Christmas morning. My wife and I had just moved in to this house 3 days ago. We had guests coming that night. The top-rated plumbers on Yelp seem to all be off for the holiday. No hope to resolve my backed-up main which takes the sewage out. Then I decide to look up a company that was not as highly rated but whose name I knew: Roto-Rooter. Not only were they open, but they said someone could be there within 2 hours. I didn't care how long it took: they said they could get to me on Christmas Day and without charging me an extra holiday fee. That was a huge relief. The lady I spoke to on the phone did have to call me later and let me know that my plumber was running late. That was totally ok with me. It was Christmas Day, and they were going to be able to help make sure the sewage got out to the sewer. Mark arrived. He listened to our description and let us know what he needed to do in order to diagnose and possibly repair the problem. Then he got to work. He kept us informed along the way. The previous owners of our house had installed a stone walkway which required some adjusting work to be done on the main line out and the "clean-out." The main had been cracked and infiltrated by roots which had stopped all flow of solids in the main. Mark removed the roots, allowing our plumbing to work again. He then told us about 2 solutions for the future. We could pour a foam down the toilet which would deaden the roots at the crack for 6 months at a time. That was cheap and doable by either him or by us. The other option involved demolishing part of the stone walkway (which we didn't mind) and having him replace the damaged part of the main. That repair would have to be done at another time. Mark fixed the problem so that we had working plumbing. The cost for his services on that day were less than $300 and were well worth it. We plan to have the main fixed sometime in the next year, and will definitely call Roto-Rooter to do the work. If you need emergency plumbing repair, I recommend giving them a call. read more

Last week we had company and wouldn't you know, our kitchen drain backed up and unfortunately filled half the guest bathtub and guest bath sink. We have used Roto Rooter several times before and they are always our "go-to" for any plumbing needs. One of the things I love about Roto Rooter is their service on their phones and the way they call you when the tech who is driving to our location is 30 minutes out. They really know how to service the customers! Roto Rooter sent a Tech, Victor out the first day and I have never experienced a more dedicated plumber! Victor didn't have the exact tool needed to handle the problem but he was working on it non stop for several hours. He set it up for another Tech who did have the correct tools, to come to the house the next day. Tim arrived and again my husband and I were blown away from his patience, (I was pretty frantic by this time!) and knowledge of exactly what to do to unplug the stubborn clog. Tim worked on the drain for 3 hours and at one point I asked him if he would be able to fix it. Tim replied if he couldn't get it unclogged then no one could! After about another hour of non stop work, Tim tried another one of his methods and the drain cleared! My husband and I were so relieved! I cannot say enough about how wonderfully dedicated these employees are and were determined to get our drain unclogged. Roto Rooter will continue to be our service for anything drain, or plumbing. They should have 10 stars in my book! This Roto Rooter address is 2800 Longhorn Blvd, Austin, TX. Thank you Tim, Victor and Roto Rooter! MW Bastrop, TX read more

Saturday afternoon my toilet overflowed and back up into my bath tub. The person that I talked to on the phone was very nice and professional. They said it would be about 2 hours. They called back later to tell me there was a delay but that he would show up in about another hour. When the plumber was on the way that gave me a call to let me know that Tim was on his way. Tim arrived and took a look in the bathroom and asked if the water had been draining slowly (which it had). He said he suspected a clog in the sewer line and asked if I knew where it was or if he needed to look. I showed him right where it was and he confirmed that it was, in fact, the problem. After he cleaned it out he used his camera to see what was causing the blockage. He let me look in the camera and showed me that roots were the cause and he was able to use another device that pointed out where they were. Pretty cool! Anyway, Tim was very professional and friendly. He left a jug of pipe shield and told me how to mix it and use it once a week. He gave me his card and told me the work was warrantied and that if I had any problem to call him directly. I was very satisfied with the service and would recommend them in a heartbeat. read more

On Sunday afternoon , the last day of our spring break, we noticed a huge section of our front yard was soaked, and there was water running down the sidewalk. Our water meter was running like crazy. We looked for a plumber in the yellow pages who didn't charge for an estimate, was available 24/7, and didn't charge for a service call. We weren't sure if anyone would be able to come out on a Sunday afternoon. We called a plumber and he was not going to be able to come out until the next day! Then we called Roto-Rooter. Marc showed up in a short amount of time. He observed the area, explained the different options that we could take, and the fees for each option. We authorized the repairs and he got started. Four hours later, after digging in the mud, repairing the broken pipes, waiting for the connections to dry, and filling the hole back up, Marc finished the job. It was already dark and he was still as friendly as when he arrived. He explained the charges again. We will definitely use the company again if the need should ever arise. A stressful situation was made much easier by prompt, courteous, service! Thank you Marc! read more

I'm not sure what happened for all the bad reviews, but my service was great. We had already had two other companies come out to give estimates to replace the water heater in the attic and both had talked about how difficult it was and all the problems with the city of Austin and what a mess it would be to get it down from the attic. These guys came great attitude, on time, the attic wasn't a problem, nor was Austin. They were the only ones who suggested letting the old water heater sit in the attic for 30 days to dry out so as to not make a mess and rhen they would come back and get it that way they wouldn't mess up our bamboo floors. Their price was just slightly higher then the lowest bid, but I'm glad we went with them. They got here the next day, got the job done, even did the city required hose bibs and it was great. They are coming in a couple of days to pick up the old one. I really think these guys were great! And they didn't treat me like I was a stupid woman, which I'm not, which is why we didn't go with the low bid. And I'm now so glad we didn't. Thanks guys for the work. read more

Great First Experience with Roto-Rooter! Since plumbers have a reputation about on par with lawyers and politicians, I didn't have high expectations, but I had read some good reviews. I read that several people had been especially impressed with Marc Ramirez, so I requested him. Everything about the service call was perfect. Marc was polite, friendly, efficient, and cleaned up before he left. He explained the rationale for his recommendations and found a way to do the pricing that was advantageous to us and even gave me a better discount than coupon I found online, so now I can keep it for my next service call. Marc is great at what he does, has a great attitude, and has truly excellent customer service skills. I signed up for a program where you automatically get assigned the same service technician for any future visits, which is a big plus. I normally avoid the big names with service companies because I feel like just a number and prices tend to be higher, but my first experience with Roto-Rooter couldn't have been better. read more

We had a underground drain pipe outside the house going to the septic tank with a root grown into it that had prevented water to drain from the house. In both bathrooms, water overflowed the toilets. RotoRooter came that night (Friday) to fix the outside problem. Since water had gone under baseboards & walls & on some carpet, a water restoration team was sent on Saturday (the next day) to begin clean up. Marc Torres did a remarkable job in knowing what to do & explain to me what needed to be done and why. Before he left that night, he set up heavy-duty floor fans, a humidifier & an air flow filter. He checked the moisture gauge when he returned on Monday. It was great that the restoration team took away the wet baseboards, carpets, drywall which had to be cut up 12 " in the wet areas. Marc will return again to test the moisture gauge before we have the repairs begun. I am very pleased with RotoