very sarcastic, demeaning, and just made me feel uncomfortable establishing services with him. Every question I asked he gave snarky Comments. He was sent on his way and he told me good luck. Definitely not a company or person I want in my house.

Crystal L.

1/21/2019

I scheduled the appointment for 4-6 time spot. I called more than 5 times to confirm, and they said yes! At 6p, they said it's delayed. And I said ok as long as someone is coming, then keep waiting. At 8p, they called me to say no one will come, and I spoke with the the technician(tony), he said he can't come because it's too late for him. Why they keep asking me to wait if no service will be provided after 8p. They handed up on me, and I called back, requested to spoke with supervisor, he had no resolution unless I reschedule for next day. I rescheduled for 10-12p next day. The technician did not show up until after 12p and he can't/doesn't want to fix the problem(Jason) and left. It's such a bad experience, waste of time and money!

Eric S.

6/14/2012

I had roto-rooter out to fix a backed up kitchen sink 3 months ago and was really upset about what they wanted to charge to rot it out. So I negotiated with them to get the price more in-line with what I would pay. 380.00 to rot a drain that takes 20min is a little steep for this guy. Needles to say i got a better price and the drain worked great afterward....BUT just 2 months latter, it is all backed up and I am now Pissed! I call the 800 number to get someone out right away...they made it to the house within a few hours and the same tech that was their the first time was here again...but this time with a different trainee...who knew a lot more than the last one. Because I was outside the 30day warrantee they said they needed to charge me again. Again we worked on the price but I was not happy about paying twice.

The new tech did a much better job! Rotting the drain all the way to the main...the last time they did not do this.

So watch out for them! They price themselves high expecting a negotiation so if you do not negotiate, you will be paying threw the nose. Also, watch their work and question everything. You need to know what they are doing for your own good and to make them aware that you care.

On the plus side, they were very responsive and worked very carefully. I would recommend them if you are in a pinch but follow my advise above.

Eric P.

06/11/2017 12:00:00 SA

Made an appointment today for service anytime between 12:30 and 4:30. No call at all so I cancelled at 5. At least call if there's going to be a delay.

Denise M.

08/08/2016 12:00:00 SA

I requested an appointment online on a Sunday and was scheduled for an appointment the next day between 10 AM and 2 PM. The technician arrived on time and was very courteous and professional. I ended up needing much more work at a much greater expense than I expected. Roto-rooter's charges seem quite expensive, but since I had a sewage backup issue and I don't know any plumbers, I did not want to take additional time searching around to make comparisons while the problem got worse. My main concern was a fast resolution to the problem. They responded promptly and stayed until things were done to my satisfaction. I was very pleased with the service, but very disappointed with the cost. I hope in the long run it will be worth it.

Emily S.

8/18/2017

An absolute joke! Originally quoted me $600, worked his way rather quickly down to $300, to unclog a kitchen sink. Proceeded to tell me no one would touch it for $175. Do not be taken advantage of, and call around to local companies before calling Roto Rooter. Their scheduling is horrible, as is their pricing. Will never call again.

Beth N.

11/21/2017

Had Felipe out this morning to clear a clogged main line. He was prompt and thorough, polite and gave good advice on preventing this problem in the future. I see a lot of reviewers had issues with scheduling. I called at 9:30 and the technician was at my home within the hour. Problem was solved by 11:45, just in time for me to pick up my daughter from preschool.

Stephanie R.

7/25/2018

This company is a giant rip off. They charged me $260 to snake my drain. They didn't tell me how much until after they did the work. I actually told the guy to stop and had a handyman finish the job for 1/4 of the price. Do not use them. Use a local handyman or smaller plumbing company. Terrible experience!!!

Matt H.

08/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

I'm writing to inform you of our very poor service experience we had recently with your company in the Chicago area. I initially scheduled an appointment online through your website as a matter of convenience. I do appreciate this convenience of booking, as a lot of trade services do not have this feature. Unfortunately it went downhill from there.

Appointment was booked for the morning of August 1st. The appointment was for a routine valve/pipe leak fix that I had tracked down behind the drywall in my basement. The pipe was going to the water spigot outside my home, but the leak was inside the wall from a botched frozen pipe repair from the previous owner. No big deal, I removed the drywall and insulation around the area after tracing it to the inside valve so the plumber could easily access. I was at work for the day, but my girlfriend Amanda let the plumber in when he arrived and showed him to the area and explained the issue. The plumber then shut off the main water supply to my unit, but failed to check properly that the water to the spigot was off. As it turns out, the outside spigots for our condos are tied in to the main for the building, not the mains for our individual units. When the plumber cut the pipe, water began pouring into our downstairs bedroom. At this time, Amanda called me to inform me of the water issue, and that the plumber couldn't figure out how to stop the water. Having just moved in a few months prior, we were not yet aware where the main water shutoff for the building was, so we did not have access at that time. I left work to come home to deal with the situation, and the plumber contacted other members of your crew to come assist with the issue. After about 30 minutes of water flooding in to my basement, another plumber arrived and was able to assist the original in applying an emergency compression fitting to the open pipe. Assessing the damage, there was water covering all the floor/carpet, all 4 walls and the ceiling. Luckily the water seemed isolated to that individual room. The plumber did his best to vacuum up the water, and said that RotoRooter would immediately send out a resto crew to assist with the water damage and we could reschedule for a permanent fix when we had access to the main for the building. I am still not sure how a professional plumber failed to check to see if the pipe was still charged with water before cutting in to it.

I waited the rest of that day for a call from the resto crew, calling your service/dispatch every couple of hours to check on status. I kept getting told that one was on the way and they would call me before they arrived. I never received a call that day from a resto crew. I did receive one from a member of the management team, confused about why I needed a resto crew. I explained the previous day's mishap to the gentleman, who seemed very surprised, as the work order was closed as having been completed with no issues. He said there would be a crew out the next day. I again called your service department on the morning of August 2nd to check on the crew status. They finally arrived a little after noon on that day, vacuumed up the water, and left 3 blowers and a dehumidifier. They asked when they could come back and pick up the equipment again, I told them Friday the 4th. I was working from home due to having scheduled another visit from your plumber (I got access to the main for the building) that day.

On Friday the 4th, in the afternoon, I called to check on both the status of the plumber (12-4 window) and the resto crew for equipment pickup. Resto crew was supposed to call to coordinate pickup. Plumbing crew was running behind and would let me know when they would arrive. At the end of my window, 4pm, again called for status on both. I was told they were having issues sourcing plumbers and they were still waiting on resto crew. I called every hour or so after my window to check on plumber status. Later in the evening I was called and told that my appointment was being canceled due to multiple plumbers having family emergencies and equipment failure. I scheduled another window for Monday evening (4-8).

On Saturday the 5th in the morning, I again called your service number to request pickup of the resto equipment. I was again told the crew would call me. I never received a call. I called back later in the day with the same results.

Monday the 7th arrived, I called the service number around 6pm to check on status. Again received the information that RR was having difficulty sourcing plumbers. I was told that the later in the day your window, the more difficult it is to get a plumber out to resolve the issue. Received a call back around 930 pm stating that they would again be canceling the appointment. At this time I elected to not reschedule any appointments with RR.

Vikas T.

11/14/2017

I had a broken ejector pump and called up few places on Sunday night and only Roto Rooter answered and they scheduled plumber to come in next day between 9am - 1pm. Mike #2080 showed up sharp at 9AM and within minutes inspected the situation and advised replacement of ejector pump. Mike #2080 was efficient and professional and without wasting anytime he brought in replacement pump in his van ans started working on it. By 11am all repair and paperwork was done and he was on his way. I would recommend Mike #2080 and Roto Rooter.

Antnee C.

09/11/2015 12:00:00 SA

Like some of the other reviews my rating comes from a combination of service and value. Our service rep/tech (Tim) came in the early range of time frame promised, was pleasant and informative and quickly cleared away the clog that had been affecting our kitchen sink. I was set back a bit on the pricing given the small amount of time and relative ease of clearing the clog but am grateful that the problem is now behind me. During the process though my sink tailpipe became dislodged and I had to run to Lowes to fix another problem with the sink after the service rep left. All in all I was pleased with the service although if the problem were to happen again I may seek out a better pricing option or look into renting the equipment.

Marlene C.

07/07/2016 12:00:00 SA

Yuri, the service provider who came out was knowledgeable and courteous. He was running behind schedule but I received a call updating me with a status which I greatly appreciated. I thought the service was very pricey given it took less than an hour to complete. However, the 6 month warranty for the work was reassuring.

Mary C.

6/30/2018

We called for an emergency on a Saturday. Elvir 3962 came immediately and did an exceptional job in cleaning the drains. i highly recommend them for your needs

Michael B.

6/17/2015

We have a 100 year old Chicago bungalow with a gigantic tree in the path of the waste line, so have to deal with roots clogging the plumbing. After trying several companies, we have stuck with Roto-Rooter because they have the best equipment and are very professional. Last time was able to schedule online and used coupon. Photography of the line condition is now included to help you with Chicago's program to pay for reconstruction of clay pipes beyond the sidewalk to the street.

T A.

09/01/2012 12:00:00 SA

WARNING: This review may seem incredible, but it's true and we have no relation to Roto-Rooter or the plumber they sent to work at our home.

We had a difficult problem. Based on a recommendation we called a popular company named after a, to remain unnamed, American founding father. As former military officers we were shocked by the shameful way that they chose to fail.

We then called Roto-Rooter. They sent Mark! Smart, clean-cut, courteous, with a great can-do attitude and not an ounce of quit! In short the kind of American character, spirit and ability that made this country great. We were impressed from the get go, but its results that ultimately count. And that's where Mark S. (#511) turned us into Roto-Rooters.

He confirmed that our plumbing was irregular. However, Mark S. was un-phased. He put his thinking cap on and broke our complex problem down step-by-step in a way that would have made Sherlock Holmes proud. Watching him work was... totally cool!

So he figured out the problem, but that wouldn't have meant much on its own. He then proceeded to solve the problem in truly impressive fashion. The job he ultimately performed was like watching Luke Skywalker score the one-in-million shot that blew up the Death Star. Wow! Who knew plumbing could be this dramatic?

We need more guys like Mark S. and more companies like Roto-Rooter that attract and employ such talented and dedicated people.

It's been almost two weeks since Roto-Rooter dispatched Mark to work on our system and we're still really impressed by the entire process from beginning to end and will definitely call them next time we need help.

Kathleen C.

9/18/2015

Kelly (1910), Jacob & Mark have helped us out a few times over the past week after we had rain water back-up and flooding in our new home. They were thorough, very helpful in identifying issues & recording everything within the lines so we know how to proceed with repairs. I highly recommend this team!

Karen S.

6/17/2017

Out sink has a tendency to back up at just the wrong time. Roto-Rooter is always easy to schedule, yu can do it online, and quick to show up. I have even had them come back for free when things have clogged again within a month. Would definitely recommend.

Gloria W.

6/16/2016

This is the pluming company that will get the job done right the first time. Roto Rooter is very professional, very friendly. They explained the problem before they started the work. I was very confident that it would get done right the first time. Very satisfied with the results and it's guaranteed!

Rex C.

09/03/2015 12:00:00 SA

I had a problem with my clogged toilet. When I tried to plunge it, sewage would come out of the shower drain. Manny came out and took care of the clog and offered solutions to help fix the issue in the long term. I have old cast iron pipes and Manny took time to explain everything in detail and gave recommendations. I'm satisfied and happy with the services.

Chrystal T.

06/04/2016 12:00:00 SA

I had a problem with water backing up in my kitchen sink even when I was not using my kitchen sink. I called Roto Rooter and they gave me a 4 hour window stating when the service representative would be available. The service representative, named Andre came within 2 hours and immediately assessed the problem. The main water line behind the kitchen stacks for the entire condominium building was clogged and needed to be rodded. Andre was thorough and patient in explaining the process and what was going to happen before he began working. Overall, I am happy with my service and I would use them in the future.

Thank you Roto Rooter.
Sincerely,
Dr. CT

Karen L.

6/19/2017

Did the same thing they did to other reviewers - said they would be there between 10-2, got a call at 12:45 to say they were running late, got another call a 4:00 to ask if I want to cancel. I suggested that being 2 hours late is effectively cancelling an appointment. What a waste of time. If this is the level of professionalism for an estimate, I can't imagine what you get after you've hired them.

Ryan J.

12/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

Had a great experience with Grant #3176. He was very quick in assessing the situation and found an easy solution. I appreciated the fact that Roto-Rooter was able to come and fix my problem on such short notice when other plumbers did not have availability until later in the week.

Don W.

06/08/2015 12:00:00 SA

Whenever you feel you've been taken advantage of it usually means you have. The tech. showed up two hours late. Then he called another tech to bring camera equipment. Then the two of them tagged teamed me into having a job done at more than double what it should have cost. I did the math and it worked out to almost $400 an hour! Thought I was hiring a plumber not a brain surgeon. I sent certified letter to corporate asking for a detailed explanation of these charges. That letter was signed for more than a week ago without a reply. So although my issues with my plumbing has been resolved I feel I was robbed. So I would not recommend Roto robber to anyone.
Although customer service asked me to reach out to them in their reply to my review it was to no avail.
I suppose that when people see that the company has reached out to you in an attempt to right a wrong they assume that it was taken care of.
Customer service basically gave me a song and dance but no actual explanation for the over charge. My opinion of their company has been further tarnished by this ill fated attempt to cover their tracks.

Kevin C.

11/29/2015

Couldn't ask for much more. Dispatch wasn't the most pleasant, but tech Giovann was on time and fixed the sink problem within an hour. He came prepared with the boot covers as to not mess up the carpet and was polite. He even cleaned up after himself which isn't always the case with plumbers. The cost is a bit high, but I recommend if you're looking for emergency plumbing work.

Tony B.

11/29/2015

Had about 8 inches of water in my crawl space, old sump pump gave out so I called Roto-Rooter. Tech #3145, Don, came out and pumped out my standing water. I had already gotten a new sump pump that he quickly installed after my crawl was dry again. He was a very nice, extremely professional and a pleasure to deal with. I have a 3 year old and a 7 year old that like to help (get in the way) so I had painting projects and baked cookies while he was here to distract them. Even as they gravitated to him he was awesome with them. I would highly recommend Roto-Rooter to anyone needing help with plumbing issues in their home.

Shannon F.

5/19/2016

Nick was very friendl! He was extremely helpful and did an excellent job. I would definitely use him again.

W P.

11/10/2017 12:00:00 SA

this is the third time i have used this service in about the same number of years. not a fan of the arbitrary price quote but they do always get the job done. they were on time and tim was courteous and professional during his visit.

Roger M.

10/04/2016 12:00:00 SA

First off, $450 to clean out tree roots is ridiculous. Second, upon roots being rodded out, we were told that the pipe at the sewer tie-in was collapsed and/or severely shifted as evidenced by standing water and the fact that their bit broke and their camera couldn't get through. We were then told it would need to be dug out and the tie-in replaced for a mere 13k. A second opinion from a local company revealed no collapsed or shifted pipe, but actually our line had a p-trap. There's supposed to be standing water in a p-trap. The 2nd company was able to get their camera through that, which revealed a ball of tree roots in front of the tie-in. Problem solved for $300, on top of Roto-Rooter's $450. Also, the 2nd company said for a third of Roto's astronomical price to replace the tie-in, they could replace the entire line from the house to the sewer. I've learned my lesson.

UPDATE: Customer service rep called me promptly after this review and made things right. Apologized on behalf of the technician and admitted things weren't handled properly. A full refund was given. A bad situation was cleared up in the best way possible.

Desiree M.

4/15/2014

Looking through most of these reviews, I really don't understand how we are talking about the same company here.

Roto Rooter was AMAZING! From the time I called to schedule my appointment to the time Rick Diaz, left my home.

My house was backing up in the basement shower and after many many failed attempts of trying to fix the problem myself, I gave in and called Roto Rooter. Rick Diaz was very professional. I had to be at work at the time but being that I needed this to be fixed ASAP, he was ok with dealing with my mother and giving me phone updates. The problem wasn't as big as I thought it would be, thank God! Rick, gave me the price it would be to get my basement shower back up and running. He even through in a free camera inspection and a $40 off coupon! I was beyond pleased with my service! And if you are like me, doing research on a company before you hire them, do yourself a favor and call Roto Rooter. They talk you through everything and try and work with your budget!!

Mark C.

10/22/2017

Mike (2080) was really great-- showed up on a Sunday afternoon--and was quick & confident. We had some drainage issues between our dishwasher and disposal, and Mike talked us through everything he did and how it would solve our problem. The rate was very reasonable considering the work was done on a Sunday, and Mike gave us some suggestions to improve the long term life and efficiency of our kitchen. After a questionable experience (at best) with Roto Rooter, Mike more-than made up for it and got us cooking and cleaning dishes again in short order.

Craig B.

9/19/2016

Need to replace water expansion tank. Called on Sunday and got a repair man early Monday. Repair man was neat and quick.

Mary Ann S.

04/01/2018 12:00:00 SA

I called last March 11,2018 that I need to repaired my pipe which so noisy every time I used my water and they schedule me that they will send someday to my house see it what's happening on my pipe nobody's showed up the schedule they told me and I'm waiting for nothing so I cancelled them not to fix my pipe.I'm really frustrated and I'll never called them again.i don't recommend them to everybody...

Michael F.

10/23/2014

Four separate appointments and they haven't made their 3 hour window once. Generally taking an average additional 2 hours. This is coming out to 20 hours of waiting around. 1st appointment the guy shows and claims I will need a special crew to do the job. Turns out he just lied and didn't want to do the project. How do I know this, well I heard the second guy call him out over the phone. 2nd appointment is the following day, the guy that came out claimed we need a new pump (cost $ 1200). Day later drains backing up again. 3rd appointment guy come out and lest us know the lines need to be snake because they haven't been. This should have been done first before looking to change the pump. The 2nd guy said on the work order that he snaked the lines. The 3rd guy snaked the line out front and found a rag in there and I guess assumed that it fixed the problem. Right now Im waiting on the 4th guy a couple days later with the same problem.

Think twice before you call Roto-Rooter. Just because they are a common name doesn't mean you wont get horrible service and lying lazy employees. Thanks for stealing my time and money. Never again.

K K.

3/25/2016

Called Roto Rooter at 1 and Johnathon (3403) was out by 3. He was courteous, professional and explained how he was going to rot out the main line that had been over taken by tree roots. I would recommend him to anyone 5 STARS. QUICK COURTEOUS PROFESSIONAL AND FRIENDLY

Mike A.

6/26/2011

We had a leaky outdoor faucet and decided to take action. I looked around and Googled a solution, but the spigot type we had installed required some expert service. I called several local companies around Vernon Hills and Chicago area, but none could confirm on the phone when a technician would be able to come out. I decided to give Roto-Rooter a call and was told that a tech could be at my house same day for a no cost estimate.
I am not sure how they route the techs, but we got lucky and our tech was top notch. Butch said that he had all the parts needed to do the work and could do it right away. Now maybe shopping around I could have saved a few bucks, not sure; but TIME is precious and immediate resolution is worth it.
While fixing the problem, Butch also noticed an issue that was not plumbing related, but we should have taken care of asap. We have had over a dozen techs from all different companies through the years, but none ever noticed or pointed out this issue. That's great service!

Rey D.

8/25/2014

Our sewer backed up and after attempting to clean out the line it became obvious that it was going to take a professional. Roto-Rooter arrived at the stated time and our technician Danny went right to work. Unfortunately it turned out that the problem was a broken sewer pipe. Danny got a supervisor out and confirmed the problem. We were able to get a crew out to replace the line within a day.

We were most impressed with the professionalism and the courtesy displayed by both Danny and his supervisor. The crew that came out worked quickly and did as little damage as possible given that they had to dig a trench to get to the pipe.

Overall the cost of the entire project was quite reasonable

Nate R.

03/03/2015 12:00:00 SA

Yesterday I had them come over to route the drain in my kitchen. After they assessed what needed to be done they showed me a list and pricing of quotes. The initial quote was $435 for a simple routing in the kitchen. I told them no thank you and than a few minutes later he came back and said he spoke with his boss and he could do it for $100. I am not upset with the final product, but how the quoting was handled and the attitude of the plumber who came. The experience we had with them was inadequate and they need to fix their initial prices.

Melanie A.

9/22/2017

After our toilet leaked twice following using the bathtub and shower, we knew there was a problem. We called Roto-Rooter and Andrew (2729) was able to come out an hour or so after I called. He was prompt and explained what he would be doing and the cost. He also honored a coupon that I found on their website. He rotted out our sewer line and ended up having to call in a field supervisor, as the problem was pretty significant. They scoped the line with a camera, showed me the images in real time and explained it in simple terms while answering my questions. We ended up having to have part of our sewer line replaced the next day, which is a major project. We were at risk of doing further damage until they were able to return to replace the pipe, so we really appreciated that they were able to come out next day. They were able to obtain the proper permits without any issue. Andrew, the field supervisor and all crew members were courteous, clean, and efficient. The only reason I gave them four stars instead of five is that based on my research after we did the project, it appears that they charge on the high end for having this done. Due to the urgency of the situation and avoiding further damage, I was not able to shop around for better rates. That being said, they worked with us to get the best price possible and were able to set up financing. The efficiency and speed in which they were able to complete the project was worth the price paid.

John H.

8/13/2018

Repairman Jairaime 4549 (spelling?) was great. I had a plumbing emergency and he responded quickly and went above and beyond what I expected. Thanks for saving the day sir!

Ally D.

09/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

Tim was great! I called Roto-Rooter just as I arrived home from work, with the expectation of waiting hours for someone to come out. My guy Tim was there before the two hours that they quoted me. He worked quick and was so extremely nice! He took the time to explain everything that could be the problem, and then set up a game plan. Luckily the first attempt to unclog the drains worked! I would most definitely recommend Tim from Roto-Rooter for anyone who is in trouble with clogged drains! :)

Mariel R.

2/29/2016

Roto Rooter was a breeze from start to finish. I happened to be home sick from work and just needed the mainline to be cleaned preventatively. Within an hour and a half of my call, RR's Kelly (1910) was at my door. Kelly was great at talking me through the process and ensured I was getting the best possible price possible. It was a great experience from start to finish!

Fonzie T.

09/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

$385 for 20 minutes. Roto -Rooter got my money this time, but it will never happen again.

Kim N.

7/28/2018

I was having sewer backup for many years which required frequent clean-out from a company. After a clean out and camera view of the line, I was told that the main sewer line had sunk in three places and would need to be replaced. After some estimates, I contracted Roto Rooter to do the job in early June. 2018. I figures, with a well known name I would get the work done right at a good price. I was wrong!
The project started out ok. When it came time for the city to inspect, some of the Earth had collapsed on the pipe so they refused to pass it. That put us a couple days behind.
Once the job passed city inspection, the trench was back-filled with the dirt but a large mound of Earth was left running from the back of my house to the back of my property. I was told it would settle. I should have demanded they flatten it, but I figured they knew what they were doing.
A few days after the job was complete, we had a rain storm. Because this mound of dirt prevented the rain water from traveling from one side of the yard to where the storm drain is at, my back yard flooded to one side of the mound. This caused the Earth to be pushed away from the foundation of the house and water started pouring into my basement. We had to go out into the storm and dig trenches in the mound to get the water to go down in the back yard but this did not stop the water from pouring into my basement. Once the water stopped pouring in we had quite a bit of damage.
I contacted Roto Rooter. They said that the leaking was not their responsibility and would do nothing about it (I have never had that much water in my basement from the back wall until after they left the mound of dirt there). It was mentioned they would have someone come and do a clean-up in the basement so I would not get mold but I have not heard back from them about it.
I recently had some companies come give me estimates on waterproofing and every one of them is shocked at the way this job was left. I was even told by two waterproofing companies that I should not have paid Roto Rooter.
Needless to say, I would NEVER recommend Roto Rooter to anyone!

Susan B.

2/18/2016

Came within an hour. Nice guy. He's still working on it. I am getting my kitchen remodeled and the contractor said if you don't use the sink/dishwasher for a while the gunk in the drain (grease etc) solidifies, and the RR man independently said the same thing. So he's in there routing out the gunk. I'm just unhappy at the @ 400/that it costs. Ah homeownership..

Eddie P.

2/18/2016

Nope. Never again. Several times to schedule a service call. Paid about $800 for service and just as the warranty runs out...you guessed it, a problem surfaced from their work. Four Seasons came out and showed me just went wrong with the work done by them. No thanks to Omar at RR! Customer service was bad all around especially by the lady who tried to set up the service which was re-scheduled twice because of mid-communication on their end. Nope, never again!

Carol H.

2/15/2018

Roto Rooter charged me $250.00 per hour. our bill was $1520.00 to replace a small section of pipe. They trashed my apartment building, no protection was installed, i had to repaint my walls, have my carpets cleaned and had to throw away a mirror due to black slime being sprayed everywhere. When I spoke with Michael their claims manager, he basically called me a liar. The told me that it was my fault that the black slime was sprayed everywhere. DO NOT EVER USE THEM.

Kristin F.

04/02/2015 12:00:00 SA

Wellll... My salon shampoo bowl is clogged and I was happy to see on their website that I could book an appointment the next morning. Great!! So I came to wait for them 3 hours before my first client, and at almost the end of the window for them to arrive I received a call that they were running late. I have clients booked in my salon, and I can't have them come later... Thanks for completely wasting my time roto rooter. I'll call a professional next time.

Donald B.

5/28/2015

Kelly was great. He took care of our drain and provided us with excellent ad professional.

Helen H.

08/09/2017 12:00:00 SA

This review is for Howard (#4285), who was personable, helpful, and finished the job that his predecessor the day before did not. After getting our kitchen drain going again, he sat down with us to discuss preventive measures for the future. We could not have been more pleased with his work.

Antonio B.

1/20/2016

I had roto-rotter come out and they fixed the problem but three weeks later the issue came back. I called them again and they came out and fixed the problem and ran a camera to see what actually was going on. They made up some stuff about my pipes being slightly off and this was causing the problem. To fix the problem it would cost me $4000 but that would not repair the drive way they had to tear up. I called a different plumber and they found the real issue which was tree roots that where in the drain pipe but where to far back to be routed out from my main service cap and need to have a new service cap installed. If I would have paid Roto-Rooter $4000 my problem would still be there. They where trying to make a quick buck.

Olivia M.

1/19/2016

Super happy with the plumber from RotorRooter who came to our home tonight to fix our burst frozen pipes. Kyle was nice, informative and fast!

Linda E.

1/18/2016

Response time almost immediate. Outstanding service, and the job was done very professionally.

The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is simply due to cost. The rate was considerably higher than the other estimates I received, but those providers could not provide service as quickly as RR, and I was taking on water due to clogged drain in basement. It was worth it due to nature of emergency, but had I had additional time, I would have chosen a different provider. Again, service was outstanding, but certainly more expensive than competitors.

Tom R.

1/15/2016

Aside from being very expensive I would say my experience was okay. Its hard to tell if youre getting a fair price. Customer service was good. Do your homework before any work is done.

Denise F.

01/10/2016 12:00:00 SA

A very nice gentleman came to fix our clogged sink. The organization was very responsive to address our issues and our questions.

Lonnie S.

01/07/2016 12:00:00 SA

Noticed that wonderful sewer back up smell after my wife had taken a shower. Called at 8:30 pm and was able to schedule a next day appointment to have the line cleaned. Felipe came right on time and was excellent at communication about what he would do, how he would accomplish this and what the potential outcomes could be. Thankfully, it all went well and he finished with the main line clean out. Also, forgot to mention that he covered the entire work area before going to work. Very pleased. Hopefully won't need to call again, but would do so again if needed.

Kelly W.

05/03/2015 12:00:00 SA

Felipe was wonderful, If I had this kind of service from every vendor life would be easier. We had to have our sewer line rodded for roots. Felipe was timely, professional, explained every step of the procedure and what to do to maintain the line to extend the time until it would have to be rodded again. He even reattached the handle to my faucet that constantly falls off and showed me how to fix it! I know others have given poor reviews of this company, but I have full faith in Roto-Rooter and Felipe.

Siobhan M. M.

01/03/2016 12:00:00 SA

I am giving them 4 stars mainly because of Giovann, the technician. He was very cordial, learned my name and called me by it, did a very thorough job and cleaned up after his work. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is that I originally had an appointment for the evening of the day I called - they gave me a 4 hour window and an hour into the window I got a call saying that a tech wasn't going to be able to make it out and that I'd have to wait til the next morning. Mind you - at this point, we'd already been without a functioning toilet for almost 24 hours so I was very annoyed.
But Giovann was great.

Peter H.

12/31/2015

Our sump pump in our cramped and muddy crawl space failed. I had to rig a portable pump to keep the water from completely flooding our home. Roto-Rooter was extremely helpful. They promptly responded to emergency. The plumber, Tony (#1470), was courteous and arrived within the expected window. He took time to explain what work would be entailed and made great efforts to prep the area (crawl space access is in a bedroom) for work. It was a difficult and messy job but Tony never balked and the company's charge for services rendered was very reasonable given the difficulty of the job. I would highly recommend them and will use them in the future.

SteveandKellie P.

07/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

We were rescheduled from the day before because they were having severe delays. They did reschedule for the next day and called to let me know they would be here in 30-40 minutes. They were an hour later than that. Harold #2004 was a nice guy and got the job done.

Benjamin N.

3/18/2015

Technician Eddie (1617) was very nice and knowledgeable.. They honored their commitments, were on time, and pricing was in line with their estimate.

Melissa V.

12/21/2017

I called at 6PM to have someone come out and look at leaky kitchen sink. I was pretty sure it was the garbage disposal. They said someone would come out between 6 and 10:30PM. At 7PM they called back to say they had no one to come out and someone would come out between 9AM and 1PM tomorrow. Someone came at 1:30PM and wanted to charge $500 for labor and $182 for a new disposable. That pricing is ridiculous and the fact that I had to wait all day to hear that really made me mad.

Chris A.

12/20/2015

Giovann 2910 was extremely nice, efficient and fast.

We were able to get help unclogging a really bad blockage on our tub drain the same morning we called on a sunday. I think the wait time was something ridiculous like 15 minutes!

Giovann 2910 showed up fast, did a quick check and then got the work done. He was personable and professional and helped give advice for maintenance.

Overall would definitely recommend for when all other options fail for a drain blockage. Seemed a bit pricey, however, but got the job done fast.

Jaremy P.

5/26/2018

I received what is probably the worst service I could have received. I called Roto Rooter yesterday morning about 11am because I have a leaking pipe. I was told I would be called back by 1:30 - ok, good. I was called at 12:30 and told the technician was delayed but the would call me when someone was available. I wasn't called again until almost 9:00 at night. Since it was too late at that point, I was called again this morning at 7:45 and told I was the next appointment between 8 and 10am. I should expect a call from the technician soon. Guess that was false because I just received an email confirmation that my appointment was cancelled, but if I still have a problem I can call to make a new appointment. Considering my pipe is still leaking, clearly I need an appointment! Clearly it won't be through Roto Rooter though because I'll have to call someone who will actually show up.

Salvatore D.

1/23/2015

Sal technican 1794 was on time very curious to my pets answer ed all my questions and slowed all my problems at a fair rate I was very pleased and would use this company again for all my problems in future. No one eles I would trust. Thank u Roto Rooter team.

Danielle S.

8/29/2019

Do not use these people unless you're floating out of your house. Allegedly they rodded out my sewer from the mid-yard cleanout to the street back in May. I begged the plumber to go the other direction, toward the house but he said it wasn't necessary. August 24th water began backing up in the basement laundry tubs. Since it was still under guarantee, I called them back. They said there was a massive root ball going toward the house, but that they couldn't get it with their cutter (!!) because they didn't have the right one (I heard them talking to each other--they didn't tell me that!) I'dand that I'd need a water jet for $900. I couldn't see how this would work as it would just drive the debris into the house. They also said there was probably a break and that that would cost about $6,000 to repair. They promised to show up on Tuesday between 8 and 10 am. They didn't. Meanwhile I can't use the toilet, shower, or laundry. When I called, they told me the team wouldn't be here, and they didn't know when they would! Despite promises the crew chief would call me, I've never heard from them again. I called another plumber (Sewell & Sons) and realized that Roto-Rooter is a joke bent on overcharging, not using proper equipment, and scamming you for $900 before they move up to even more money. Also, if you give them a positive review, they will give you a discount! The guy stands over you to make sure you do it. Do not believe ANY positive reviews of these con jobs.

Patti D.

6/23/2015

I am baffled by the negative reviews here as my experience was just the opposite.

I had a serious leak in my basement which appeared to somehow be related to the powder room toilet on the first floor, but we are talking about gallons of water leaking. I called a plumber who came in, couldn't really estimate and said it was likely a sewer main backup and would likely cost somewhere between $500 and $5000. EEK. I then called the county public works/water facility who sent someone over to look and he recommended a service like Roto-Rooter.

I called Roto-Rooter and Eddie arrived within an hour. He was very professional, friendly and informed. He explained clearly and logically what the issue was and showed me the clogs in the sewer main via the video camera. He spent a couple of hours and had to use several auger sizes to get though a literal ton of tree roots, each time sending the camera in afterwards to ensure it was clear. He went a full 100ft to the sewer main to ensure it was all clear. In the end I paid less than $500 and I feel like I got a service that I couldn't have performed myself and that was absolutely essential.

I would totally recommend Roto-Rooter and Eddie (#1617) in particular.

Victoria A.

6/21/2017

Called Soto-Rooter today and they were here in less than 30 minutes!! Cleared up a major clog of hard water scale and other unidentifiable stuff..eww! Our Tech Felipe #3033 was very thorough and he even cleaned up the mess from the backup. Great Experience will definitely use again!!

Scott E.

6/20/2015

Had a minor leakage problem at our house in Aurora. Called Roto-rooter, they said theyd have someone out the next day (which was a saturday, so points there) between 8-12. I woke up around 7:45 to discover theyd called my cell phone at 7:30. I immediately called back and they said my job was the next one up. Unfortunately, somehow that ended up being 4 1/2 hours later. I even called in at the 3 1/2-hours-and-waiting mark, asking what the delay was, they basically gave me the same story - I was up next and theyd keep me posted.

Ultimately someone did show up, Pat #1899. He was great, explained the job, got it done quickly, was friendly with my toddler son who kept pestering him.

The price was a little higher than I wouldve expected, they charge on a flat rate system. even with my coupon, parts were $10 and labor was $250+ for a half hour job. But it was a complicated job that I couldnt have done with any expertise myself and it was replacing the poor work a previous plumbing company did (same problem) 3 years prior. So if it holds up, it'll have been worth the cost.

I would use them again, most likely

Jetaun W.

11/10/2014 12:00:00 SA

My bathtub was clogged. I called Roto-Rooter and they were out in less than 2 hours. The tub was unclogged quickly and the guy they sent (Jonathan) was friendly. I will pay a uptick in price for the convenience of them coming out right away. I have been using them for years and will continue.

Shawn O.

12/04/2017 12:00:00 SA

Mark (Tech No. 2840) spent 4 hours at our house working to fix a clog in our kitchen sink caused by too many Thanksgiving leftovers. He is very knowledgeable and worked quickly and efficiently. He also gave us good advice on how to avoid similar problems in the future. We could not recommend him more.

Kim V.

12/04/2017 12:00:00 SA

Our main sewer line was clogged. Roto-rooter was good with keeping us informed when the tech would arrive. Bernardo 3752 was excellent very polite and professional. He quickly unclogged everything. And called to have someone come out with the camera to see what the condition of our clay tile was. Bernardo gave us a few discounts in order to make it somewhat more affordable. That being said the 3 stars is because roto-rooter is VERY VERY expensive.

Joseph P.

11/29/2017

Called East Meadow roto rooter phone #. I called for my 91yr. old father. Tech phone sevice set up apt.I asked for est. was told when tech. arrived he would let you know,I couldn't wait,I left. Tech came in 2hrs.price was given to my father & sister they agreed. Big mistake on their part. Tech was there for 1hr. Charged $400.00 Plus 30.00 tax. total 430.00.they paid. After I found out, I called company,explain, they said you ageed,thats the way it works. TOTAL RIP Off!!! Just figured lesson learned .I wanted to let people know how they worked. I called other companys later on was told should not have been over$ 200.00 dollars.

Brett C.

06/09/2015 12:00:00 SA

Our shower was leaking. Armion #601 showed up and did a really good job. He explained to me the different options I had and pricing for each one. He was polite to me and my family and was a true professional. Our shower has never been better and the work was completed in a timely manner.

Jeff E.

3/24/2015

I live in Forest Park and was dealing with a clogged bathtub. Roto Rooter sent someone out quickly, he called before he arrived, and he did the job well--even going back in to be a little bit more thorough when he felt it wasn't quite done perfectly. Before he began he talked over the options I had, relating to the age of the house and the type of plumbing that was in place. Very satisfied.

Steve G.

11/23/2015

Yesterday couldn't make it within the four hour window on the day they initially were supposed to come out. However, they kept on calling us to let us know that they were having trouble making it out.

We rescheduled for today and they arrived within the window and gave us a 30-minute heads up. The worker, Pat (Worker #1899), was able to diagnose the problem with our garbage disposal within 10 minutes. He then had to replace it which took about 15 minutes. The garbage disposal is working fine.

We have used them before and they were pretty quick about diagnosing our problems too and fixing them right away.

Cons: Long waits!!!

Pros: Courteous, fair prices, and good service.

Heather C.

5/31/2015

They arrived at the beginning of the 2-hour arrival window and fixed my problem within about 30 minutes. The staff was friendly, funny and nice.

David A.

5/31/2015

Jack was fantastic. A little expensive but the service was the best. Jack took care of us and got us ready for the graduation party we were having just hours later. Good stuff. Same day service. Will use them again if needed.

John C.

4/16/2018

I wasn't home and we had a leak in the kitchen. The issue was the faucet. The tech was there for three hours and had my wife who was busy with the three kids and messy kitchen pay $1000 for 3/hrs labor to replace a faucet. I used them before for another problem but was here and the labor charges were reasonable. This is charging a woman higher for no good reason. $850 for labor for three hours. Will never use them and recommend not using them. Invoice number: 20184436 DOS 4/16/18. Technician number #601. Too bad as the first tech was good. This guy should be fired for over billing. No response from company having called them and emailing them.

Robert F.

11/07/2017 12:00:00 SA

Had a clogged pipe in our house. Roto-Rooter was able to come out the same day at convenient hours (6:30pm). Jay (#1057) was very prompt, professional & clean, and he really seemed to care about our home. He completely solved the issue. I would not hesitate to use them again.

John G.

11/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

Kyle (784) arrived on time was very knowledgeable and helpful and got right to work found the problem and explained what my issue was although it was not good news he was straight forward and honest. Bottom line the service was on time knowledgeable price was fair and my problem was fixed thanks roto rooter

Adam S.

11/04/2017 12:00:00 SA

Mark (2840) was very friendly and professional. He diagnosed the problem quickly and accurately and was very helpful in giving us solutions.

Darren S.

7/22/2011

This was our second time with a sewer/plumping problem in two months. We decided to go with a big name, even if it cost more. We were wrong about that. I was happy to hear that it was one flat rate even if it took hours. It was well worth the money and turns out less expensive then other local plumbers that we had called.

The Elgin office called to let me know when to expect them and they were right on the money.

The service tech was very nice and seemed to know what he was doing. He was efficient and clean and wasted no time in getting the problem solved.

Best of all there is a 6 month guarantee which I hope we will not be using.

I would recommend and use them again.

Eddy S.

10/24/2017

Mike (#2080) responded to a call for a kitchen sink today and we turned it into some minor work on two toilets as well. He did a great job diagnosing all the problems and making very reasonable and cost-effective solutions for each issue. He ran out for some extra parts and returned with everything he needed to finish the job plus a few bonus pieces that he thought we could use--at no extra charge. Mike is reliable, effective and trustworthy. What more do you need from your plumbing expert? Much appreciation. Thank you.

Brad F.

10/24/2015

Excellent and timely service. I called Saturday morning and they were here by 4pm. Peter was able to fix my toilet and tub drainage problem with no problem. He was professional and kind. I will definitely use their service again when needed.

Jerry N.

05/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

My new friend Leonard # 1479 came out and did a wonderful job. He cleaned the sewer line both ways. He ran several sizes of cutters to get the job done. Then he cleaned up everything he drug out of the sewer line. I would certainly recommend Leonard to anyone that needs the sewer lined cleaned.

Daryl K.

10/22/2017

I had a sewer line preventing cleaning service yesterday. Roto Rooters Technicians came out and did preventing cleaning sewer line work of the out side sewer line of my house but I wasn't sure that their job was completed as removing all the roots in the sewer line to city sewer line until the next day. Today, I contacted the office and asked to do something to confirm their work was done correctly. The office sent Mark Dennis(#4322) to my house right away. He brought a cameras with him and checked the inside of the sewer line with the camera and confirmed that the line was cleaned. He even gave me usefull information about the sewer line that I need. I was pleased with their quick response to my call. Mark was a wonderful field supervisor serves people nicely and made me feeling comfortable, not to worry about after their work was done. Thanks to Mark.

Edward D.

10/15/2017

Armion was our technician and he did a wonderful job. What started out as a cartridge replacement turned into a valve replacement due to my errors and a bad delta valve. Armion showed me the problem and I agreed that the valve needed replacement. we scheduled for the next day. He was on time, he took care to cut the smallest hole, and he worked neatly. The job was completed to my satisfaction. Armion receives 5 stars and the price from Roto-Rooter receives 4 stars.

Collin T.

10/06/2015 12:00:00 SA

Had Roto-Rooter out to my home in Lisle, IL to open up a slow drain in my kitchen sink.
Felipe Bueno(#3033) was extremely communicative and had lots of good advice. While I can't argue with anybody that the price was higher than the local competition, I feel confident that Felipe has fixed our problem. If not the warranty offered should help.

Had the same problem 13 months ago and went with a different local plumber and thought the cost was lower, my problem returned a year later. This after following their instructions on how to keep the drains clear and working properly.

My Roto-Rooter tech spent far more time here addressing the issue, and he even was attentive to all other drains in the house to make sure there was not a greater issue that we didn't know about. Overall he seemed far more competent and attentive than the last technician we had with the other company.

And, though I will name the other company here, they were a highly recommended company from a consumer review booklet for my suburban Lisle neighborhood.

Overall the cost was higher, but so far this work seems to be one of those you get what you pay for things. So far, so good.

David G.

10/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

Go with anyone else! They try to push the hard sell on you for things your Home doesn't need. The pricing is on the verge gouging. Go with a more honest plumbing service. Take it from someone that has already been burned and refuses to do business with them ever again.

Ryan P.

04/12/2015 12:00:00 SA

I thought I just had a small clog in the basement. Called and same day there was a service man that showed up. Unfortunately, he couldn't open the clog. So only paid for a wax seal and scheduled another visit with jetters. The guy was younger, and acted like a rookie. Didn't explain his process well, broke a small pvc pipe, left a mess, tried to get me to sign paperwork after the mess...it was poor! However, a manager was sent over, a cleaning crew was sent over - everything was made right and at no charge after the rookie visit. Unfortunately! This still hadn't cleared my plumbing, and at this point I had no water and sewage backing up in the downstairs bathroom. Once the dust cleared - day 3 of the ordeal - we were able to review the diagnosis and recommendation for excavation. Made the decision to go forward with the work, as the field manager Al had really done a great job making me feel good about what was happening. After some sewer line maintenance and another jetting (this time by a 7 year pro), we were able to clear the lines and I had plumbing again.

Looking back now a week later, the work was expensive. Probably more so than had I used another company, but I do get a warranty on the work...which had I gone cheaper...may not have. I am not displeased with the result and Roto-Rooter did shell out a lot of money and time to make sure the problem was corrected. By that I mean both the original backup problem, and the mess that happened while the job was underway. THAT being said though, the cleanup team could have done a little better. I have been battling ants and gnats and other pesky critters for several days. This may be just a part of having sewage in your basement...may be because Roto-Rooter was paying for the service I got the quick clean and not the full deal? Not sure, but Roto-Rooter customer service and managers have responded to this query and I might take them up on their offer to come investigate further.

Overall, 3 stars because in the end, I got exactly what was explained I would receive for the price I agreed to. Roto-Rooter definitely did not go above and beyond, but they also did not screw me. I may still change my review to 4 stars, depends how quickly the bugs go away.

Karen S.

03/09/2018 12:00:00 SA

We needed service quickly and Roto-rooter was there in about 1 hour. Tim worked quickly and neatly and was very helpful with suggestions.

Erin H.

12/09/2016 12:00:00 SA

What a great experience! We were able to easily book online, the day of the appointment Leanard arrived as scheduled and fixed the clog. He was kind, knowledgable and answered all the question I had. Thanks for fixing my kitchen & laundry sinks so quickly and professionally!

Stephanie B.

01/11/2015 12:00:00 SA

We had some weird leakage in our front lawn from a catch drain, my husband called Monday morning and they were there a few hours later, fixed it in less than an hour, the tech Jimmy was great! totally recommend

Becky M.

01/07/2015 12:00:00 SA

I was having problems with water coming up in my floor drain and because I'd use Roto-Rooter for previous plumbing work I reached out to them. They responded quickly and Giovann (Tech #2910) could not have been more helpful. He was courteous and gave me a lot of information on not only how to avoid this specific problem in the future, but what he had actually done. I felt very comfortable with his work, especially since he proved to me before he left that the problem was fixed. You can ask for more than that.

Ken S.

5/26/2014

BIG MISTAKE CALLING ROTO-ROOTER!! This is a friendly warning for you to watch your wallet. Be careful, and steer clear of this company. We called them to unclog a toilet. It took less than 1hr and they charged me $440! I called customer service to complain. The rep agreed and offered $100 off, which was still unreasonable, but I reluctantly agreed. Did they refund the $100? No, they did not.

I own a number of rental units in addition to our home. For the same hour of work, reputable plumbing companies have never charged more than $150. It's a no brainer to bypass Roto-Rooter. Call anybody else.

William C.

02/03/2018 12:00:00 SA

Worst plumbing company ever. They come out for free then lie to make sure they have something to charge you for. New order they are there no problem. But they 'fixed' out shower and messed it all up. 5 different appointment and no one ever comes to fix it. It has taken months and now they say the 90 'guarantee' is up. Having to get a lawyer and take them to court. STAY AWAY AT ALL COST

Lauren R.

09/04/2016 12:00:00 SA

I have never written a Yelp review before but felt my experience with this company was a good time to start. I would never use this service again. I had an appointment scheduled between 8-10am. No one called and no one showed up. When I called for an ETA they told me that they didn't know when they would be available and someone would call me later. That is an unacceptable way to do business. I don't have all day to sit around and wait for them without any estimation of when they will be here. I will call a company where I can speak directly to the office that is arranging the schedule.

Ginny Z.

8/15/2015

The plumber was great. However, we were given a window of 3 hours and he arrived 4 hours after that window. Our time is valuable too.

Z B.

08/11/2015 12:00:00 SA

We used the North Suburban branch and the tech was professional and knowledgeable. They were available immediately and made it to our home in under an hour from the time of the order - great response time! The tech routed our main and minor lines to resolve the backup issue we had.

I would highly recommend.

The only reason they don't have a 5 star is that we felt the cost was a bit on the high side.

Ross M.

1/15/2018

Absolutely horrible service. On two separate occasions I have scheduled a plumber to come out in a certain time range and they never showed. I reorganized my entire schedule and stayed home from work only for them to call 4 hours after the time range and say they couldn't make it out. The original time this happened, the above scenario happened 4 days in a row. We stupidly came back for another round of poor service and lo and behold, it happened again. Won't be making that mistake again and I'd highly recommend to anyone reading this, do not use this service ever.

Jason C.

12/03/2014 12:00:00 SA

We are located in Chicago, IL (60607) and had a leak in our unit. After calling a few plumbers to come and check out our leak to find out none were available, we decided to call roto-rooter. From the time we called them till the time they finished the job everything was done very smoothly. Kelly came and explained the situation to us and was very professional. He did a great job and cleaned up very well so we had no additional mess in our unit. I was impressed with his work and would very much recommend him to anyone. Thanks Kelly & Roto-Rooter Chicago!

Vanettra H.

08/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

I was satisfied with my service. The technicians were extremely helpful and friendly Howard (4285) Lamar (2889) and Hamza (4307) all took time to explain to me the issues with a nice, professional attitude. My only complaint was dispatch. I didn't receive a courtesy call after my 4hr window expired to let me know the technicians were running behind schedule. I actually had to call myself and the representative had an extremely nasty attitude. If it wasn't for these nice technicians I wouldn't bother dealing with the company again. The customer service reps need to be trained on how to handle calls better.

T S.

6/23/2019

Do not use this ROTO ROOTER location! If I could give 0 stars for unprofessionalism I would. Honestly, I should've done checked reviews prior to booking a consultation. The appointment was scheduled for today between 10-2 today. At 1:30 when no 30 min appt reminder call was made to me, I checked to see how long the wait would be. I was told the tech was running behind. At 4:15 I received a call that the tech was not coming. In fact, CHRIS diagnosed the problem over the phone. With a nasty attitude...the provide a free estimate, which is what I just gave you. Do you want to schedule the work or not. Obviously I don't. So instead I'll just post on every message board and with the BBB to make sure others are aware of the service offered by this company. If you're looking for any work done, steer clear of this company and CHRIS. Off to find a more professional company to give my hard earned money to this week!

Nancy C.

3/31/2014

If I could give this place zero stars...

Used them last week for a clogged toilet which cost about $165 to fix. Fast forward to today, and the toilet is still clogged.

Called them to see if they can come back to service again because clearly it wasn't fixed correctly the first time. Was told that they offer an ONE DAY warranty.

Expensive and ineffective. Would never recommend.

Brian W.

7/30/2017

We had a major clog in our kitchen sink and Mike Dobija (tech # 2080) came to our rescue. He was knowledgeable, efficient, explained everything, and had our pipes running wide open in no time. It took almost 24 hours from our initial scheduled timeframe to get a tech out due to delays and canceled visits (reported equipment issues), but we're glad it was Mike that ultimately arrived to fix our plumbing problem!

Meredith P.

6/16/2014

Roto-Rooter came out to our house yesterday to check on a backup we were experiening in our home in Skokie. We noticed sewage water coming up from our basement shower, so we gave them a call.
Within 15 minutes after scheduling the appointment (same day & a Sunday) and being told they would be here in about 2 hours, I got a call saying the plumber was on his way. About 20 minutes later, Kelly showed up. He explained what he needed to do and did his job fast and efficiently.
I really don't have anything to compare this service to since we haven't have this problem, but I feel he did a fast, thorough job. Also, after asking how long the guarantee was, he told us it was 6 months, which sounded good to me.
As far as I know now, eveything seems to be fine. No more sewage odors is quite a plus!
The price seemed very steep, but like I said, we've never had to do this before so can't compare... but after reading all the other reviews, I feel like we got completely taken advantage of. All he did was rod out the line from our house to the flood control in our front yard, and then from there to the street. We were charged $415. Granted, it was a Sunday, but if I would have read the reviews before making a quick decision, I guess we could have waited till today and saved a large amount of money. UGH!!!

James L.

01/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

Terrible. We called for an emergency service at 2:30 PM. They said they would be able to service us within 4 hours. I called again at 6:00 and was assured that we were still in line for service the same evening. Called again at 7:45 and was connected with dispatch, which told me that they had one guy in the area who was on a call at a McDonald's and wasn't sure how long it would be and if we could reschedule until the next day. We then reiterated that their website advertised 24 hour emergency service, and pressed for more information as to where the current location of the plumber was and when they may be able to come and fix our issue. They then could not even tell us where the McDonald's was that their guy in the area was working at (supposedly) was located, and at that point we gave up and moved on.

Also, none of this review can effectively demonstrate how the people that answered the phone seemed totally disinterested and just didn't seem to care to try and resolve out problem. Just horrible customer service all around.

Mia J.

7/27/2017

My Roto-Rooter technician was knowledgeable and pleasant to deal with. We had an issue with our water heater. He had it taken care of in an under and hour and they came out with 24 hours from when I first called them. I have used their services previously and have always been satisfied.

Lam H.

11/21/2016

Wali Fnu did a really fantastic job clearing out our clogged kitchen sink. He showed up on time, and he was courteous, friendly, and professional. He completed the job quickly. He also explained what he was doing, answered my questions, and gave me information about how to prevent future clogs. Thanks, Wali!

Mercedes Z.

02/02/2017 12:00:00 SA

ROYAL RIP-OFF! Review being written late to ensure it was well AFTER guarantee on work and part ended. We had a utility room faucet removed and replaced and were initially quoted $625 and negotiated it down to $450 in 10-2015. While it seemed very high, we thought we would not be able to use W&D, and that was the rush to get it repaired. He went to Home Depot to get faucet when I told him they don't carry utility room faucets in that brand (Moen). We told him we called Ferguson's and they had it. Work was done during normal business hours. Simple project for plumber to remove and replace. Six months later he had to return to replace cartridge on one side of faucet. Due to EXCESSIVE cost for a job that took minimal time, I would NEVER RECOMMEND this plumber. The tech was Milenko.

Lori J.

7/24/2017

This is the 2nd time I've used RotoRooter. While it took them multiple days to get to me, as they were overwhelmed due to flooding, the service has been good both times. Grant #3126 solved my issues this time. He didn't try to over sell me and was considerate and concientious.

Rose V.

11/11/2016 12:00:00 SA

David was great. He removed a baby wash cloth that clogged my bathtub drain. Super glad to get use of my tub so quickly.

Mark I.

4/25/2014

I had a backed up drain. Guy was out in a few hours and was able to dig out the clog on the first try. I thought it was a little expensive for the short amount of work ($423) but I am happy they could make it out so quickly and were able to fix the problem.

R S.

10/25/2016

Andy #2133 came out to check a leak in our building's basement and determined it was due to an owner's shower curtain not being used properly causing a drip through her floor into the basement. Simple enough, but another plumber quoted the building $2000 to fix a drain pipe! This is the 2nd good experience I've had with Roto Rooter, they will be the first company I call for plumbing!

Laura J.

01/07/2015 12:00:00 SA

I had a great experience with Roto-Rooter today. Our kitchen drain was backed up and my husband called last night and got an appointment. They were supposed to come between 9:00 and 12:00. They called ahead and said they would be here at 9:45 and they were here at 9:47, coming to our home in South Elgin.. I'd say that is pretty good timing. They two gentlemen who came were nice and friendly and seemed very proficient. They fixed the problem quickly and gave me some feedback on how to avoid problems in the future. They were able to answer all of my questions easily. They were conscious to not make a mess, even with all the snow we had recently. Great customer service. The only reason I didn't give this five stars is because the price seemed steep.

K. M.

6/25/2015

The work was simple - clogged kitchen sink. They estimated $425 for the work and dropped it to $250.00 after I said no thanks. Still too high for 35 mins of actual work (and only because he repeated the snake cleaning 3 times though it was clear after the first time) but I needed it done and had no time to rent a snake myself. The young guy did fine - just would never use them again based on exorbitant cost.

Freddie R.

11/27/2015

Kyle 3269 was extremely helpful, was very thorough with the service he provided. Very professional and knowledgeable.

Valerie H.

6/19/2017

I had a backed up drain & Manny from Roto Rooter came out & fixed the problem. He also had some suggestions like using a enzyme solution to avoid this in the future. Good service & good advice! Thanks Manny!!!

Justin S.

10/13/2016

Same day service for a service call that I needed addressed immediately. The service tech Rick was great, walked me through the repair, and provided advice for future situations.

Fred A.

6/14/2017

My sump pump was broken and I had to replace it before the beginning of summer. Kelly (2771) showed up within the first hour of the scheduled 4-hour window. He was very courteous and friendly. He first gave an estimate by explaining all the options. However since I already bought a replacement pump, he just charged me the labor cost of the installation. He completed his job in no time and cleaned up after the mess. I would call them again in future since the company in available 24 hours 7 days a week and they don't charge trip fees. Labor warranty is one year but if they install their own sump pump, the warranty is 3 years. They have coupons on their website. For this service there is a coupon of $40 off until August 2017.

Tom S.

06/11/2017 12:00:00 SA

I called them on Sunday late afternoon and they came within 3 hours. They diagnosed the issues quickly. Kyle the representative was very helpful, he explained what the options were and clearly set expectations on the results.

Michael S.

06/08/2015 12:00:00 SA

I called Roto-Rooter to unclog a kitchen sink. After calling, confirming and waiting on two other Chicago-based plumbing companies' no-shows, I called Roto-Rooter. They answered immediately, confirmed a technician would be coming within two hours, and the tech showed up within 45 minutes. Jimmy was professional, knowledgeable, timely and took his time to explain what he was doing, how the job was to be done, and what to do to avoid similar situations in the future. Very impressive tech and a very impressive service provider.

That said, it was relatively expensive, and much more so that I expected. However, their services comes with a six-month guarantee.

Would absolutely use them again.

Cheryl R.

06/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

Although I don't appreciate their negotiating for the cost of the repair, the serviceman was polite and professional. When he couldn't fix the issue, he called on a plumber to complete the job at the agreed upon cost. They were both prompt and friendly.

Rick R.

5/31/2017

We called Roto-Rooter to get our sewer line routed because we were getting some reverse seepage in the house. Turned out we had a damaged sewer line. Roto-Rooter Tech #627 Jesus and his crew fixed the problem very quickly with no hassle and no mess. Other than where they dug they were careful not to damage the rest of our driveway. The work was pricey, but you you get what you pay for. We are pleased!

Mike R.

5/30/2017

this service worked great. at 6am on a Saturday i realized i had a problem with the Sewage pump in my basement, it was burned out. They had appointments as early as 8am wow, of course errands and my sons game took up the morning so i scheduled for 12-4 and the guy was there at 12:30. the cost was more than i wanted to pay but it didn't matter because The service was so easy and a reasonable warranty on the pump service. Harold was the best he even looked at my other pump.

Michael L.

5/23/2017

While I don't doubt their professionalism or ability to resolve the problem, they won't provide any sort of quote over the phone, not even a range. I had tried to snake it myself to no avail and pulled apart the sink drains so they tech would have direct access to the exit pipe in the wall. He quoted me $359 to snake a kitchen sink!!! Yikes!! Other companies show pricing at $89-$99 and I was able to get it done by Drain Genie for $99.

Carrie S.

12/11/2017 12:00:00 SA

Our water heater was leaking, flooding us, 8 p.m on Saturday night. Called Roto-Rooter, they said they would send someone asap. I shut the tank off, slowed the leak to a drip and cleaned up the flood. Get a call back, there is no one available to send. Get another call from a Supervisor, asking me What time is our man scheduled to arrive? I told him what we were told. He said he would call back, which he did, scheduled for between 10 and 2 on Sunday. They called 30 minutes before their tech, Cy #9823, was to arrive - as promised. He was here around 1:00 was very efficient, polite, removed the old tank, installed the new tank we had purchased ourselves that morning from Home Depot. Great job Cy!

Pr W.

05/08/2017 12:00:00 SA

Was very impressed with service team, Glesian, #2100, was very professional and courteous and was able to address the problem of clogged outdoor downspout. Would definitely recommend! I know plumbing se vice can be quite expensive, I was pleased that pricing was negotiable and more reasonable. Thank you for discount!

mary patrice k.

11/16/2014

Just survived a major plumbing disaster! Thank you to Giovann tech #2910 you were prompt and helped my husband though a dirty situation, we will not hesitate to call Roto Rooter sooner next time.

Marty S.

05/06/2019 12:00:00 SA

Call somebody else! Our sump pump failed and Roto-Rooter knows that people are desperate and they take advantage of you. We got charged $875 to replace a sump pump and check valve. Easy to do, but I was out of town. The labor portion was $555 and the plumber was here for 90 minutes. Not sure why he was there so long as this should have been a 20 minute job for a pro. By my calculations that is approaching lawyer's hourly rates! We called them on Friday afternoon and their rates are the same for emergency service as they are regularly. Now you know why - because their rates are ridiculous! My usual mom-and-pop plumber was out of town and called me back the next day. He told me we paid more than double what we should have! DO NOT USE ROTO-ROOTER! P.S. Beware of any good reviews of this company. Look at how many 1 stars they have! My guess is the good reviews are coming mostly from employees or owners of the company to try and offset their terrible reviews from real customers. I called and complained about the prices and their customer service person sure didn't seem to care much! I'm sure they get these calls all the time! Roto-Rooter preys on those because most folks are desperate when they call them! They are crooks!

Lace B.

05/05/2017 12:00:00 SA

I had major sewer problem that was repaired by a very professional team in a very timely manner. The service people arrived on time and were very helpful in explaining the problem and what needed to be done to correct the problem. The work was completed as promised. I will definitely call them again when needed.

Joyce S.

11/07/2016 12:00:00 SA

Toilet was backed up and shower had standing water; we've had other plumbing issues in the past so rather than try to fix this ourselves, we called RotoRooter. Price seemed steep, but Cy (9823) came within a couple hours of calling, and problem was fixed within a couple hours of him arriving. He was courteous, worked fast, and considerate of our sleeping baby. Seemed knowledgeable and I appreciated him solving our issue within the same day. Thank you!

Deb B.

9/19/2017

Andre (Tech 8971) responded quickly (same day service) to my request to unclog my bathroom tub. He was professional and very neat in his clean up. He offered a discount and even threw in a bonus service. I rated this company 3 stars, not because of the service, but because the price was too high.

Janelle C.

11/17/2013

What happened to Roto-Rooter. I've used them in the past and I thought they did a good job. Thought they had a reputation for being a solid repair service. I see that recent reviews tell a different story and I have to agree. High marks for communication around getting someone out in a couple hours. They called to let me know the tech was on his way and he showed up. Problem was the tech. He was going to charge me $400 for something that was not going to fix the problem. When I told him it was probably an issue with the ejector pump, he looked at it and talked about a lot of stuff but was pretty unsure of what to do. He never diagnosed the problem, thought I might need a new $1000 pump, but would clean it for now and see if that works. Fingers crossed for no more flooding in the condo - because that's the best we could do.

Natalie F.

04/09/2017 12:00:00 SA

Andrew fixed our garbage disposal issue very quickly. I was very thankful for his help after 2 days without a sink, a dishwasher, or a garbage disposal!

Russ D.

3/22/2014

Our sewer line began backing up last night. The local plumber who I had used in the past went out of business so we tried Roto Rooter. We called at 8am and Jimmy was here by about 9am. He was a total pro and did a great job and made it clear that if he couldn't clear the line, there would be no charge. The work also included a 6 month warranty.

Brian P.

3/30/2017

$449.27 to snake a toilet and put a chrome handle on, what a rip off, it is ok to make a profit, it is not right to gouge a customer, Joe the plumber was friendly and courteous and showed up but I gather he is just the messenger !!

Andrew H.

3/22/2015

Have used Roto-Rooter several times in the past, and have had decent luck with them. I needed a tub water valve cartridge replaced as my old one was leaking. The technician (#601) came out and was very friendly. He assessed the issue and provided me with my options. He also warned me what could possibly happen (price-wise) if he could not get the cartridge out of the pipe, which I respected. He was able to get the old cartridge out without much issue, and the total job took about 60 minutes or less.

That said, my real disappointment is in how much I was charged, especially since I use this company regularly. Let me stress, this has nothing to do with the technician that performed the work, he was great! I just paid (parts/labor) $455.00 for 50-60 minutes of time. The part was only $85.00 of the cost (which seems like a huge mark up). I should have fought some more and gotten that price reduced. My feeling is that I am loyal customer and deserve a better price than what I received. I am willing to pay a fair price for an experienced plumber, but I feel I was gouged a bit this time.

Pennie P.

10/21/2013

I had a roto rooter plumber come to fix a seal on the toilet tank. The charge was
$ 330.00 To me that is so over priced. They were in and out in 30 minutes. Union Plumbers wished that made that kind of money. It was a total RIP OFF They do not explain the cost correctly. I have never dealt with such a shady company. I would not ever use them again. There are a lot of plumbers for 1/4 of the price.
I would never ever call them again!!!!

Nicole T.

7/13/2016

Roto rooter gave a very quick response and came during the window promised. Yuri was very helpful and nice to work with.

Antoinette C.

10/25/2015

Had my drain looked at and was told I needed to have a procedure done. A few months later, I called to have the procedure done and I don't know if it was because it was too early and they hadn't had their coffee yet, but EVERYONE I had encountered that day, whether in person or phone, was rude as ever. I thought I was in an episode of The Twilight Zone. I have never been so disrespected in my entire life from people that expect money from me. The boy that was going to do the service must've seen I was getting angry so he backtracked a lot and started to get nicer with me. No one seemed to know what they were doing. They are very unprofessional and unorganized. I called to complain and a nice lady assured me that matters would get fixed. I never gave them another opportunity, though. I would rather pay a small mom and pop company who deserves my money than ever give them another shot. I will never do business with or recommend them to anyone ever again. I swear it!

Melanie M.

2/23/2015

Stay far, far away...

Roto Rooter came out to my home in Lombard to correct a sewer backup the day before I moved in to my new home, 2/13 They were unable to complete the job. When the supervisor came out on move in day, 2/14, they stated we would need a clean out valve installed and the cost would be 5000. Half the money was due up front and half would need to be authorized after successful completion. When asked if I should contact my sewer company I was told no they would be unable to help.

Work began on 2/16 - After speaking with my new neighbor, I called out the sewer company. We had been overcharged for the work by nearly 2500$ and our entire line needed to be replaced.

Roto Rooter was contacted to cancel the remainder of the job. They did not need to file the permit and the hole did not need to be backfilled. Instead, we would have another plumber finish the job.

An invoice was left for the full amount.

I called Roto Rooter after the invoice was left and asked for a detailed and itemized receipt along with a price adjustment since not all the work was being completed. They did not have to have a permit issued and did not have to backfill the hole. To date, no return phone call has been made. Roto Rooter charged the entire remainder to my credit card without my authorization.

I am VERY unhappy with their business practices and will continue to address my complaint in every public forum. STAY AWAY - THEY WILL RIP YOU OFF and NOT ADJUST where adjustments should be made...

Jean N.

2/20/2017

Nice and courteous technician (Kyle). Good service. Good job on the bath tub.

Caroline D.

7/21/2017

My appointment time was from 8 am to noon and he wasn't there until 3 pm. I understand things can get backed up but it would have been nice to get some sort of notification a bit sooner than noon. He was very knowledgeable about what was wrong and fixed the problem in a short amount of time. It was kind of pricey though.

Emily R.

02/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

We were having an issue with our drains backing up in our basement. I had Keith come out to look at it, after inspecting all of the plumbing he suggested that it was clogged and he suggested that we use pipe shield. I am now the 4 hours and we will see how it works!!

Thomas M.

02/03/2019 12:00:00 SA

Called Roto Rooter for a sewer line backup in the basement of my rental property. I knew they were expensive but the plumber I usually use was a no call no show so I was willing to pay a little more for reliability and professionalism. To their credit, Roto Rooter got back to me right away and the plumber arrived when they said he would. But things went WAY downhill from there. Within minutes of them calling me to confirm the service call I started getting calls from their water restoration team. I explained that I have an unfinished basement and I could handle the cleanup myself. Then my tenant and the plumber on site started calling me at work. The plumber was rude and aggressive, insisting to my tenant and me that my house was some kind of uninhabitable danger zone because of the sewer line backup and that after clearing the line he needed to return with the restoration team and contact my homeowners insurance carrier. I declined any and all services except clearing the line and asked them not to call me anymore about restoration services. I still got a total of 5 more calls from the plumber and the restoration team that day. And my tenant told me that the plumber was outside discussing my situation with my neighbor and advising him that he should call the water department and have them shut off water to my home. This was a plain old sewer line backup into an unfinished basement - not pretty, but nothing like the disaster Roto Rooter was making it out to be and it had zero impact on my neighbor's property. Bottom line, my line got cleared and I got soaked. I knew they were crazy expensive (paid 4x more than what local shops charge), but had no idea they used such unprofessional staff and tried to upsell you so aggressively with unethical scare tactics in a desperate grab for cash from your insurance coverage. Never again.

Jared N.

8/20/2015

Did the job good. Nice kid. Way too much for the time they were there though. You should never pay more than $200 for an hours worth of work. They were at my house a TOTAL of an hour and charged me like $300. Are they doctors? Fixed the roots problem but I should have checked prices or done it myself.

Sean H.

07/03/2017 12:00:00 SA

I wish I could leave zero stars since their lack of service deserve such a rating. If I could I'd like to leave a negative star score. I set an appointment for Friday between 10-2. They called saying there was a delay, I said that is fine. I waited and waited and waited and finally called them. They asked to reschedule for the following day. The next day they said I'd be first on their list and that it will be between 2-3, so I drove a hour to get to my house (the issue was in a house I'm selling which is in another city). I sat out front of my old house in the pouring rain for over an hour and they never called. I called them to hear the same story, oh sorry, but they are delayed by what looks to be hours. They asked again to reschedule and I reluctantly agreed. The next day comes and they did actually telephone this time to say the same thing, plumbers are delayed, looks to be hours, can we reschedule for the next day. I said hell no. I have used them in the past and was a loyal customer. I swear on the Bible I will never use their services again and I strongly urge others to learn from my story and go to a different plumber. They are not professionals at Roto Rooter and their customer service absolutely sucks! Any other plumber has to be better than Roto Rooter.

Steve C.

07/03/2015 12:00:00 SA

Service Tech Pat #1899 came to my house on time to inspect and diagnose his previous work when he lit my hot water heater. The pilot light went out again, and I could just 'reset' the unit by unplugging and replugging it. He arrived with another tech who was doing training.

After inspecting and testing the unit, he advised that I replace the entire Rheem power vent heater which is 7 years old. He gave me a price for labor (705) which I said was too high, then he came down $105. I ended up paying 600 for the labor for him and the other guy to install the unit. They were here 2 hours total. He told me I could buy the water heater at Home Depot for cheaper than Roto Rooter would charge for the unit, so I did that. The job was completed in a timely manner, and they cleaned up afterwards. I was satisfied with the price and the work.

Steve - Lake in the Hills, IL

Michael O.

7/29/2016

Absolutely the worst. Rescheduled my original appointment last minute, so I was given a larger window for arrival between noon and 4pm. No problem, it was my last minute change. No one ever came, no one ever called. I called around 6:00pm and rescheduled back to my original date and time. I was told I would be a priority due to the reschedule. A couple of days later my time slot was 8am to 10am. Again, no one arrives and but keep being told the plumber is just finishing up another job. Finally the dispatcher reveals no one in my area even starts today until noon and doesn't know when they will arrive. Absolutely terrible! I will never use root-rooter again. Never!

Phyllis E.

1/15/2015

I am so glad Roto- Rooter kept their word and sent me a refund for work I felt was over priced. This shows me they value their customers. I am pleased, because before I was upset.

Cathy P.

01/05/2017 12:00:00 SA

Our toilet was bubbling and starting to drain slowly. I called Roto-Rooter and they were able to come out within 2 hours. The technician was polite and professional. He explained everything he was going to do and answered all our questions. We knew the cost up front and were given ways to avoid the problem in the future, I would definitely recommend Roto-Rooter!

Doris B.

11/04/2017 12:00:00 SA

I had an emergency at my house on 10/7/17. Called Roto-Rooter. Told me someone would be out between 9:30am and 12:00pm. Received a call at 2:30pm that no one would be available that day but would come out on 10/8/17 in the morning. Someone named Boris arrived and said he needed to call his supervisor, James Simpson. James came out and said the problem appeared to be a clogged sewer line. If they could successfully rod it it would cost $650. I was advised that I probably needed a new toilet as well (installation was $329). Went to buy a new toilet and when I came back James said the sewer line outside had been infiltrated by tree roots and had collapsed. The cost would now be $4,500! I had been two days without toilet facilities and another company told me they couldn't get to me until Friday. I was told this would be a 1-day project. The hole was dug on Monday and the pipe repaired. The workmen told me they would be back the next day to fill the hole but that they had to wait because they didn't have permits from the city. Days passed with no one showing up to fill-in the hole. I was very concerned because there was only yellow tape around the hole. I called Roto-Rooter to find out when the project would be finished because I was told this project would only take one day. I was told by Barbara that it was impossible for this to have been done in one day. She transferred me to Michael Smetkai and I explained the situation to him. He told me they were waiting on the permits from the city before they could fill the hole and he apologized for the inconvenience. A week went by and finally someone came out and filled-in the hole. I did not receive a call before or after this happened. I had done business with Roto-Rooter in the past (plumbing issue) and they were very professional. I don't know what's going on with them now. They will promise you anything until they get your money, then you are at their mercy. I had not seen all of the negative comments until now. If you don't have an emergency like I did, I would call around to another plumbing company.

Rachel T.

07/11/2016 12:00:00 SA

Speedy response time. Called first thing in the morning regarding drain back-up and they were at our house within 3 hours. Professional and efficient.

Sara G.

12/26/2016

Great service and was fast. I called around 11am and they gave me a window between noon and 4 for a repair man to come. Received a call at noon that someone will be at our house in 20 minutes. He showed up and was out of the house by 1:30. Andrew was clear on what the problem could be and fix it in no time.

Dan K.

12/25/2014

Christmas Day 2014 (Gurnee Illinois )

Santa left us presents under the tree and he must of eaten too many cookies and milk as he left us with a very clogged toilet.

We were surprised to find out not only was Roto-rooter open on Christmas Day but there was no extra charge to fix our problem

Danny gave us a service window from 2 to 4 and was on site at 3pm. Danny assessed the problem gave us a very competitive price. He had everything repaired and cleaned within a hour .

We were very happy and we would recommend this service to friends and family .

Stephanie G.

12/18/2016

A very nice technician came out, with about a two hour notice on a Friday night for a stripped shower hot water knob. I appreciate the quick response. It was a tad expensive for what ended up being an easy job, but better to have someone who knows how to solve more serious problems, if that's what we discovered after taking the shower apart. I also like that the tech called when he was about 30 minutes away.

Steve A.

5/26/2017

I have tried to get service from roto rooter 3 days in a row. the first time was in the evening, and they said they dont have any plumbers in the area, so they scheduled an appointment the next day which was fine. The next day rolled around and they called two times to say they were running behind. The third time they called, they said no one could come out. Now im pissed! so they said they would be there the next day between 10 - 2 and they call again this day to say they don't have any plumbers in the area. At this point I needed to cancel to find another plumber. No one at this company cares about keeping appointments or customer service. They actually got mad at me for being upset, pretending like they aren't doing anything wrong. These service calls are for my tenants, so I cannot wait around for roto rooter to do whatever they feel like. IF YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT YOU KEEP IT!!! Completely unprofessional. I will never use this company again. I need a reliable company that actually does what they say. I only gave one star because i can't do 0. I will be posting reviews on every other website i can, because people need to know what they are getting themselves into. My company has spent a couple thousand dollars using roto rooter and it blows my mind that they would treat reoccurring customers like this

Richard M.

12/15/2016

Technician arrived and did not know what the problem was, even though I had been specific on the call. I had a frozen sump pump discharge line on the outside of the house. He said he couldn't do anything about that but checked the pump anyway. Said there was hydraulic fluid in the pit and the pump was shot. Seven hundred dollars for a new one. He did unplug the pump for me. So I paid an exorbitant service fee to have my pump unplugged. Terrific!

Amy G.

12/16/2014

We had a clogged kitchen sink. It's been a problem as we have an elbow in the line somewhere under our house. We had Rotor Rooter come out about 6 years ago to fix it and they did good job. It cost about $230.

We called them again for this job. The price is now over $400! On top of that they want you to sign a waiver that says if they damage anything they are not liable. At that price, they should have insurance against this type of thing. These guys are the professionals!

Also, we asked the technician to look at a bathroom drain. He said he would have to charge us another $400 to work on it! Turns out it just needed cleaning at the pop up stopper. I looked on YouTube and learned how to do that myself for free!

Outrageously priced, technician was grumpy, will never use them again!!

Erin S.

12/13/2016

I would give Yuri (1195), my plumber, a 5-stars plus! He was a WONDERFUL man who really helped me understand my problem with my clog, went above and beyond showing me how to remove my toilet (I was curious), showed me how things worked, and things I should look out for in the future. He showed me how my outside drain worked (even though the clog wasn't out there)
I'm rating Roto-Rooter itself 4 stars because the price was very very high when I talked to others around afterwards. That said. I called at 7:15am in a panic, the woman I spoke to was very kind to me and patient as I was in tears... she helped me problem solve how to make do until the guy got here, and said Good Luck. I had someone at my house by 8:40- which was great! He took time listening to me, although he likely already knew what the problem was. It's now 11:45 and he's gone with the problem fixed. I understand that these things take time, effort, and equipment... it's just always crazy to me that something like this costs nearly $600.

Anyway- Thank you guys for a job well done!!!

Lotta T.

12/29/2015

I'm very disappointed with this company. I had an appointed yesterday and was told they'd show up between 8 am and noon. The guy showed up at 4 pm!! My whole day was wasted. My time is important too, believe it or not. I called them several times during the wait and was told that I was next but they had no idea when that would be (??). They just kept blaming the weather. I mean, c'mon, how come they have no idea whatsoever how long a job will take?? If they're unclogging a drain it will most likely not take very long, if they're installing a water heater it will probably take a while. They just didn't seem to care. When the guy finally showed up and charged me way more than I expected I paid it, because there's no way I could waste another day finding another company and start from square one. I'm sure they are very aware of this and always do this. Maybe all companies are like this, but needless to say, I will never use them again. So disappointed.

Neil D.

6/20/2014

I live in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. We had roto rooter come out for a maintenance check. The technician, Jimmy C, was on time and very informative on what he was doing. He also showed us what he found and ways to avoid a blockage in the future. He was very nice and professional and also gave us a time frame for follow up. Overall, very happy with the service.

Sherry A.

6/17/2016

Great service for a Friday night at 10 pm. Elvir was professional and very pleasant plus got our plumbing working. Thank you

Bettina H.

12/01/2014 12:00:00 SA

Rotor Rooter took my bad review on Yelp very seriously. They called me several times and insisted on issuing me a refund for what I thought had been a very overpriced service they had provided at my house last month. They issued a $150.- refund (of the total of $290.- for a 30 minute repair job without material cost), that came in the mail as a check. Therefore, technically, I have nothing to complain about with this company anymore. But I still will give only 4 stars, as I would have preferred to be charged a reasonable and fair price to begin with.

Raina C.

11/29/2014

Called the call center, they didn't say there was a flat fee for what it was or that there was a coupon, but it was the holiday. They scheduled me the day after for emergency work on our sewage line.
Technician showed up on time, worked hard, (Tim 2508) and seemed to care that our problem was solved without issue.
Location: St. Charles, IL

Gloria C.

12/15/2015

I don't know where to begin with the amount of frustration, loss of time and very poor communication that I encountered with Roto-Router this past weekend. First let me start by telling you about my plumbing issue. I came home late Friday night to find the basement toilet backed up, and it overflowed onto the floor. I cleaned everything up and checked on it again in about a hour. I noticed that the same issue occurred, just not as severe. I assumed that the main sewer was backed up and needed to be cleared. I began to research the issue online as well as getting information on Plumbing companies within the Naperville area. Saturday morning I began to contact several plumbing companies to check on availability and pricing. I spoke with a very nice lady at your call center approximately 9:00am. She said that Roto-Rooter could have someone out to my residence between 10:00am and 2:00pm. That was awesome! I still continued to field call backs from other plumbing services that I left messages with earlier in the morning, but based on your internet ad, and the professionalism that I received from your employee I felt that Roto-Rooter was the right company for my project. Below is timeline of the series of events that transpired after my appointment was processed:

*9:28am- received an email confirmation regarding the appointment
*12:20pm- received a phone call saying that the plumber was running late
*3:06pm- I sent an email voicing my concerns regarding that no Plummer is at my home at this time.
* 3:21pm- Dispatch call me based on my email stating that the Plumber was still out in Aurora
*5:37pm -Dispatch phone me to say that he is still in Aurora, but he is the right man for my job
*7:21pm Dispatch called me to say that the Plumber could be out in 30 minutes, I said okay
*8:04pm- Plumber, Tony showed up at my door.
*8:14pm - Tony left. He thought that he was here to unclog a toilet. Said that he did not have the equipment on his truck unclog the main sewer line. He said someone could be out first thing in the morning. He said that I will get a confirmation from Call Center.
*11:00pm- I called the Call Center to verify the appointment since I never received any confirmation.

Sunday
*7:32am Dispatched called to say that someone will be out in 30 minutes
*9:00am Plumber, Vano arrived.
*10:30am job completed

As you can see that my entire Saturday was waiting for a plumber to show up at my house. I needed to take my 80 year dad to the grocery store and attend a housewarming party at his retirement village that evening. I was afraid to leave my home and miss your call or the plumber showing up on his own and not having any services performed. I understand that you were probably very busy on Saturday, but you kept stringing me along. The initial contact with Roto was fantastic, but everything else was down hill from there. If you were not able to service my problem, you should have told me that. Instead, you gave yourself a 4 hour window to get to my home only to arrive 10 hours after the fact and preform zero service. Even the next day, your serviceman showed up an hour after the time that he was suppose to be at my house. Vano was very apologetic and did a great job, but I was confused on the pricing. I am not sure why you would charge $200.00 extra if the service was done in my home versus outside. The way I see it, there was a $100.00 charge to bring in the one piece of equipment (on wheels), and another $100.00 charge to roll the two-wheeler back up the stairs. I was not able to run any water, flush the toilets from Friday evening through Sunday morning. I can't believe that I had a great feeling after speaking with your rep on Saturday morning after making my appointment, then waiting anxiously for the next 10.5 hours, then to have your plumber show up only to turn around and walk back out without doing a darn thing! Aren't all your Plumbers equipped to do the same type of work? Don't the carry the same equipment and tools on their trucks? If I was told by your dispatch department that he was the right man for my job, why was nothing done after waiting (or wasting) my entire day???

Despite solving my plumbing issues, I don't think I will ever use your company again, nor can I refer any business in your direction.

Mark (Naperville, IL)

Joe P.

4/27/2019

Floor drain in basement utility room backed up which happens about once per year. Saturday morning I called Roto Rooter and asked if they could come out and Rod the line from the access opening in my front yard, they had someone to my house in 30 minutes however when on the phone with the scheduler I asked how much do they charge to clear out a soft clog from access plug in yard back to house, a job that usually takes 30 minutes or less. She stated that the person doing the job would quote the job when they arrived. When he arrived he quoted me $520.00! I said I had the same job done last year on a Sunday that a local plumbing company performed and they only charged me $100.00 due to the fact it only took them 20 minutes to clean out. The technician told me he could knock off $100 but he doesn't set the price corporate does. So of course I needed the drain cleared so I signed the paper work but asked that a manager call me. I received a call from the manager two hours later and I told him that what I was charged for a 30 minute call was unacceptable and he said that they charge a fixed fee. He said what if the job would have taken 3 hours; I said I then would have paid more for the time but why should I pay a fixed rate for only 30 minutes of labor! They take advantage of people due to their dire circumstances and they know we won't turn back someone who is already on site to fix the problem. If they would have told me the cost on the phone when I asked I would have searched for other plumbers. I will NEVER use this company again. Make sure you get their fixed price up front before allowing them on site.

Dan K.

5/27/2016

I was installing a new bathroom in my unfinished basement. For the most part it worked out well but when it came to connecting the bathroom copper pipers I put together to the main lines I had some very tough time stopping the pipes from leaking. I tried everything from re-soldering, epoxy. Nothing worked. It hurt my pride to call a plumber and I really hate shopping around for an affordable and reputable plumber. I gave Roto-Rooter a try. The plumber came out and did the fix in about two hours. Would have been shorter and possibly cheaper if he had the parts on him. I wasn't sure why he wouldn't have the parts as they were pretty common items to have as plumber. Anyway and besides that, he did a great job. No more leaking. I would use Roto-Rooter again in the future.

Laverne T.

12/05/2015 12:00:00 SA

Contacted this company to rod a mainline because the toilet was draining slowly Technician number 8674 showed up looked down the drain and stated that it would cost 435.00 to complete the job. About 20 minutes later he said he was not making much progress and called for a supervisor to come out with a camera at no additional charge. After he arrived maybe 30 minutes later they stood around and talked for a few minutes . The technician started to rod the drain again to no avail. They then measured something on the front lawn ad stated that there were tree roots and they did not want to break their equipment. The technician then talked to the owner and quoted a price of over 8,000.00 dollars to dig up 2 feet of sidewalk to identify the problem.When this was declined he DEMANDED 250.00 for not having corrected any of the problem. He was given 200.00 and then refused to give me a copy of video they said they made of the root intrusion. This was truly one of the worst cases of I got you I have encountered in over 40 years of dealing with the the trades. BEWARE!!!

Marilyn W.

01/03/2016 12:00:00 SA

Tech was great and on time. Price was a little high but I had waited for another plumber for over a week that never showed, so I was grateful to have the job done.

Warren M.

5/15/2016

I called Roto-Rooter on a Sunday morning, because my ejector pump was making a load noise and had the aroma of burning electricity. Called Roto-Rooter and set up-up an appointment for the same day. A representative called to let us know that a plumber will be available. A plumber named Nick #3444, called me within fifteen minutes to confirm appointment. He arrived within an hour. He examined the ejector and suggested that we should replace it with a new one since the mercury switch on the old one was burnt out. We agreed on a cost of $545.00 for a new Coleman. The install went smoothly.

Paul D.

11/20/2015

Beware, you call them out to fix your issue and some other guy comes behind the first guy and tries to con you into making an insurance claim. When you decline, they bill you thousands of dollars. Horrible company, we will never call them again for any of your properties.

Sam T.

05/11/2014 12:00:00 SA

Worst experience ever. would never recommend them.

Call them to fix a clogged main drain for my house, I was told they would have a tech give me a call in an hour or two and he did call me after an hour and a half, from 176 miles away. only to tell me that there had been a mistake and I would have to call back to the office to get the right area. (I had given my full address over the phone the first time!) I called the office back only for them to now tell me that I would have to pay a $200 fee in addition to the service charge. I live in sierra vista so I turn around and I called Mr. Fix It

nancy l.

1/22/2016

Do NOT call them - try an independent plumber. A man came out with a very heavy accent that I could barely understand. He spent more time going out to his vehicle than in the the house. He brought in equpment, the router etc. I stood and watched him - he removed the bottom piece of the drain that was clogged - and he just ran water through it. Then he replaced a $1 seal and said he was done. about 30 minutes in the house and that will be $450!!!!!!!

Brett S.

10/28/2014

I would like to provide an update. I had a discussion with customer service person at the company. They came back out and provided more insight on the issue. After clarifying, I moved forward with proposed service. It was a little more expensive than I was expecting. That said, they quickly addressed with minimal impact to landscaping around home.

Rev R.

10/23/2014

Lansing, IL
Although I didn't appreciate that I had to wait long hours for my technician to arrive. When he did, Bruce was great (even though he had to drive 60 miles to get here!) He talked me through everything he was doing and provided explanations for each step. The job was a dirty one but Bruce got right in there and found the problem and solved it. (Our pump wasn't working properly because it was being blocked by a huge rock). He was friendly, polite, and knew what he was doing. Thanks Bruce and sorry you had to mess up your uniform!

Keith P.

12/03/2010 12:00:00 SA

Don't call them. They came to my house and wanted to do a job that cost $6,800.00. I got a second opinion. Turns our Roto Rooter tried to talk me into something that I didn't need. A different plumbing company fixed it for $2,300. I hear that Roto Rooter will make things up to charge more money. Always get a second opinion when it comes to these guys.

Karen J.

10/17/2014

I have used Roto Rooter twice before. I have been pleased with the service and the price. I never felt I was being taken to the cleaners. Unfortunately that wasn't the case this time.

Having my floor drain cleaned out - about 30-45 minutes of labor - cost me over $400. When I had it done 6 years ago it was $200. I understand prices go up BUT doubling in price . . . that is CRAZY!

I will definitely shop around in the future and I doubt I will use them again. VERY disappointed.

Mike P.

01/07/2013 12:00:00 SA

$350 (w/ coupon) to un clog kitchen sink drain. Worked fine for about a month and then had the same issue again. Called out another plumber who was able to fix the issue for good. Roto Rooter used a thin snake and drain cleaner solution and charged way too much for it whereas the other plumber used a much thicker snake and pulled out significantly more gunk.

Schreiber C.

10/28/2017

Roto-Rooter are not plumbers. They are dispatchers. I live in Valparaiso IN. I had a blocked kitchen drain and called them to come out on Friday 10/27/17.. The dispatcher said someone would be out between noon and 4:00 and sent me an email mail confirmation. I printed out a $40 Coupon. They cannot and will not quote you a price. That's up to the negotiating skills of the pond scum who gets the lead. At 4:30 PM I get a voice mail message from some Eastern Europe speaking guy you could barely understand that he is on his way. The delay caused some angst because I had to leave at 2:00 pm to do a sales promo job in Illinois. I left my 22 yr old grandson in charge with a signed bank check to complete and instructions that he call me with the price before doing any service. I get a call from my grandson at my work site saying he can't understand the guy but it sounds like the price is way over the top but that we will get bargain discount of $89 leaving a balance of $490. What!? I asked to put thie guy on the phone. He explained that I used Roto Rooter ten yrs ago for the same thing and paid $240 and this is just common inflation. When I told him to get the F out of my house he said well what would you be willing to pay? I said leave NOW. I will never do business with Roto Rooter ever again.

Anne Marie M.

4/20/2014

We had a problem with a clog in our pipes which, because our entire house is connected to our ejector pump, prevented us from using any water in the house. We called Roto-Rooter and they were at the house within 2 hours on the Saturday evening before Easter. Andre, the service technician, was very courteous and professional. He explained each option to correct the problem and the cost of each before starting any work. He corrected the problem reasonably quickly and left the laundry room just like it was before he started. Wonderful job.

L O.

7/24/2007

I needed immediate help on 7/14 for a leaking/spraying pipe. I called 4 places and RotoRooter was the ONLY one who could come out, regardless of the false printed claims of the other companies. He was relatively fast, and very polite and friendly. He explained everything and didn't brush off my questions. I'd definitely call them again, they're faster than the rest. It was a little expensive, but that's what you pay for - fast, reliable service (and a guarantee).

Franna M.

05/09/2012 12:00:00 SA

What a bunch of scam artists. I called to get my sewer roded, they sid they couldn't get through the pipe. My next estamite was that they need to tear up the side walk and replance to pipe for $5100.00.
I told them i was going to get another estimete, the next plumber came out and rodded the pipe, job done in an 11/2 hours, $250.00

DO USE THEM, I KNOW THEM HAVE SCAMED OTHERS

Sarah S.

8/25/2012

I should have read the other reviews and not called Roto Rooter. Our problem could have been solved with rodding our pipes for $400 however the Field Supervisor said we had a broken pipe and quoted us $4000 to fix this. He even showed us with their video the broken pipe but unless you really know what you're looking at, I must have actually been looking at roots which had infiltrated the pipe. Looking back, he was a true salesman and got us hook, line and sinker!

Once they started the job, he called within 30 minutes of digging the hole in our front house and said they had uncovered a box which would cost an additional $1200 to remove. I stopped the project immediately and fired them on the spot. Luckily, I knew a contractor who sent over a good, honest plumber who was able to finish the job. The new plumber confirmed to us that there was no broken pipe (that's why Roto Rooter wouldn't leave us the video of the pipes).

In addition, I have since learned that these Field Supervisors they send out aren't even plumbers or licensed and that they get ~ 35% commission on all work done.

NEVER, EVER, call these scammers!

Cheryl W.

1/27/2016

Eddie, my service technician, was polite, concerned regarding my problem, He immediately assessed the situation and took proper steps to alleviate the slow blocked drain. Love Roto Rooter, quick, decisive with a great result!

Karen R.

03/06/2017 12:00:00 SA

We need our main line rodded after the heavy rain storm last week. We had a 4-8 window in the evening, and our plumber finally made it at about 8. He had a 14 hour day since a lot of folks had problems from the rain. He did a good job and the problem was resolved.

Patty K.

9/20/2016

The technician, Elvier 3962 was a very nice guy. He even helped me to use a coupon. I liked booking online and a short window of only 2 hours. Rodding a bathroom sink was 440.

Ray C.

4/25/2009

The gas valve on my water heater needed replacement; fortunately, parts were still under warranty so I got one from the manufacturer. Asked 2 local plumbers for quotes on installation; 1 had said $135. Was still waiting for the other.

Decided to also get a quote from Roto Rooter since I've had spotty experience with independent plumbers over the years, so I requested it on their web site for a Thurs 5-8pm slot.

That morning, I had a schedule conflict arise so I called to reschedule to the next day, Friday. The customer service agent said they don't have any plumbers in my area who work after 4:30. So I says Well, then, what would have happened tonight when I booked a free estimate for 5-8 pm? She says I'm sorry, sir, I can't tell answer that because I don't know about the plumbers in the area; you'd have to call the dispatcher.

Things that make you say hmmm.

Anyway, I then rescheduled for Saturday 8-10am. The plumber shows up, I take him to the water heater, a basic recent GE model with a standard gas valve. He looks at the valve, the gas line and water connections on the water heater, making me think he's never done this model before.

More things that make you say hmmm.

Then he walks away from me to write up the quote on a nearby table. Spends a minute or so, looks up at me, and says $285. I nearly jump out of my house slippers. After stumbling over my words for a few seconds because of my surprise, I tell him the first quote I got was $135. He just looks at me and shrugs. Needless to say, I show him the door.

Turns out that the other indie plumber's quote was $120, giving me enough reason to believe that Roto Rooter was just plain too high, even giving some room for excellent customer service which didn't obviously exist in the first place.

Omar C.

3/30/2016

I had a horrible clog in my kitchen that backed up my kitchen sink, dishwater, and nearby utility sink. I called Roto Rooter and they sent out Andy (tech #3773) the next morning. It was a stubborn clog for sure, deep in the pipes past several annoying curves/elbows. He kept at it for some time and worked on it until finally being able to reach the clog and free me from this headache!! The entire time, he was polite, careful with my items in the kitchen, and even gave me some great maintenance tips while he worked on my kitchen. I really appreciate the awesome work!!!

Gino B.

9/20/2014

had a toilet that was seeping around the base. While they came quickly and service person was courteous. The prices were extremely high and much more than what a plumber would pay. I did manage to get $100 off what they quoted but felt that the free estimate is a way to get in the door and leverage the situation.
Pro's - very quick response
Con's - very high cost

Ed G.

6/25/2012

BEWARE! If I could give them zero stars I would. In early April 2012, I contacted Roto-Rooter becasue the main sewage line to my 3 flat was backed up. I waited all day for Sammie to show up, only to tell me he'd have to get a vacum truck empty the buildings catch basin at $350. Catch basin drained the next day and had to wait again for Sammy to route the line at $397. Sammie tried to sell me a camera inspection of the sewage line, but since I knew this was routine, I declined the $280 inspection. A month later I have the same back up problem. I called again and got Sammie out and again the catch basin was full, but this time he says he can route the line from a different spot. So was the $350 catch basin vacum necessary? He routes the line again and pulls out more roots and normal debrie. How could he be pulling this stuff out again after only a month??? Sammie convinces me to do the $280 camera inspection, where he says there is an obvious line problem under my front yard, the yard would have to be dug up to fix the line for $4000. Sammie has now taken me for over $1000 and my sewage line is still backed up. I called Power Plumbing in Chicago for a second opinion. These guys show up the next day as scheduled and ended up routing the line with the correct size blade, Sammie had used a smaller blade which only pierced the blockage. Apparently using a smaller blade is a tatic Sammie was using to sell more business. Power Plumbing had to charge additional based on the information Sammie gave me; they sent out three guys, pulled permits to dig and fix the line. Had I just called to have the line routed and a camera inspection done from power plumbing in the first place, my bill would have been much less. The sewer line is now open and backup gone thanks to Power Plumbing.
I called Roto-Rooter and spoke to Nichole, and after she researched and spoke with Sammie she let me know that Sammie had used a smaller blade, but that he was honest and one of their best plumbers. $1000 wasted, but at least I didn't go through with Sammie's recommendation. I will be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

Jon O.

3/25/2016

Great service, Joe was very thorough with the explanation of our problem, and provided other tips and advice to help prevent future issues in other areas. Will continue to have Roto Rooters as our go-to for plumbing issues going forward.

Frank M.

09/11/2014 12:00:00 SA

I used them and foud them to be over priced. Thank God I found a better plumber 2 weeks later when I had a major plumbing problem. Avoid them at all cost, they get paid by how much more they can charge a customer then there base book price. Yes they will get the job done, but your going to pay more then anybody else

Colin T.

9/29/2015

he was professional but i can't get over the cost. he spent about 15 minutes unclogging the toilet and charged $185. that after 30$ SR DISCOUNT

Christopher M.

3/20/2014

Tech 2623 Justin came into my house to repair leaking sink pipe and wowed me. He entered the domicile with footies, which was very courteous given the St Patty day parade weather (brisk cold but sunny) and proceeded to correct the issue immediately. A hairline crack was the culprit and Justin went above the call in informing of the need to replace my p-trap with PVC since the pipes are 50 years old and the water is corroding the sink head now. I appreciate his due diligence and professional demeanor in correcting this issue and am impressed with RotoRooter's follow up informing of ETA & Justin's overall professionalism.

Mark B.

09/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

The service was outstanding though a bit pricey. Maybe I was charged the going rate. I don't know. But the problem was fixed in a timely fashion and the people were very nice.

Chris W.

8/31/2016

We had about 3 inches of raw sewage come up into our basement yesterday. Called several plumbers, and Roto Rooter was the only company that could have someone out to my house within 2 hours. While the first plumber was unable to find a clog and drain the water, the second plumber (Wali, Tech #2660) was excellent! He went right to our catch basin, found the main sewer line, and had the water/sewage completely drained from our basement within 20 minutes. Super nice guy, and great customer service! Thank you, Wali! Wali would get 5 stars, but since first plumber was not able to fix the problem (and we had standing sewage in the basement for over 6 hours), I gave 4 stars overall.

Nathan M.

8/28/2016

Eugene Moon (1376) was super professional and helpful. We were very pleased! He came out quickly and fixed our back up sink.

John D.

08/11/2008 12:00:00 SA

If I could give them 6 stars I would. Basically the guy came into my place and showed me how to fix the problem myself in the future (and this wasn't a run of the mill problem.). Great stuff.

Kevin D.

08/09/2016 12:00:00 SA

Had a clogged drain in the kitchen. Glesian and Erion came out the following morning and fixed my issue. Quick and painless.

Juliana H.

08/08/2016 12:00:00 SA

Called for routine maintenance. Was given a window between 8am - 12pm and was told I'd get a call 30-60 minutes before technician arrived. Did get a call around 9am but couldn't understand the caller. After not hearing from them after noon, I called them and was told the tech was running late. Finally got a call that he was on his way. When he arrived he did what needed to be done.

Nicole C.

2/16/2016

Roto-rooter was on time, professional, knew exactly what the problem was, and took care of it in a timely fashion. The serviceman, Tim, was polite and put up with a very curious and chatty 9 year old. Only downside was the price, but they did come out the week of Christmas with less than 48 hours notice.

Lana J.

08/02/2011 12:00:00 SA

My kitchen sink was backed up, so I went to Rotorooter.com and was able to schedule a service call. I received a phone call from the Chicago branch to confirm the plumber's arrival. He arrived on time, fixed my sink effectively and efficiently, and was on his way. With three little kids, I need my kitchen sink :) I've used them in the past and this time I was especially glad to be able to order a service call online. Great job!

P C.

11/28/2017

I had a clogged toilet to deal with the night before an early flight to San Diego. I called Roto-Rooter at 9PM on a Friday night and the person who answered my call was very pleasant and professional (I was stressed out) as she tried to find me a plumber available during the night. There were none available so I opted to book an appointment for the next afternoon (changed my flight) after she assured me that I could cancel with no penalty if I found another plumber to come during the night. The time window for the plumber to arrive was 11AM to 4PM. Adnan arrived at 11:15-ish after calling me 30 minutes in advance to let me know he was on the way. Adnan was wonderful. Very polite and professional and he explained the repair and the cost before starting any work. He was finished within 20 minutes and showed me what he did in case it happened again, which I appreciated. The price was fair and I couldn't be happier with Roto-Rooter for both the person who booked my appointment and for Adnan, the tech.

Daniel B.

11/25/2015

Our injector pump went bad and Roto-Rooter had someone out within 2 hours to diagnose the problem. Later the same day they sent someone out with a pump. The excellent serviceman replaced everything quickly. This all happened the day before Thanksgiving, so we were very happy.

Joyce T.

01/06/2015 12:00:00 SA

It started with a backup toilet on Christmas. I called the next morning and a service man came out he stated that he wasn't sure if he could help. He didn't have the equipment to clear the toilet but he would try with an auger, for 250. He then called and asked for someone else to come to rot out the toilet. He gave then me a price for the rotting approx. 300.

The next man came about 2:30 pm he stated it would cost me 250 just for him to pull the toilet and stated that the other man didn't know what he was talking about when he told me a price and it would cost over 500. He pulled his equipment across the hardwood floor only leaving tracks. After he pulled the toilet he tracked all types of water and waste in and out of the house. During this time since it was the day after Christmas my family was here with children. He didn't try to warn us of anything so we kept the children away and made sure they had on shoes. He continued to try to unstop the toilet, the sinks in the bathroom weren't draining all the way but the other areas were. He insisted that the reason was the large tree in the backyard. That the clog was due to roots. He said he was unable to unclog the toilet because of the shape of the drain, being attached to the other toilet it kept going up the other drain rather than down. He stated we needed to have some one else come out, cut the wall and pipe to be able to go down or go up on the roof. This would cost 700, he thought wasn't sure, but he stated this was my only option. He called and made me aware that some one would be here the next day between 9-12p. I asked him did he get all his equipment and encouraged him to check. My bathroom was a disaster, the beige/green floor was dark brown/black covered in water. The items from under the sink and back of the toilet were located in hall and about. Since they were coming back the next day why clean up now.

The next day my nephew and niece came over to see how I was fairing. The people at the gas station down the street had been very nice. At 12:00 the guy from the day before had returned because he left some of his equipment in the tub and had to pick it up. He wondered why someone wasn't here yet. He didn't try to call his company to ask, he asked me. I then called the company and inquired about it, they didn't seem to happy with the question and said the were running behind. Granted the could of called and said something since it was now 12:30. The company called around 5pm stating the were still running late. He arrived at 8pm that night. He asked me the problem and I tried to explain. He looked down the drain cause the toilet was already off. He took the time to tell me what he was planning to do. He viewed down the drain. He was going to rot out the toilet he went down the toilet drain and then the sink. He got a smaller rotter and was able to unclog the drain. He took the time and ask for some paper towels to wipe up the water that was left on the floor. He also got the rings to replace the toilet. He put new screws on the toilet. He then asked me if the toilet was leaking before. Some how the seal on the back of the toilet has come somewhat undone. Usually from lifting the toilet from the back not by the seat. He fixed that too. He even took his bag of garbage with him.

In conclusion 24/7 service at no extra cost is great. But if you can try to wait until after 5 on Saturdays. The service that I received from the young man that came out in the end was the best. I wish I could give him 5 plus stars. He was kind, thoughtful and pleasant. He took the time to be considerate. In the end it cost me 415.

Jamie M.

7/23/2014

Service arrived within an hour of my initial phone call. My sewer line was repaired and working properly after he cleaned the line.

Scott S.

12/26/2016

Completely not reliable. Like others have posted. We had a confirmed appointment for Monday 12/26. We booked this two days prior and had a confirmation e-mail. At the end of the time frame window we got a call that they only had 1 of 5 technicians actually show up to work that day and they would have to move our appointment to Tuesday 12/27. They didn't offer an apology, a guarantee that they would be there are 8am (the new window was 8-12). Honestly this feels like a scam. A call center operating for a bunch of independent plumbers rather than a legitimate representation for Roto Rooter. We have been without water drainage since Saturday and we truly counted on them to make good on their confirmation. I will updated if they actually show and make good.

Edith Y.

7/16/2014

Had Roto-rooter out to y house yesterday b/c we had (minimal) flooding to our basement due to a poorly piped basement bathroom. I gave only 4 stars b/c the first guy who came out here did NOTHING except say that the Inducer pump was broken but he couldn't fix it. Another appt had to be made (luckily same day) where someone who actually knew how to fix it could help me (he also gave me estimates for my sump pump which needed replacing). The 2nd guy did a wonderful job, fixed the flooding issue and set up my appt for the sump pump replacement. I don't understand why he couldn't have been set up in the first place. What is the purpose of having someone come out who doesn't know how to fix things or isn't able to give estimates...? That part of my day was wasted but all in all, a good experience.
Algonquin, IL

Kathy M.

9/24/2012

I first called Roto Rooter for three plumbing problems I had, a leaking toilet and two slow draining sinks. Roto Rooter promised to send their plumber for an estimate on Friday evening....no show, then Saturday morning....showed up so late I was on my way out the door, finally they came Monday. Their plumber quoted $1,090 to fix the problems and so I sent him on his way and called Power Plumbing. Their plumber fixed everything for only $295.

JoLynn Z.

07/09/2014 12:00:00 SA

Elgin, IL
Scheduled Roto-Rooter to come out via online option to unclog my kitchen sink. They called within an hour and gave me a time window. They called before they arrived. The technician Tim was very nice. He unclogged the sink and told me about the 6 month warranty on the service. The service was expensive $414.90 to unclog a sink, but they were out the same day versus my normal plumber who couldn't come out for 2 days. Tim also told me how to prevent and treat this issue in the future. I would use them again, but only if a cheaper option were not available.

Krystle B.

6/27/2016

The motor on my garbage disposal went out and was clogging up the drain in my kitchen sink. I needed this resolved asap and since Roto Rooter operates on Sundays, a technician was at my door on Sunday morning. He was very courteous and worked efficiently. I would definitely use Roto Rooter again!

Victoria W.

6/20/2016

Speedy service; available to solve my minor 'emergency' within a 4 hour-same day window. Nail provided great service. Only downside is the required per hour service call fee - somewhat steep for a problem that was fixed in 10 minutes.

Laura C.

7/30/2012

DO NOT CALL ANY ROTO ROOTER!!

They quoted me for 800 to clear my line to the city and 7000 to fix this issue!!!

I called many other plumbers and got it fixed for 400!! They should be shut down!!!!

DO NOT USE ANY ROTO ROOTER!!

Steve V.

6/13/2014

No one likes to spend money on projects. I'm the same, but also willing to pay for quality work that I'm unable or willing to do. I had a clogged bathtub that I tried clearing out and couldn't do, time to call in the experts. I've used Roto-Rooter about 4 times now for whole house cleanings, etc. and every time they've done great work. Do I wish their prices were a little lower? Yes. However, after using other plumbing companies in the past, the service and work reflect their prices. Everything is covered up front in the price and the job gets done.

For example, this time to get to the test box, the bathroom sink had to be removed, as well as portions of the wall. No extra charge to demo, etc. Time didn't matter, we worked for around 2 hours to get in to where we needed to get to and clean out from the test box down into the stack.

My plumber, as all have been, was pleasant, on time, and let me know what was going on and why.

Due to the rain in the Chicago area, they were running a bit behind and phoned to make sure that instead of the normal 2 hour window, it would be 3. That was awesome, and it didn't matter because they still showed up within the 1st quoted hour.

All said and done at the end of the day, the drain runs great and I was happy to pay for the service to get what needed to be done and will happily do so in the future.

Sean B.

8/13/2008

I called to schedule an appointment, explained everything that was wrong and was provided with a time when a plumber would be available. About an hour before the appointment, I called to confirm someone was on their way and Rotor Rooter mentioned they were happy I called, they had to reschedule. No problem, we rescheduled for today from 3-5pm. It's 5:30pm and the dispatcher called stating they're unable to fix my particular problem even though I explained it in detail a few days ago. She also added that they don't have any plumbers available tonight and would have to reschedule. I left work early, cleared all of my meetings for the afternoon, waited for 3 hours to be told they need to reschedule again. Do yourself a favor and check out another plumbing company.

Jennifer Z.

06/05/2016 12:00:00 SA

We had an urgent issue over the weekend. The issue prevented us from using any sinks, showers or toilets. Nick R came out Sunday morning and was able to help us. Hopefully, we won't have the issue again.

Kay M.

8/27/2015

After my experience I was contacted by a few customer service agents, most of whom were extremely friendly. After explaining my situation a few times, one of which was a pretty tense conversation, I was offered a refund for the most recent service. The guy was understandably proud of their work, but allowed me to talk about my perspective. I would definitely use them again given their customer service from the technicians to the call center folks.

Larry K.

5/29/2014

Had them come out when I first bought my house in 2006. I have a mid century modern house that has some very old and complex sewer lines. The technician came out and explained to me that the line was over 100 feet long so he would have to rout the line from the house end and also the street end. Spent 1/2 a day doing it.

Came out in May 2014 for a routine routing. Still a lot of roots, but he was able to clear the line. They can be a little pricey, but other plumbers that have looked at this either didn't have the ability to route so long a line, or didn't seem to understand the complexity of the situation.

Eventually I will have to do something besides just preventative routing, but I have been able to keep chugging along for 8 years now, and will continue to use their service.

Brenna H.

5/26/2016

We had a leak in our sink -- so after calling roto-rooter and having an appointment made, it was then canceled two separate times (after I had already left work early to come and meet the plumber). And then when the guy finally came he totally took our sink apart and left it like that until the next week (the soonest he could come back). Wasn't impressed -- was $820 for a job that should have cost around $300 max. It was too expensive, the plumbers were rude and the company I think is unprofessional.

Mark S.

05/01/2016 12:00:00 SA

My sump pump failed and I needed it changed. Naturally, it was on a Sunday. Also it had ben raining for days with more rain predicted. Some of the PVC discharge piping needed to be replaced to accommodate the new pump and check valve. Additionally, a new check valve was installed on the separate waste water pump pit's pump. Both check valve's had shutoffs so that if there is a next time it will be easier. Nail, the plumber was polite, clean and well organized.

Sarah B.

10/30/2017

great service! yuri (#1195) came on time and took care of our drain issue in our basement quickly. he did a thorough review and gave us tips for preventing this in the future.

Gareth O.

10/31/2015

Tim was to our house in 45 minutes of the call and quickly fixed the backed up drain.

Cameron R.

06/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

Excellent. Very professional on phone. Came within window and called 30 mins ahead as i was told. Very professional and knowledgable. Was able to diagnose issue and make recommendations and even changed a lightbulb! My go too from now on! Thanks Charles!

Leigh S.

09/08/2016 12:00:00 SA

After a huge overflow of our toilet that leaked through the ceiling, I called Roto-Rooter. We discussed the options and there was no hesitation to start the job, which included them purchasing 3 new toilets and the installation. Both servicemen were professional, and very respectful of our home. Our old toilets were over 20 years old and extremely heavy and they made sure that our 2 dogs wouldn't be in the way or run out of the house while the door was open. I really appreciated that they felt comfortable with the dogs and were considerate of their safety. We are waiting for the restoration/damage estimate, he has called us and told us he will be able to come later today or Saturday. This estimate will be helpful for us as we may have to submit an insurance claim.

Jeff W.

3/19/2018

Would give this a negative star if possible. I had roto rooters out roughly 6 months ago bc my kitchen sink needed to get rodded due to backing up from other units. Same thing is happening now. First the plumber told me the price for it had gone up $75. I asked why and he said inflation. I cant even make this up. Then he proceeded to plunge my sink 3 times and then said, hey i fixed it. I was in utter disbelief. Surely its not fixed. He said yeah its all good. I said ok great, how much is it? He said still $495($75 more than previous time). I said absolutely not, there is no way im paying $495 for you to plunge my sink 3 times in a matter of 15 seconds. I asked him to please rod the sink like it needs. He briefly argued with me and ultimately did it after saying, ill do it if it makes you feel better. What kind of service is this? Then I had some roto rooter preventative care liquid. He told me I should use it. I asked for assistance as theres two different uses for it and he told me to read the label. This is a joke. This is my first yelp review ever, thats how big of a scam this company is. Considering reporting them to the BBB.

Tomer Y.

3/20/2014

Yes - Roto Rooter is expensive, so are all plumbers - get over it, or learn to do it yourself. Roto Rooter will come out at any time of night (I had one guy show up at 1am and work straight through to 5am). As a landlord with tenants who get pretty upset when plumbing doesn't work, Roto Rooter has helped me out of more than a couple sticky situations. Look, if you are going to try and nickle and dime every plumbing need you have, they are not the ones. But, if you want a reasonable enough price, get it done, any time of day or night, and just be done with nasty plumbing issues, give 'em a call.

Jean D.

3/15/2016

I called and they were that very afternoon to unclog my toilets. The person who came to my door was very professional in his manners and appearance. He went to work quickly to unclog our toilets. I would definitely have them to come out again

Rachel W.

3/13/2016

I am torn between two and three stars. I'd give them high marks for customer service, prompt response time, and the technician was very nice and polite. He didn't charge me to check my water heater, which wasn't producing any hot water. Looking back, I'm kind of amazed by that given how much everything else would've cost! He basically flipped the power vent switch a few times and then told me I needed a new water heater. That's when things got two-star quality. First, he said that replacing the gas valve apparatus would cost $1,000. Then he said replacing the entire water heater could be done that day for $3,000. He sort of quietly pressured me to make a decision right away, which I wouldn't do. Don't play chicken with me, sir, you will not win! Those prices are outrageous and seemingly pulled from thin air. A new gas valve costs $163 online - no way labor for that little knicknack is worth is $800+. Also, no way an $800 water heater should cost $2,000+ to install. I called Home Depot and they could install the same water heater, same day, for like $500. Luckily, resetting the pilot light multiple times seems to have restored my hot water so I haven't bought anything, but when I do it will be through Home Depot.

JC S.

03/12/2016 12:00:00 SA

The technicians we're professional, courteous, clean & prompt. The 1st tech rodded the clogged drain line that was infested with roots. I give 3 stars because in 24 hrs I had back up again in the tub!Jonathan came the next day(free of charge) & rodded again. He flushed the line a couple times & demonstrated how to hear the water flow all the way to the city connection. Since then I've been free flowing.

Sara M.

03/06/2014 12:00:00 SA

Roto Rooter saved me from a nightmare. Not sure how this happened, but the seal between my toilet tank and toilet bowl broke. When I flushed the toilet water came gushing out, flooding my apartment. Roto Rooter sent Sam out and he was very nice. He replaced my toilet quickly and picked out a fantastic model. He was able to refer Jeff to me for the water extraction from my carpets. Jeff was very knowledgeable and helpful. Jeff's technician, Jacob (2096), was very pleasant and really seemed to know what he was doing. The only downside to Roto Rooters is their pricing. It's a little on the exorbitant side. All in all, I will call again for help should the need arise.

chad l.

09/12/2015 12:00:00 SA

Giovann 2910 was great. Came out right away and resolved the issue.

Lewis B.

03/03/2016 12:00:00 SA

Very quick and easy to schedule and Chuck was there in less than an hour. Service was excellent and Chuck was a very nice guy. The only bad thing was the price. I should have comparison priced prior to scheduling. But there is a 6 month guarantee included.

Peter K.

08/08/2016 12:00:00 SA

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. We called for a non-emergency drain clog and made an appointment. When the technician arrived it took him 30 minutes to unclog a laundry room drain. We just received the invoice and it was for over $500. That equates to $17 / minute. We disputed the charge and the office manager said that they charge a flat rate whether or not it's an emergency, and no matter how much time it takes to fix the problem. DO NOT CALL USE THIS COMPANY!!!!

Duffy T.

03/01/2016 12:00:00 SA

Needed to have the main sewer line rodded due to root intrusion. They aren't cheap, but they do show up quickly and always solved my problem.

Ronald S.

08/06/2016 12:00:00 SA

The guy who came out to fix our pipe, definitely did the job. the Pipe is fixed. The only issue I have is that the sink was not clogged before. And now it is clogged. Kyle(3269), did a great job with the pipe like I said. he was here at the time he promised. It was fast. We got a deal on it. He was professional. However, we now have a clogged drain, which was not like that before he came out.

Nicole W.

2/25/2016

Grant (#3176) diagnosed the issue right away and was efficient in the repair. I was very happy with the service and would definitely contact Roto-Rooter for all my future plumbing issues. Chicago, IL

Joanne D.

1/25/2015

Mikel (2908) was helpful. I am very disappointed with Roto Rooter I have had then out to my house 5 times now since May 2014, in Jukt they charged me $6000 to replace pipe and remove the roots that came all the way into house 1 foot down from the toliet. Now tonigh after Mikel tried to rod it out and it did nothing he called the technician with the camera to come run the camera again, and now miraculously I have roots again and bad pipe under the house in the vicinty of the bathroom where the original problem existed. I think this is horrible. I am a single mother with two jobs. I had to borrow the money through them on a finace with high percentage rate. They were supposed to fix the problem and look for more problems when they excavated in July. They should be responsible for something. They should be diligent and truthful. I feel as though they have been dishonest with me from the start. We will see what unfolds tomorrow when I speak to the big boss.

Jon H.

3/28/2012

plumber (9840 Chuck) came out promptly and resolved the issue that I could not fix on my own after a half day trying. Chuck was very professional and happy to help. I paid a hefty fee for the work but it was done pretty fast and the tech gave me tips on future problems. I would recommend the Chicago Roto-Rooter to anyone who has a major problem and wants the work done quickly.

Noel L.

02/09/2016 12:00:00 SA

Yuri was very police, professional and answered my questions to the best of his ability (I will be having a camera inspection at a later date) The only reason for 4 stars is the price. He did work with me a little, but I called them again because the price the previous time they were here was comparible to the other company I had out 6 months ago (for a different drain) I think I may call them in the future to save some money.

Kelly S.

7/17/2016

We had an emergency plumbing issue on a Sunday. GLESIAN (#2100) came out within a couple hours, fixed the problem quickly, gave us advice for the future and knocked a decent amount off the price because he told us it was a fairly easy fix. He was very nice, friendly, professional and efficient. We were happy with the job.

Jason C.

02/06/2016 12:00:00 SA

We had our backflow tested. Service tech was very friendly. I thought the service was a little pricey for what was done, but overall a positive experience.

Don K.

07/12/2014 12:00:00 SA

Beware of these people.... Hire local plumbers even if you have to pay an emergency fee. We had a blocked drain to the septic tank and called for what should be a simple rooting job.

The tech gave a very high price equal to anyone's emergency price but I agreed as it had to be done right away (huge mistake). As the system was full of water...even the tubs, he said it would be best to go through a toilet upstairs instead of at the clean out in the basement. To make a very long story short....he flooded the upstairs bath and the basement and didn't care a bit or help clean in the least.

That night we awoke to water in backed up again. Two of them came out this time, flooded the house again and announced that they couldn't fix the problem and I would need a $5000 pipe replaced.

However... Before they even left I had a real plumber on the way who finished the job for $300 and found no break in the pipe as roto rooter advised. I feel now that we were victimized and am considering filing suit. BEWARE!!

Janine G.

1/25/2016

I had a completely clogged bathtub. Jeff was both professional and personable.He did a thorough job and made constructive recommendations. I will have no problem calling Roto-Rooter in the future and asking for Jeff, tech 3271.

Michael B.

8/14/2008

A bit pricey, but always on time and they do a great job. They fixed our catch basin and added a clean-out in the front yard. I was pushing for a flood valve flapper, which would have cost several thousand dollars more, but they recommended against it. That's integrity! Their work even came with a warranty.

Tasha M.

01/12/2012 12:00:00 SA

Slow draining kitchen sink that I tried and failed to fix on my own. Didn't know which plumber to call and a friend suggested Roto Rooter and Bill showed up, during a huge snowstorm, within 30 minutes to my home in Naperville. He was professional and courteous, explained everything thoroughly, did a visual check on the lines in the basement, then roto-rooted the problem! I will call Roto-Rooter if I ever have a problem again!!

Larry M.

1/18/2016

Called to have my sewer line to the main rodded. The dispatcher was very friendly and the service rep (Yuri 1195) came out promptly to rod the line. He was pleasant, helpful and most importantly...he was able to clear the line. These elements of the call were all worthy of a 5 star rating. The reason for the 3 star was the price. $449 to rod a line is simply too expensive. I used the same service 3 years ago for the same issue when the cost was approximately $230. This type of price increase over a 3 year window just feels like price gouging.

Rita M.

10/22/2014

Price alert!! Paid $625 to snake two slow drains in bathroom. Routine job and took plumber 90 minutes. That comes out to $414 an hour and I'm feeling like a sucker! It was not an emergency and I should have done my homework like you are if your reading this. (Orland Park, IL)

Matt C.

09/08/2014 12:00:00 SA

I scheduled service for three problem areas in my house, a backed up sink, weak flushing toilet and another leaking one. They showed up quickly perused the affected areas and came up with a $1,200 price tag to fix everything. Luckily, my girlfriend has a plumber father who happened to be in town at the time and went through and actually checked the problems and had them fixed in two hours with only $60 in parts total. So either plumbers make $500 an hour or roto rooter is in the business of ripping people off. Won't trust them again.

James D.

6/14/2013

I woke up on Sunday to find out that my basement laundry room sink was clogged and somehow, water had backed-up into the sink. I tried to plunge it myself and used a toilet snake that I had gotten at a hardware store. For hours I tried to get it done myself, only to be disappointed, so I called Roto-Rooter.

The lady on the phone was polite and not a call taker from a 3rd world country. I told her my problem and that I had plans for the evening. She assured me that I could have somebody some out on a Sunday, before 9pm, without having to pay a weekend charge. As expected, Roto-Rooter had someone at my home around 8:30pm and he fixed the problem within 2 hours.

Sadly, the charge was pretty steep: $398! But, I'm happy that the work was done cleanly and professionally.

I picked Roto-Rooter because they they are nationally known company that's been around for a long time. As I told my wife, I didn't want to run the risk of having someone doing it cheaper who wasn't licensed, bonded or worked off a flyer. If something went wrong, I know where to complain and so far, I'm satisfied with the work.

Thanks Roto-Rooter.

Jack W.

11/28/2015

Armion #601 was early and did a great managing a potentially complicated toilet pipe repair. He did a great job of setting expectations as well as finishing in a fast time frame. Finally, he left with a set of recommendations on potentially advisable things to do--not have to haves for today but things to consider going forward. Great job.

Shelagh J.

11/16/2014

called roto 800 number for service in the 5pmish hour. was told I would have a plumber out between 6-9pm. after 8pm i received a call from a worker stating they had no one to send out. I waited over 2 hours and they call to say they weren't coming. and couldn't get another plumber at that hour either. all the manger could say was sorry'.

Philip D.

9/15/2009

Out of the 5 plumbing services I called, R.R. were the only ones that were qualified do the job. They were polite,knowledgeable and to my surprise, willing to negotiate a lower price than what had been quoted over the phone. Their plumbers are always experienced and quick to come over, which might be worth the slightly higher price.

Kristy M.

01/10/2012 12:00:00 SA

My basement sinks were backing up and smelled horrible! I was unable to wash clothes and was very frustrated. I called Roto Rooter and some one came out to clean the catch base, but the sink continued to back up. So, I called Roto Rooter back and they schedule someone else to come out a day or so later. They sent a service tech by the name of MEL. He assessed the problem, explained what the problem was and told me what the plan was to resolve the issue. He work relentlessly (rodding, checking, then rodding mainline)until he got the job done. No other worker has ever done a job for me with such pride and determination. We need more workers like MEL and that's the truth!

I am a VERY SATISFIED CUSTOMER! MEL AT Roto Rooter worked for me!

KSM

Amol T.

04/09/2016 12:00:00 SA

I would have liked to have written a review about Roto-Rooter's plumbing services, unfortunately I don't even have the opportunity to do that. I scheduled an appointment for a Saturday morning service from 8am-12pm. I now sit here at 5pm and am told the techs are still on the way. Five hours after my scheduled time has elapsed the customer service rep tells me it's because they had people call in sick for the day. I would have much appreciated notice early in the morning if the company anticipated that they might not be able to complete the appointment due to a lack of technicians. Instead I realize that this company has no respect for your time or situation.

Rose L.

05/11/2015 12:00:00 SA

I called Roto-Rooter and had a plumber at my door within an hour. My technician Jimmy #18363156 was efficient and fixed the problem quickly. He took time to show me what the problem was and explain how my sewer line works. Great experience with Roto-Rooter.

Katie D.

10/28/2015

Got the job done. Was very expensive. The lady who scheduled the apt on the phone was not friendly. Plumber 3269 was knowledgeable and a nice guy.

Kevin F.

4/22/2015

I called Roto Rooter because my toilet was clogged.I gave my address and zip code 60643,a decent atea thus they wouldn't have to worry about getting jumped. I was told I'd have to wait until 8am tomorrow morning. WTF. What am I supposed to do until then?! NEVER CALL ROTO ROOTER!

Kimberly J.

4/18/2015

I accidently flushed a trial size bottle of body spray down the toilet. My husband and I were unable to get it out, so I called the Chicago Roto-Rooter and scheduled service. My appointment window was on a Friday betweek 4-8 pm. Around 7 pm. I received a call that the service appointments were running long, and they were wondering if I could have my service appointment the next day on Saturday. This was fine with me since I was off the next day and didn't have any previous plans for the morning. On Saturday, Andre #8971 arrived within the two hour window. He gave us the up front estimate, stating that he would try to get out the bottle without having to remove the entire toilet, but he also gave us the price that it would be if he had to do so to get it out, minus the $40 dollar coupon I had. Well, unfortunately it was really wedged in there, so he did have to remove the toilet. He had to really work at getting it out, and I was afraid that he wouldn't be able to because when I researched this issue online, some people stated that they had to buy a brand new toilet when this had happened. Luckily, after several attempts, Andre was able to get it out and he replaced the wax seal and reset the toilet. He thoroughly cleaned up after he was finished. He also gave us some great advice on another plumbing question we had inquired about in our other bathroom. He was very professional, courteous, and helpful. We will be using Roto-Rooter again if the need arises.

Patrick D.

9/26/2015

We had a leak in our sink this weekend. Harold came out and fixed it and did a wonderful job!

Jerel P.

9/21/2014

I had a drain clog (food in kitchen sink) in a 3 unit newer condo building. After about 3 hours the guy arrives I tell him exactly what's wrong, I said there was no damaged lines or anything like that just a plain clog. He looked for himself and agreed the told me $415, I told him thanks for your time and showed him the door. I could just as easily buy my own power rodder from Home Depot at that price point.

Lara L.

9/21/2015

Called Roto-Rooter when my usual plumber failed to fix the problem of keeping waste water from backing up into the house. The drain had been rodded by the first plumber and the septic tank cleaned. I called Roto-Rooter specifically because they wouldn't charge me to come to the house and give a diagnosis and quote for solving the problem. The technician just said I needed to rod the line again and wanted to sell me their name branded drain cleaner. He then said if the problem persisted to call again and ask for a field specialist. Because I had clearly told my story to Roto-Rooter I had imagined they would have sent out a specialist to begin with. Would use them for a problem with an obvious fix, but wouldn't call for anything requiring thought.

Sergio D.

09/08/2015 12:00:00 SA

The reason I had called them on the first place was because the Drains in my basement are clogged...The second reason was to check the drain from the Gutter to the sewer.. As soon as he got there he asked me to sign for a $435.00 job price. They all know what they are doing, so he said the Gutter is outomatically$435.00 and the drains for the basement is free.. They knew that the basement one was the worst, so they threw it out there that was free so I would not complain at the end that they did not do anything... Ok, so he went for the Gutter to the the sewer, but there was nothing there ($435.00).... and once he checked the basement, he said that it was too hard to get everything out as it was all mudd. (FREE). He said he I wanted to go forward with it I would need one of them to come over for an stimate becasue they needed to break into the ground.. Time for the Money. He said he would deduct $135.00 from $435.00. I said to him he did not do anything to charge me this much. He said the lowes he could go was $275.00. I still fought, and said $250.00.. Then he started saying about a similar case he had where the costumer did not wan to pay, and they had to call the police. I said why is he mentioning this, is he treatening me? He said, no no no not at all and to show you that I am not I will charge you $250.00. and to think I was going to tip him.. I just gave him the money so he would go away... he said someone from Roto-Rooter would call me back. No one ever did.. Please becareful of them--- They overprice you...

Update on the above issue: I received a call from Lynnette appologizing for the service received. I was told the person who came to my house was stealing from the company and was no longer working there. She said they would be refunding me $150.00 from the $250.00 I had paid. We set up a new appointment for 09/14/2015.. On 09/11/2015 Lynette had called stating that the General Manager no longer wanted to send me $150.00 , that it would be $100.00 check and two gift cardsof $25.00 each for Red Lobster and Chillis, I said fine. On 09/14/2015 the technitian showed up on time and said that it would be $500.00 per hour to clean/Root the main line from the house to the street, In all would be $800 to $1000.00, and that was without pumping my sewer tank because they do not do that. I declined the Service. I called Neptune Sewer Service at 708-484-3100, a local company and it was all for $480.00 for the job-- no hourly work. They cleaned by Main line and pumped/cleaned the sewer tank. Now that was affordable.

Stephen V.

11/29/2014

I called Roto-Rooter today and boy was I surprised! Giovann, tech #2910, showed up and diagnosed the problem very professionally. I had tree roots in the line that was allowing water to back up into my home. He was mindful of my 2-year old napping and took great care not to damage my furniture with his equipment. I'd always seen their vehicles, but never gave them a call until now. I highly recommend Giovann if you want professional service.

Maria G.

08/06/2015 12:00:00 SA

I paid $250.00 and still have a running toilet. Called and was told there's is nothing they can do unless i paid more. No integrity or quality in the work that was done (the first time). Why would I pay more? Management refused to even listen, filtered me out before I even stated the situation. I just wanted the job to be done! Poor communication skills and complete disregard for the customer. Save yourself the hassle and find another plumber who knows what they are doing.

Emily S.

07/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

I would not use this company again if they send the same technician. He dragged mud through my house and on my carpets. He trampled and killed two of my perennial plants that were outside the area that the supervisor told me would be safe. He used my own personal floor cleaning bucket to mix his mortar goo and didn't clean it out. Left that goo all over my bucket, floor and basement. He chipped away and ruined the epoxy on my basement wall which in turn means I need to hire a waterproofing company to come out and re-epoxy. It was awful. I spent a LOT of money on the project and expected a bit more professionalism.

Susan P.

01/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

I've had fast great service with RotoRooter on three occasions. Giovann in particular was very helpful and put in extra effort to solve my problem.

Scott Z.

6/26/2015

We had an outdoor faucet leak on a pipe that did not have a shut off valve. I attempted to fix the problem but determined that it was more than a need to change a gasket, so it would be more than I could handle. We were losing money daily with the leaking water and needed to get it resolved quickly. I called Roto Rooter, who we had previously contacted when our water heater went out. The sent Armion who was the same technician that handled the water heater problem. By 3:00 pm on the same day that I called, a new faucet was run, a shut off valve was installed and the job was cleaned up. I am very pleased with the results and the work that has been done. Did I pay a little more, yes probably, but I received immediate service with a same day resolution and a successfully completed job. I am very pleased with the job that Roto Rooter has done for us.

Carol C.

6/19/2015

I called Roto Rooter to get help with a stopped up drain in our lower level patio which had 2-3 inches of standing rain water after all the monsoon we had. They sent a plumber out the same day and did call 30 minutes prior to his arrival, which I very much appreciated. He was very nice man, but stood on my front stairway looking into our patio and quoted me $495!! for 1/2 hour of service. Of course, they will not give estimates over the phone because most people would hang up and call elsewhere. I thought that was ridiculously high, but they have you over the barrel at that point and being anxious to get the water to drain, I reluctantly agreed to pay. He did honor the $40 online coupon. It took him over 2 1/2 hours to open up the drain.

Tiffany T.

6/19/2015

This company is a complete rip off. The plumber was here for roughly 30 min and charged us $375 plus parts. Before I could even tell him no he has his form out telling me to sign. Then it wasn't even fixed correctly, the plumber came back the next day - another waste of a 3 hour period. Not even an acknowledgement of what happened or what needed to be fixed. Find a better company!!

Stephanie I.

10/05/2014 12:00:00 SA

I would strongly recommend roto-rooter for your plumbing and drain service needs. It was easy to make an appointment. they were able to come out quickly, and they called a couple times to let me know when the plumber would be at my house. The plumber himself was very knowledgeable and friendly and got the job done quickly and successfully.

Christopher M.

5/17/2015

Service man was professional, courteous and explained each service thoroughly. Work completely and all is working well. The cost though, absolutely ridiculous.

Lizzette V.

08/02/2010 12:00:00 SA

Do NOT call Roto-Rooter!!!!!!! They say they don't have a service fee but they jack up the prices to make up for that. They were waaaay overpriced and RUDE! The first thing he asked was who was going to pay him. He then implied he'd have to do something with the actual pipes when in fact all he did was rooter the pipe. It was a quick job that any other plumber would do for a fraction of what he charged. Then, when I called customer service the manager's English was so poor, I couldn't understand her!

Go to the BBB website and look for plumbers in your area. I called a few after the fact and they quoted me $100-150 less than what I was charged.

Crissy W.

9/17/2012

For about 4 days my house smelled like a sewage dump. It kept getting worse and worse and we just couldn't figure out what it could be!

David came yesterday and was VERY nice, polite, wore shoe covers, and just overall was a professional. He found the problem with 20 minutes when above and beyond to clean it up all on a SUNDAY!

I'd go to them again!

Kaite W.

3/28/2013

The first technician that came suggested we replace our entire Grohe kitchen faucet due to a leak in the retractable hose (we already knew there was a hose leak, I was told during my appointment phone call that was an easy fix) We decided to hold off replacing the entire sink and do some of our own research first, but still cost us a $65 hourly service fee. We were able to find a Grohe replacement hose and the second technician, Mike, was able to replace the hose in less than 20 minutes and we're good to go, luckily we had a $100 coupon so the $215 replacement fee (not including the part cost) was only $115. A little frustrated we still had to pay for the worthless first call but the second technicians friendly demeanor and knowledge made up for it.

Stephen C.

11/22/2014

Tony did a great job fixing the clogged drain in my kitchen. He was very friendly and thorough I n his work.

Daniel L.

12/13/2013

In a word....HORRIBLE!!!! I called because I had a busted pipe under the bathroom sink in my condo tonight at exactly 4:45PM. Water is literally shooting from a pipe!! Customer service gave me a window of 5PM to 8PM. So of course that window comes and goes. I call back at 8PM, they tell me I'm next - should be any time now. This begs the question, a company as large as this has ONE guy working on a Friday night????? Call back at 10:30 PM, dispatcher puts me on hold, tells me it will be another two to three hours before they can come out!!!! Bottom line, if you have a busted pipe or plumbing emergency - avoid these guys at all costs. Absolutely horrible.

Viv M.

02/05/2014 12:00:00 SA

Sammy came on 9/4/2013 to replace faucets and install new drain pipe under the sink. He charged me $165. I paid him on the same day with a check and I have proof that my check was cashed. So, you can imagine my surprise when Jesse from Roto-Rooter called me last week, MONTHS LATER, stating I owe an additional $283, insisting that the actual cost of the service was greater than what Sammy charged me, but they somehow failed to send me a single invoice between now and then stating that there was ANY balance owed. In what world are these people living in?! You don't change pricing on someone retroactively. I paid what I was charged on the day the service was provided, and it is absolutely ridiculous that they are coming back months later and trying to get me to pay extra. These people are DISHONEST and UNPROFESSIONAL and I would not even recommend them to my worst enemy. It's too bad they are subcontracted to provide services for Nicor's home warranty clients-- I am definitely contacting Nicor to let them know they will lose my business.

K M.

03/08/2015 12:00:00 SA

Had a sewer line backup into the tub, and of course late on a Saturday afternoon. When I called they were very helpful, and offered to have someone out Sat. evening. I decided to have them out Sunday morning. Although the plumber, Kelly, was a bit later than my advance call said, he was polite and professional, explaining what needed to be done. I was surprised at the amount of roots that came out of the drain. I was glad that they could come out on the weekend to clear up the problem quickly, and saving us from having to take time off work. May be a bit more expensive, but is worth it for the convenience. KM in Wheeling, IL

Tiffany S.

2/21/2015

We called Roto-Rooter when our kitchen sink clogged because they are a national brand and well- this is what they do- clear drains. Silvano- the field manager came out- he was within the supplied time window and called ahead of time to say he was on his way. He was SUPER nice and personable. My jaw dropped at the cost of the service though- I told Silvano it was just too much- he told me he would work with us on the price and that they won't charge for the visit and come back again if we don't figure out how to clear it ourselves. Super sweet guy. Needless to say- we couldn't clear it ourselves- we called them again and they came back same day!!! Again- they called ahead. This time Jeff came. He got the job done in less than 45 mins. They have a 6 month guarantee which is awesome!
I only gave it 4 stars because the cost was astronomical. I would have given it 3 stars because the cost but Silvano was so awesome, he kind of made up for it a bit.

Plainfield, IL

Brendan H.

01/05/2014 12:00:00 SA

Plumber was not able to fix our issue. He charged us a 'discounted' $95 since he was unable to fix the issue. I called back for another plumber. The second plumber never showed up.

Susanne W.

7/16/2017

Our drain backed up in our basement shower. The drain is 8-10 feet from the ejector pump. I called my regular plumber, another regular plumber and a back-up that he gave me. None of the three were available. I actually hesitated to call Roto Rooter because I had heard they were quite expensive. I had no choice so I called. The representative that took the call was very professional. She scheduled a service call for within two hours. I asked what the charge was for a service call. She said Roto Rooter does not charge for service calls. They come out, assess the situation then tell you what needs to be done and give you a price to complete the work. You either OK it or not. The plumber was at our home in less than two hours. He looked things over and said we needed our drain rodded. He said it would be $469.00 but he'd give us a $19.00 discount. The actual rodding took about 10 minutes. The rest of the almost one hour was cleaning up, signing paperwork and paying. So for less than an hour to rod an 8-10 ft pipe, we were charged $450.00. Again, service was great but that price is OUTRAGEOUS. I called and left a message to have a supervisor call me back. He did call and offered no price adjustment. He said he would have the general manager call me. I have yet to hear from him. In summary, our drain was cleared but $450.00 is an absolutely ridiculous charge. I would only call Roto Rooter again if I had NO CHOICE in an emergency.

Julee G.

6/25/2015

First service tech showed up 1.5 hours after they said he would, then refused to do the work when my husband inquired about the price. They sent a different service tech out this evening (Jeff #1375) and he was excellent. Explained the estimate, offered a 10% discount, was efficient and tidy. Thank you!

Jamie R.

01/03/2015 12:00:00 SA

I am in zion il. I called roto rooter for a backup and they were out in less than 2 hours. Our service guy Danny did a fantastic job and help answer questions efficiently. I was very impressed with everything done. I will definitely be using them again.

Rick Z.

06/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

Technician Mike arrived on time and promptly began working on rodding out my main sewer line. He was able to effectively clear the blockage and recommended getting the line camera inspected just to be sure there wasn't something else going on in the line.. He did his best to try to find someone in the area but when that didn't work out he was able to schedule one at a time convenient for me.

Pam O.

12/23/2014

After reading a couple bad reviews about Roto Rooter I was a little leary about calling them. I had used them once in the past and had good luck then and didn't know what other plumber to call. I called, the woman that answered the phone was pleasant and helpful and had someone out that day. The man who came out was respectful of my home and got my bathtub unclogged with no mess - no fuss.

Karen I.

12/22/2014

Severely clogged drain on a Sunday morning !! Put a work request in on-line, within a half hour we received a call stating service would arrive within the half hour. They were right on time. Surveyed the issue, estimated a price and began working. Took about 2 hours, they fixed the problem, cleaned up the mess and the price was exactly what they estimated. No extra charge for weekend work, which is totally amazing to me. I would use them again ! Hopefully, I won't need to....

Dean C.

4/18/2013

I am a repeat customer and had drain work and ejector pump work done previously over an 8 year period. It was expensive but I have not had any problems with the work thereafter.
With the big rain on 4/17/13 I called at 7PM to schedule a sump pump replacement asking if they could come same evening (24/7 service). I as told by the dispatcher they are swamped with calls and said they could have a plumber out the next day between 10AM-1PM. Given the circumstance and moderate urgency of my issue I was okay with this time. The next morning the water had seeped and just about covered the entire basement floor. So, rather than go in to the office I exercised my option to work from home. Although dispatch called me every 1.5 hours since 9:30AM to notify me they were backed up and that a plumber would be free in the next hour it was only after about six calls from dispatch around 8:00PM that I was told they were running out of sump pumps! I knew this to be true as I called hardware stores as a standby. So, I finally put my LOUD ROUGH voice on, used a few choice words with the dispatcher (Jim C.) and a plumber was at my door step in 30 minutes.
If it were not for the plumber, Ariaion #601, I would be giving this service call 1 star. However, his professionalism and expertise was great. He was thorough, informative and efficient with the installation and he gave me the sense that a quality pump (Zoeller) was being installed - backed by a 1 year RR warranty on all parts and labor as well as the mfg's warranty. Again, it was expensive but given the previous work RR performed I believe it will perform and last better than what I could install.

The scheduling was very poor planning...I would like to think it was the demand of the area. It's a shame that I had to raise my voice and curse at the dispatcher to finally get service....should NEVER resort to that...

However, the actual service was excellent ad the plumber is not responsible for that...and in the end - this is the third good job RR has done. That is what my rating is based on. I am supposed to get a call from the area manager per the dispatcher to follow-up...we'll see...If I do, I'll send another rating with 4 stars.

K M.

03/08/2015 12:00:00 SA

Had a sewer line backup into the tub, and of course late on a Saturday afternoon. When I called they were very helpful, and offered to have someone out Sat. evening. I decided to have them out Sunday morning. Although the plumber, Kelly, was a bit later than my advance call said, he was polite and professional, explaining what needed to be done. I was surprised at the amount of roots that came out of the drain. I was glad that they could come out on the weekend to clear up the problem quickly, and saving us from having to take time off work. May be a bit more expensive, but is worth it for the convenience. KM in Wheeling, IL

Tiffany S.

2/21/2015

We called Roto-Rooter when our kitchen sink clogged because they are a national brand and well- this is what they do- clear drains. Silvano- the field manager came out- he was within the supplied time window and called ahead of time to say he was on his way. He was SUPER nice and personable. My jaw dropped at the cost of the service though- I told Silvano it was just too much- he told me he would work with us on the price and that they won't charge for the visit and come back again if we don't figure out how to clear it ourselves. Super sweet guy. Needless to say- we couldn't clear it ourselves- we called them again and they came back same day!!! Again- they called ahead. This time Jeff came. He got the job done in less than 45 mins. They have a 6 month guarantee which is awesome!
I only gave it 4 stars because the cost was astronomical. I would have given it 3 stars because the cost but Silvano was so awesome, he kind of made up for it a bit.

Plainfield, IL

Brendan H.

01/05/2014 12:00:00 SA

Plumber was not able to fix our issue. He charged us a 'discounted' $95 since he was unable to fix the issue. I called back for another plumber. The second plumber never showed up.

Susanne W.

7/16/2017

Our drain backed up in our basement shower. The drain is 8-10 feet from the ejector pump. I called my regular plumber, another regular plumber and a back-up that he gave me. None of the three were available. I actually hesitated to call Roto Rooter because I had heard they were quite expensive. I had no choice so I called. The representative that took the call was very professional. She scheduled a service call for within two hours. I asked what the charge was for a service call. She said Roto Rooter does not charge for service calls. They come out, assess the situation then tell you what needs to be done and give you a price to complete the work. You either OK it or not. The plumber was at our home in less than two hours. He looked things over and said we needed our drain rodded. He said it would be $469.00 but he'd give us a $19.00 discount. The actual rodding took about 10 minutes. The rest of the almost one hour was cleaning up, signing paperwork and paying. So for less than an hour to rod an 8-10 ft pipe, we were charged $450.00. Again, service was great but that price is OUTRAGEOUS. I called and left a message to have a supervisor call me back. He did call and offered no price adjustment. He said he would have the general manager call me. I have yet to hear from him. In summary, our drain was cleared but $450.00 is an absolutely ridiculous charge. I would only call Roto Rooter again if I had NO CHOICE in an emergency.

Julee G.

6/25/2015

First service tech showed up 1.5 hours after they said he would, then refused to do the work when my husband inquired about the price. They sent a different service tech out this evening (Jeff #1375) and he was excellent. Explained the estimate, offered a 10% discount, was efficient and tidy. Thank you!

Jamie R.

01/03/2015 12:00:00 SA

I am in zion il. I called roto rooter for a backup and they were out in less than 2 hours. Our service guy Danny did a fantastic job and help answer questions efficiently. I was very impressed with everything done. I will definitely be using them again.

Rick Z.

06/10/2015 12:00:00 SA

Technician Mike arrived on time and promptly began working on rodding out my main sewer line. He was able to effectively clear the blockage and recommended getting the line camera inspected just to be sure there wasn't something else going on in the line.. He did his best to try to find someone in the area but when that didn't work out he was able to schedule one at a time convenient for me.

Pam O.

12/23/2014

After reading a couple bad reviews about Roto Rooter I was a little leary about calling them. I had used them once in the past and had good luck then and didn't know what other plumber to call. I called, the woman that answered the phone was pleasant and helpful and had someone out that day. The man who came out was respectful of my home and got my bathtub unclogged with no mess - no fuss.

Karen I.

12/22/2014

Severely clogged drain on a Sunday morning !! Put a work request in on-line, within a half hour we received a call stating service would arrive within the half hour. They were right on time. Surveyed the issue, estimated a price and began working. Took about 2 hours, they fixed the problem, cleaned up the mess and the price was exactly what they estimated. No extra charge for weekend work, which is totally amazing to me. I would use them again ! Hopefully, I won't need to....

Dean C.

4/18/2013

I am a repeat customer and had drain work and ejector pump work done previously over an 8 year period. It was expensive but I have not had any problems with the work thereafter.
With the big rain on 4/17/13 I called at 7PM to schedule a sump pump replacement asking if they could come same evening (24/7 service). I as told by the dispatcher they are swamped with calls and said they could have a plumber out the next day between 10AM-1PM. Given the circumstance and moderate urgency of my issue I was okay with this time. The next morning the water had seeped and just about covered the entire basement floor. So, rather than go in to the office I exercised my option to work from home. Although dispatch called me every 1.5 hours since 9:30AM to notify me they were backed up and that a plumber would be free in the next hour it was only after about six calls from dispatch around 8:00PM that I was told they were running out of sump pumps! I knew this to be true as I called hardware stores as a standby. So, I finally put my LOUD ROUGH voice on, used a few choice words with the dispatcher (Jim C.) and a plumber was at my door step in 30 minutes.
If it were not for the plumber, Ariaion #601, I would be giving this service call 1 star. However, his professionalism and expertise was great. He was thorough, informative and efficient with the installation and he gave me the sense that a quality pump (Zoeller) was being installed - backed by a 1 year RR warranty on all parts and labor as well as the mfg's warranty. Again, it was expensive but given the previous work RR performed I believe it will perform and last better than what I could install.

The scheduling was very poor planning...I would like to think it was the demand of the area. It's a shame that I had to raise my voice and curse at the dispatcher to finally get service....should NEVER resort to that...

However, the actual service was excellent ad the plumber is not responsible for that...and in the end - this is the third good job RR has done. That is what my rating is based on. I am supposed to get a call from the area manager per the dispatcher to follow-up...we'll see...If I do, I'll send another rating with 4 stars.

Sheila L.

06/08/2016 12:00:00 SA

4 stars for the service provided by Vano in clearing our main line and being efficient & professional and for giving us a discount for problems that were created by the call service & local customer service representative. If I could rate the experience I had until Vano arrived I would give 2 stars, maybe 1 star. My initial call was taken by a call service and never submitted, but I didn't know that. After waiting 2 hours and 45 minutes I called back the number I had originally called by selecting recent calls on my phone, plus I had only called one company for service. I need to state this because when I gave my information to the customer service rep she asked if I had originally called their company. I was certain that I had. This and the fact that I had been waiting for no one to show up annoyed me. I was then told I would need to wait another 2 1/2 hours for a service call. Now I was even more annoyed. By now it was about 4:30 in the afternoon and getting another company out to clean my main line was going to be considered an emergency. With black sludge backing up on my laundry room floor, I needed the job done today. I was called back in a few minutes and told that I was now an emergency call (They do not charger extra for emergencies, fortunately) and would get service sooner. Curiously, when Vano was on his way over, the customer service rep called my husband, even though he had not been any part of the phone calls back and forth. I suppose she didn't want to deal with a customer who had been frustrated by her company's incompetence.

S G.

02/05/2014 12:00:00 SA

Rotor Rooter provided excellent service during this winter season. I had tree roots compromising my pipeline. I made the call and set-up an appointment for the very next day. Due to the extreme winter weather conditions, it took about 72hours from start to finish for the additional services needed to determine the severity of the problem.
Each rep that can out to the property was very helpful in explaining the issue and providing the solution for the next step. It was SO cold and the ground and pipes were frozen but they endured and got the job done and went above and beyond. It cost a pretty penny but it was worth every cent. My main concern was making sure that the tenants in the building could use the facilities. They worked as much as the weather would permit in that first visit to ensure that the tenants could use the facilities albeit limited. As a landlord I was relieved and very much appreciative.

Luke A.

11/13/2014

They were great to work with! I called for an issue with my kitchen sink and they were out in an hour and half. The service technician, Giovanni, was professional, kind, and knowledgeable. He explained the entire issue and solution before he began, and finished the work quickly. The issue was resolved, and he explained how to avoid the issue in the future. After he was completed, he took the time to ensure that there were no other issues that needed to be addressed. I really wish that all service technicians could be trained by him - he was amazing!

Charity H.

5/20/2014

I will never use or recommend your company. The customer service I have experienced here is poor and shameful. I asked the appointment setter how much it would cost to have a techincian to bring a camera out to my house she said it would be free I repeatedly asked and confirmed multiple times the service would be for free. I explained I know this type of service can NOT be free but again I was met with reassurance that the USE of the camera was free I stated right off the bat that I would not hire the company to do the plumbing I would be doing it on my own I just needed someone to come out with a camera. since the person on the other end repeatedly told me it was free I scheduled the appointment after taking half of the day off the technician never showed. I called the company and was basically treated like idiot. I was told that the conversation I had the night before about the use of the camera for free never took place. The Supervisor I spoke with wouldn't even give me his name. I find this company has poor customer service I am a contractor and I will make it my business that none of my customers or their families ever use your company.

Neal C.

11/08/2014 12:00:00 SA

I had Roto Rooter out for a routine sewer line clean out. I had the procedure done about 6 years ago with a local plumbing company for $600 for an emergency call.

I did receive an estimate from a different plumbing company this time for almost $800.

I made an appointment for an estimate on a Saturday. They called to say they were running early and could they come by sooner than scheduled. The plumber estimated the job for two lines to be cleaned out at $390. I agreed on the price and he started work at that time. I thought it was going to be just an estimate but since the price was good I gave them the go ahead. There was a lot of tree root blockage that he cleaned out but was not satisfied with the results. He called a field supervisor to come out with a camera to scope out the situation. We all three watched the live feed and I could see first hand what the issue was. The line was still filled with roots and needed further clean out. Overall he rotted the line 3 times until he was satisfied with the flow. Final cost was $434 including a Pipe Shield treatment solution I am to pour into the drain once a month. I'm not sure it was necessary but seemed like a good idea. A small upcharge for the camera and supervisor but it was worth it. The plumber informed me of an online $40 off coupon but gave me credit for it with out having to download the coupon.

Overall I was very satisfied with the price, service and understanding of the situation, possible solutions for future problems and very courteous plumber - Jimmy.

Thanks again for a great job. I would highly recommend them and will have them back in 18 months.

Lisa T.

3/31/2015

Tim #2508 completed the preventative removal of tree roots from our clean out. He was super professional, friendly, and clearly explained everything that he was doing and the costs involved. He took extra time to show me his findings & made recommendations for our next preventative treatment options. I booked the appointment on line (not a backup or clog emergency), received email notification of the time for the next day appointment. They called to say they would arrive within 1 hour & Tim was on time. Great company and great price. Friendly & helpful service.

MaryRita P.

11/14/2013

I had a problem with my sewer being plugged by tree roots. We have had this problem before and had to have the sewer routed every 2 to 3 years. I've become used to this. I used Roto Rooter the last time this happened and I must have been pleased with them because I decided to use them again. They told me they could be at the house within 2 hours or more which I was pleased with, they ended up coming within the hour.
The guy came and checked it out and quoted me $400 plus $100 to shut off the gas and move my dryer. $100?????????? As I mentioned I've had to have this done every 2 to 3 years before and have never been charged to move the dryer! I told him I would move it myself.
I do not have an outside clean out but this has never been a problem before. The guy told me he had to call someone with camera because he couldn't get thru to route. OK fine. It took over 2 hours for the guy to come with the camera. This guy said they needed a smaller camera. Since by now it had been 5 hours I asked them if they could come back in a couple of days since I had some place to be. We agreed they would come back two days later which they did.
He came with his 'smaller camera' and informed me this time he looked 'in the right direction' and would be able to do the job. It took him a little more than an hour to complete the job.

Mary Ann M.

3/17/2015

I called them because my kitchen sink was not draining. The first rooting was $400 and revealed a bigger problem with the drain connection. A second Roto-Rooter plumber came two days later and re-piped the drain, but charged $1500. The work is effective, but may not meet the local code in my suburb. And $1900, with no advanced price quote, is outrageous. Ironically, the sink faucet was leaking when the job was completed. I ended up calling another plumber.

D B.

5/27/2010

Called Roto Rooter to schedule repair of a bathtub faucet on the morning of May 27th. They promised they could have someone there between 6 and 8pm. I told them I needed it fixed today because I had renters moving into the unit tomorrow May 28th and they said it was no problem. I called at 6:30 pm to ensure they were still going to make it on time and they said that they would be there within the window. At 8:15pm I called back since they had not shown up and was told they were running a little late but not to worry. A little after 8:30pm I received a call telling me that the plumber was not going to make the appointment and there was nothing they could do for me tonight. I explained I had renters moving in the next day and that I needed it fixed today, they again said that the earliest they could reschedule was for tomorrow which was not satisfactory since my renters were moving in. Now its 8:30pm and I AM STUCK. My renters won't have access to take a bath....and tomorrow is the start of Memorial Day Weekend!

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE SOME BIG CORPORATION AND THEY ONLY HAD 1 PLUMBER ON DUTY TO SERVE CHICAGOLAND AND HE COULDN'T HELP ME?!?!? What a horrible company!

Chris P.

9/18/2014

Unfortunately it's hard to give them a review since they cancelled on me twice in one week, then sent me an e mail stating that I had cancelled them. I don't know how they stay in business if they treat people this way

Sean E.

6/15/2011

I had a drain clogged with mud at the base of an exterior stairwell. I knew the drain could be easily unclogged with a snake, but I didn't want to buy one or deal with renting one from HD. From the moment the serviceman rang the bell to the moment he left it was 30 mins. The bill was 380$. This included the proprietary 50$ drain cleaner solution. Not a good value. There was no skill involved in the service. You are better off renting or buying a snake. Shopping around would have made sense as well.

K M.

3/23/2009

I'm really not happy with them at the moment. I called them based on the good reviews here back in December fto fix my toilet, which had entirely stopped flushing but was running constantly (every 20 seconds or so, made a sound like it was sort of flushing. I do not in any way claim to understand what was going on). Needless to say, because I only had one bathroom, I was going to be at the mercy of whoever I could get out there on short notice. In a nutshell, they charged me $300 (yes $300!!!!!!!) to rebuild something in the tank. I really don't know what this involved and would normally put a lot more thought into a broken appliance and the repair. I chalked this up to being one of the downsides of home ownership, and as long as it was fixed, I was willing to just shut up and be happy. They were prompt and were able to come after normal business hours which was helpful (but then again, that adds to the cost- and for not being there all that long $300 seemed really steep to me)

However, a week or so ago, the toilet started to make a sound that is suspiciously similar to the sound it was making before (thankfully it at least flushes, but runs, and again starts making a weird noise and doing something with the water every 20 seconds-5 minutes). Of course, this started up again right after the 90 day warranty expired. I haven't tried calling them yet to see if they will still honor the warranty after charging me an arm and a leg to fix the problem only to have it basically come back in well under 4 months (this has dropped on the list of priority home repairs due to other things not working- again, LOVE home ownership :)). If they do I will revise accordingly, but at present, I'd say, find yourself a plumber you really trust and stick with him/her! (and pass suggestions my way!)

Vicki I.

8/26/2013

I received an email and a call from Roto Rooter apologizing for the length of time it took for them to get to my home for my service request. It didn't change the events that happened, but I do appreciate that they at least acknowledged the extra-long wait time.

Home O.

2/22/2013

We have had roto rooter come out a couple times for minor issues. then our basement flooded so we called them again. the guy that came immediately diagnosed the problem as the ejector pump. I made sure to tell him roto rooter is who replaced it for us just 6 months ago. So then he changed his mind knowing they would be held responsible for the flood and said he wanted to change his diagnosis to being the sump pump. this is not the only time the plumbers that were sent didn't know how to diagnose the problem. when i called customer service to complain and told them i was disappointed since our basement was flooded, the associate laughed on the other line. i would highly recommend to NOT call this company.

Sheila M.

08/12/2014 12:00:00 SA

Our tub was clogged Sunday night. I got up early and called roto rooters at 6:00am. We had a plumber at our door at 8:00 am. He was courteous, knowledgable and quick. We were able to take a shower and at work by 10:00 am. Unbelievable experience. Will always call them with our plumbing problems.

Lynne B.

1/17/2015

I had company coming and the sink in my upstairs bathroom was clogged so I called Roto-Rooter and they were there within a couple of hours, actually earlier then what I had been told. The technician Manny was very good and he did what needed to be done. THE PRICE TO UNCLOG A BATHROOM SINK WAS $400+ which is OUTRAGEOUS! Their work and technician were great but I would never use them again because of the difference in their pricing structure and those of other plumbers in my area.

Mister D.

7/28/2011

Don't use these guys! They are more expensive than other local plumbers out there. Their hourly rate is way more than a total job would cost with another company.

Gabrielle S.

01/05/2015 12:00:00 SA

My kitchen sink was clogged....something that has happened several times over the years. I had called Roto Rooter since I had used them several years ago. The clog was not deep and caused by usual grease build up. The technician was a the house for half an hour at the most. My bill was $465.00! I had a company come out two years ago and not only did they route out the clog but also reconfigured the piping under my kitchen sink....and the charges were half of what Roto Rooter charged. The work was fine but the charges were exorbitant. I will definitely call someone else next time this happens since I now know other companies would do it for half the price.

Ralph A.

01/04/2015 12:00:00 SA

Called on Saturday evening and the technician came out Sunday afternoon. A little late, but the tech quickly fixed the clogged drain and reattached all the fixtures. He did a great job of getting it taken care of quickly and efficiently.

Ken C.

12/20/2014

I got ripped off by these guys. The plumber came out and claimed to have rodded out my sewer line to the city connection. A flat out untrue statement -- He never even made it out of the house (I watched him the entire time.). They never did the work they claimed to and charged me $340. Unless they call me back and offer a refund, I'll never use them again.

Jeff W.

12/22/2009

I had a bathtub that constantly dripped. Had Roto-Rooter out and they were very prompt and nice but it took them 6 hours to fix this problem. After he had to go back and forth to the store he told me that if this part didn't work and the problem was different than he thought than he would have to charge me more than we agreed upon in the first place. He had to go back and forth to get new tools since the ones he had simply weren't working. It ended up finally getting fixed but after a long day my faucet is fixed and I am now $480 poorer than I was before all of this. $350 for labor and $130 for parts just for a dripping faucet!

Ken L.

5/19/2016

rip-off. $650 to clear two clogged drains. called a local plumber and they came out for $250. I mean, seriously????

Chad S.

9/25/2016

well, I have used black diamond before, thought i would try rotorooter to compare since my last sewer blockage clued me in to what i was dealing with my new home going forward. This time all i had was a plugged toilet, and i thought i would make sure it was not another tree root incident like the first time when water backing into the shower. the plumber was on time and okay, i thought his information was very basic took him less than 30 minutes of his time to free up the toilet. He had an issue with the sewer cap so we never confirmed if it was a partial blockage or just a toilet issue. My only gripe is plumbing companies need to start offering an hourly rate. $200 to stick a rod in the toilet seems kinda well unfair. the plumber however did tell me i can buy one for $50 at home depot...As far as my tree root issue, i know it will be something to deal with every few years. i was quoted ball park $400 to video cam the line, an additional $550/hour to hydro jet it...about $5,000 to use a sleeve on the line my sewer run is like 120 feet maybe?? which i guess would fix it without digging up the line? or around $10,000 for full line repair. Im thinking i will just buy the $50 rod to fix toilet blocks and maybe look into buying a sewer rooter machine and i can rod it myself once a year or something. the machine cant be that much, and there is no structural damage in the line just where the clay tile transition after the cast iron pipe ends the roots sneaking in the seams. Black diamond was cheaper and i felt more reasonable on the price although they should offer hourly billing also, not just flat fees...I hope in house plumbers read this review as the main companies are slacking in competitive pricing and there has to be room in this business to fix toilet blocks for less than $200 or i think black diamond was like $160.

Joelle M.

02/12/2016 12:00:00 SA

I would've written a really nice review about Kelly, my plumber technician who came to my house 2 days ago. Even after surpassing the 4 hour window of arrival by almost an hour and a half. Unfortunately, after Kelly had fixed my drain pipe going from my sub pump, kitchen sink, and out of my house that was leaking like a sieve...a new problem arose. I did some laundry last night and the noise coming from my kitchen sink was frightening! Every time the pump would go off in the basement, the water sounded like it was going to explode out of my kitchen drain! No worries, I thought. I called Roto-Rooter first thing in the morning to report my issue. They assured me that the problem would get fixed and someone would come out between 4pm & 8pm so I would not have to take another day off of work. Well, 4pm on the dot, I got a call to cancel my service request & rescheduled for the next day at the same time frame window. Kelly came by at about 5 pm. My husband was there to go over the details on a solution. When I arrived home, I was informed that to correct Kelly's mistake, we would have to pay an additional $300+ dollars! On top of our already outrageous invoice of $562 from 2 days prior!! ($500 in labor and $62 in parts..can you believe it?!) I refused to get involved as I just arrived home from work. As I left them to discuss options, Kelly informed my husband that women obviously don't understand plumbing like men do! HA! I don't know who this technician/plumber thinks he is but I refuse to deal with a business & employees that treat customers this way. Shame on your company for conducting your business in such a manner. I am very disappointed that I allowed my family to get raped out of $562 for your services. Horrible.

Toni S.

8/21/2014

This can't be real. I called this company again I don't know what was I thinking to give them a second chance. We called yesterday to set up for today and guess what they told your tech will be there between 10-12 next day which is TODAY 08/21/14 and at 11:15 am this morning they called me and told me that he will be late again which happen same bs last time I called and set this up. Last time was 2 days oh sir we running late will call you when he's done with the work is doing right now I guess that work was 48 hours I truly think this company is the worst of the worst I've ever deal with. I can't even think why I even try to give them a second chance but I thought everyone deserves a second chance but they just can't get right WOW.
The funy thing is they will call you after they messed up and tell you sir we are very very sorry about all this after you waste your day.
So here we go people our neighbor company KEEP WAITING THEY WILL COME ONE DAY OR EVENTUALLY

Sarah K.

5/24/2011

We are very pleased with the service that our plumber Mark #2976 provided for us with our septic drain. We were concerned when our drain was backing up onto our basement floor. We called Roto-Rooter on a Friday evening at 4:30 and had Mark out the next day at 8 AM. Mark is a great guy who my husband and I both felt was very friendly and knowledgeable about his work. He took care of our problem in about an hour or less. We will call him back in a minute if we have another plumbing problem without hesitation. Prompt, courteous, friendly, no complaints!

Vidal C.

10/05/2011 12:00:00 SA

Needed to install a check valve for the gas dryer we just purchased, plumber came out within the hour and had it done just as fast. Explained some things to us and even made the gas line shorter and hooked us up with a smaller valve so we can put the gas dryer closer to the wall

Linnea H.

07/02/2013 12:00:00 SA

I waited 7 hours for the Roto-rooter people to come out and give me an estimate. Then they had to reschedule me for another day. They said they couldn't give me an estimate over the phone and that they only charge by job, what a scam! When they did arrive, they quoted me $320 for a simple kitchen sink cartridge replacement (I even have the replacement cartridge) that every other company had quoted at $150. I also asked them about a leaky toilet, and to replace a washer and screw was going to be $195, I think not. Can't believe I wasted so many hours on this ridiculously over priced company. I told the guy I couldn't pay that much and he left. Still have to get the job done. Very disappointed. Don't even bother with Roto-rooter.

C T.

9/20/2013

We contacted Roto-Rooter for a clogged toilet. The individual that assisted us was very professional and explained to us the symptoms of a very clogged toilet where a plunger would not have helped. He also explained the working mechanisms within the back of our toilet were in good working order.

Dave B.

08/11/2015 12:00:00 SA

I first called on Thursday 8/6 to get my kitchen sink unclogged. I made an appointment for the same day and was told I would get a call 30 minutes before the tech showed up and he would be there between 5-6. I even got an email confirmation that my appointment was Thursday from 5-6. I was happy they could come so quick even though it wasnt an emergency. I rushed home from work and sat and waited. At 6:10 I had not heard from anybody so I called. Dispatch told me my appt was Friday 8/7 from 5-8. A 3 hour window was never discussed. Plus, I would have never made an appt for Friday cause I knew I would not be home after work. We ended up rescheduling for Sunday 8/9 between 8-10am. I woke up at 7:30 and waited patiently until 10. Again, no one showed up. I had things to do, which I could have started earlier in the day if I wasnt waiting. By the time I got home I called again at 3. Dispatch told me they had me down for the previous Thursday and the appt was canceled. I never canceled my 1st appt. I was going to cancel and go with another company but they said someone would be at my house within an hour. I agreed to let them come. Once, the tech came everything went fine. Very professional, didn't make a mess, cleaned up after himself, explained everything, and got the job done in less than 1 hour. SInk works great. I called on Tuesday 8/11 to speak to a supervisor to let them know what happened. I was offered $60 off for my troubles. I thought it maybe should have been more seeing as how my bill was $395. But I was somewhat pleased I got anything at all as I wasnt expecting much from a company that can not keep appointments. And now reading some other reviews it looks like I may have been overcharged. Some reviews say they were charged $295 for the same thing I had done. I was told there was no extra charge for weekends or nights but it sure looks like I was charged a premium. If you are thinking of making an appt with this company be prepared to waste your time waiting for someone to show and then get overcharged when they finally do show up.

Carolyn B.

6/25/2015

I had a real nice experience with Roto-Rooter out here in Skokie. I called around 2pm after another service was not able to help me. (To be fair it was where I bought a garbage disposal and thought that was the problem---they just don't do advanced plumbing). Despite the call late in the afternoon, late in the week (Thursday) they said they could be here in an hour and were! They were able to fix the problem, a clog, but also noticed a cracked pipe which they were able to replace while they were here as well. They were in and out in about 90 minutes which was great. My only issue is that it seems a bit costly. Though there was no extra charge for same day service, It was about $400 to undo the clog---and then strangely just under $50 for the new sink part, no labor was charged. There may be better deals out there if you shop around, but I was able to get someone in and out and the problem fixed and and another potential issue diverted in a span of 3 hours from phone call to finish. The technician was also very nice and tidy.

Julia L.

12/30/2014

We called on Saturday night after we were unable to get our only tub/shower drain flowing. We were told they would be there between 12 and 2 the next day. They were late, but we were called and informed that they were running behind so we didn't mind. When they got there we were notified that our pipe had a leak and that they would need to call out someone who replaced pipes (little did I know that there was a difference). They told us someone would come out that day. Well they did not. We were called and told that they wouldn't be able to make it out until Monday night. I guess emergency service means something different to everyone. Oh well. When Ricky showed up the next day he was amazing! He was in and out (a run to the store for parts included) in less than 2 hours. The price was very reasonable and he was super friendly. Plus we have a one year guarentee, I can't complain! I will definately use them again.

Susan S.

5/29/2009

I called Roto-Rooter when our kitchen sink was backed up. They came out first thing in the morning, fixed the problem, and made additional improvements (improved water pressure, etc.). The man who came out was very professional & pleasant. We had a great experience.

Gregory J.

11/27/2010

The plumber (#3665) was early, which was great. He showed up before the window of 2 hours allowed. Workers usually seem to show up near the end or after the window even if it is 6 or 8 hours.

David R.

1/20/2011

The guy that came was a really nice guy. he ust didnt seem that knowledgable. I ended up paying him $95 to do nothing essentially. Plus he didnt have th part that potentially could of fixed it with him...

Burt I.

5/30/2011

I knew I had a problem with my main sewer line (a rather disgusting matter and I won't go into details here). My regular plumber didn't answer my call (turns out he was on vacation) so I called Roto-Rooter on Memorial Day and had a plumber here within 3 hours. Andre was polite and professional. He rodded the sewer line and all is well. He did a thorough job with three passes with the machine and there is a six month guarantee. I highly recommend their service particularly if you have an emergency and can't wait. (Don't miss the coupon available on their website.)

Julie D.

3/23/2012

Don't use these guys!! They are WAY overpriced. They asked for $586 in order to rod our sink and shower! They are horrible!

Adam L.

7/31/2012

I just got work done this morning and they were quick to come out, quick to get the job done, professional, and the price was decent. They gave me a $40 coupon, which was nice. Overall, I was satisfied. Thanks

Ben A.

09/11/2012 12:00:00 SA

I contact Roto-Rooter for an estimate. I was serviced by Steve Tech#9802. He provided me with an immediate estimate and then serviced my facet during the same visit. Steve was professional and informative. I would highly recommend requesting Steve. Thanks, Ben

Sarah W.

12/16/2012

Roto Rooter was fantastic! The plumber called when we was on his way, showed up and gave me an estimate, and then unclogged my toilet in 30 mins! He was professional and knowledgable and I could not have been happier with my service. I also printed out the $40 off coupon on their website, which was nice! I would absolutely use Roto Rooter again!

Laura M.

02/08/2013 12:00:00 SA

We had a broken sewer line in the from of the house. The guy gave an estimate of 7200. I said i was going to get another estimate and he gave me an attitude and said i was so disrespectful for saying that in front of him. After we exchanged words, it look like he was going to get out of his car. So i went inside. Haha. I guess he knew why i was getting another estimate. It cost 1400 to fix from a local plumber. Total rip off.

Lorie L.

2/24/2013

Great experience. Had an issue on a Sunday, they were here within an hour, accepted the $40 coupon I found on-line, fixed the problem and were in and out. Super professional, very helpful and efficient. Even wore booties to keep my carpets and floors clean. Really happy with them and I won't hesitate to do so again!

Jason B.

10/19/2015

Kitchen sink not draining--original tech came out in March. Showed him the drain clean out in the basement. He rodded out only from the sink. Worked a little better for a couple of weeks but then stopped working and was worse than ever. Tech came again in June. Waited for the tech at noon, he showed at 3:15 and was at the house until 7:00. Told me that my first problem was that I owned a garbage disposal, and proceded to tell me that you can only put ketchup and barbeque sauce down the disposal. Showed him where the drain clean out was in the basement. He rodded only from the sink, did it a couple of times with no result. Told me I had a venting problem and should call another tech personally the next day. I called the next day, never receieved a call back. Being done with this garbage, I called a different plumber a couple weeks later. Plumber knew what I did, that the drain clean out in the basement needed to be opened and cleaned out from there. Fixed the problem in an hour. I did not receive a bill from the plumber until September. When I did, called roto-rooter for a refund to pay for the other plumber to come out (less than half the cost of roto-rooter). Was told no, that I waited too long. Like somehow this was somehow my fault! Horrible customer service, horrible techs with little knowledge.

S C.

03/02/2015 12:00:00 SA

Peter and Kyle came out to our house to add some hot/cold shut-off valves leading to a newly renovated space. These guys were extremely professional, looked at the larger picture and my future needs and offered some additional suggestions. I paid what I thought was a premium to get a licensed professional to perform this work; but in the end I've sorta rationalized the price because: 1) they were both clearly experienced 2) they cared about the workspace and were extremely careful walking thru the house and working in space - no garbage or debris was left behind, tarp was put down 3) they both communicated well 4) the job was done in approx 4 hours 5) the work seemed to be done right 6) they stand behind their work and given any issues with inspection they said they would come out and take care of it free of charge. This would have been 5 stars if the price were a bit more competitive - but great job guys.

Renee W.

02/02/2015 12:00:00 SA

We had issues at our home in Northern McHenry county on a Sunday night. I went online and scheduled a service call for the next morning. Due to my panic and disarray, I put in my telephone number incorrectly. I received and email early the next morning saying to please contact us we have been trying to call you. I called immediately and gave them the correct number. An hour later, I received a call that the tech was on his way. Danny was on my door step within that hour. He came in, asked me what the situation was and took a look at the plumbing lines. He was very thorough and explained what he would be doing and how much it would cost. He even gave me a coupon to use. He was quick, professional, knowledgeable and answered all my questions. This is A+ service in my book, and would recommend Roto Rooter to anyone having issues. It's great to see a company with the level of service that Roto Rooter offers. Job well done Danny!

Di G.

06/08/2013 12:00:00 SA

I needed estimate for new water service line to my house. RR guy called me and said that if he comes, the estimate will cost me $325 ! Not bad for a service that usually comes free... Imagine how much I'd pay for the water line install. No way I'll contact this company again.

Derrell D.

06/04/2015 12:00:00 SA

I called rotor rooter in Lombard because I had a lower level drain that would not drain and began running over. They advertised 24hours emergency service but advised me at 10:00pm they would be there tomorrow morning at 9:00am. Now I'm looking at a drain that is running over throughout the night trying to dump with buckets. The tech arrives and advises they have to remove the toilet to rod the system out and it's $595.00 plus parts. Advised them of access in basement that would allow rodding and not require toilet removal. The tech agreed to $295.00 charge for only rodding through this access area then another tech shows up later with camera for piping and line checks. The 1st tech seemed pretty honest and straight forward and offered a fair price for a professional service. The 2nd and 3rd techs seemed very eager to sell us a complete teardown and rebuild of the house. The bill given was for $495.00 not the $295.00 agreed upon with 1st tech. I explained this to the office manager later, who was not concerned and set on $435.00 that she stated is their set fee. Right !! 2 different prices also. I work hard for the pennies saved to take care of my family. But for a company that advertises a professional service that's actually not is just not right.

William D.

12/25/2014

This is the first time I have used their service. I had a clogged kitchen sink and called them in the evening on 12/23/14. They said they could have someone out the next day between 9am - 11am. They called before they came and arrived around 10:30 am. The service technician unclogged the drain in about 15 minutes. I was happy to see it working but I felt the charge of almost $500 was rather steep. About an hour later my wife called me because she said it was all wet under the sink. It was leaking around the connection to the disposal. I called and complained. They said the earliest someone could get out there was tomorrow ... Christmas Day. I asked to speak to a manager because I said that was not acceptable. He was on the phone and would have to call me back. He called an hour later and said someone was on the way. This was a different technician and he saw the leak right away. He took the connection apart, put in a new seal that should have been done the first time and fixed the problem. More stress than I needed during the holidays but they did make good on their promise.

archie t.

10/26/2009

Hello,
I called Roto-rooter on October 26th after attempting to do it myself. the receptionist was extremely courteous and even though they were running behind schedule they continued to follow-up with calls giving me an eta. Well I decided to ask other plumbers there prices after a friend said roto rooter was too expensive. some said $250 or even $100. Guess what those plumbers never showed up or called to confirm that they were running late. Well when the rotor man showed up I showed him the main sewer line and asked how much. He replied $375. I asked if there was a first time customer incentive, he replied $30. He came in and rodded my drain to the tune of 80 feet and then I asked about warranty. He said 30 days. Guess what I just learned the true meaning of you get what you pay for. WOWW! I'm totally satisfied with the value of the total service I received at my restaurant Blue Soul House Of Chicken and Waffles. And I wouldn't hesitate to use them again, even in tuff economic times reputation and service is everything. Thank You Roto Rooter!!!! Blue Soul

Jack D.

4/14/2015

I had a non-emergency issue and scheduled an appointment for a Friday at 5pm and got a window of 5-7pm. The dispatch office called me at 3pm asking if I was available now but I wasn't since I was at work which is why I scheduled it for 5pm in the first place. Not really a big deal I suppose but still strange to me why they would do that. 6:45pm rolls around and I get a call from dispatch again saying the guy won't make it out there and wants to reschedule for next morning, thankfully its Saturday and no work. Guy shows up on time, seems fairly knowledgeable, and rods the pipe. He did spend about 15-20 minutes on the phone after he was done with some other worker, complaining about their boss or something...not too thrilled about that since most of the $400+ dollar service is charged to labor. He also said that I would get a complimentary video inspection and that his field supervisor would call me to schedule a time, even wrote it down on my bill. Days go by with no call but thankfully no more issue with my pipe so the rodding helped. The next week I call asking about my complimentary video inspection and I am told that someone will call me within the hour to schedule a time. Two weeks later with no call I finally get time to call them back and I am told right away that they don't offer video inspection in my area and they don't know why the tech would have offered it to me. Long story short, they fixed my issue but scheduling issues and broken commitments left a bad taste in my mouth. Would not use them again unless they were my only option.

Mrs S.

2/17/2015

Today I had thee worst experience I've ever had in my life. I had a tech come and give me an estimate. They wanted over 400 dollars just to touch my bathroom sink. I flipped because they had me wait all day with no follow up or call at all. Finally someone shows up and when I asked for a discount. The guy said he would call a manager to get it approved. So he went downstairs and I was so shocked and sickened at the fact that his first words were hey these Niggers don't have no money!!! Omg what kind of company is this!!! The nerve of this guy common in our house and using those words towards us. He then came back upstairs and said he can only offer 40$ off. I nearly flipped out but I told him no and that he was lucky to leaving in one piece. This company is terrible at service and representation. Ban thus company from the south side . They have no place here with those attitudes. Horrible experience ever

Magaret H.

10/17/2012

Beware of the cost!!! Our kids slipped a washcloth down the bathtub drain and the tub started to back up. I called Roto Rooter and they came out and fixed the issue within 10 minutes. The problem? They wanted to charge me $380. Somehow we settled on $300 but after hearing friends tell me they had a plumber come for $90 for a similar issue, I wrote an email to the customer service rep. I got a call the next morning during which it was explained to me that Roto Rooter charges a flat rate of $380 just to come to your house. I wish I had read these reviews before I called -- frankly, I was home with three kids who needed a bath, the plumber was already there and I was stuck. I will never use Roto Rooter again for two reasons 1) the prices are astronomical and 2) I don't need a customer service rep to call me to explain that I should pay their fees because their plumbers are licensed, I need someone who can actually help resolve customer issues.

lynetta a.

09/04/2013 12:00:00 SA

Made an appointment with Roto-Rooter to be at my apartment this past saturday to check a leak in the ceiling of my bathroom and my upstairs neighbor's bathroom as well as a clogged bathroom sink. For one they wrote it up as a kitchen leak and a clogged kitchen sink. Well they sent someone out he was a drain specialist only so he couldn't do anything for my ceiling, which was bad because my neighbor moved their schedule around to be home Saturday, and Roto-Rooter didn't have anyone else to dispatch that day, so we had to reschedule for Labor Day, which turned out to be pretty good since the wait that day for a technician wasn't as long. Well the technician who arrived on Labor Day was named Edmundo. He was very professional, very thorough, and he showed up ready to work. I thought I would get an estimate for my ceiling leak only since I was quoted by the previous technician $253 to unclog my sink which i thought was steep since he couldnt help me with my ceiling, i was just going to call another company. Well in the process of Edmundo checking my upstairs neighbors bathroom my toilet overflowed which he promptly took care of after returning to my apartment along with unclogging my sink and tub. I was charged $198.00 which may be high but I had an emergency that needed to be taken care of. Edmundo was very honest and my neighbors seemed to really like him. He was very clear about projects he could do as a plumber and what specialist I should call for other work I may want to do in my bathroom. Overall I would highly recommend Edmundo and would probably request him again if only Roto-Rooter prices weren't so high.

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup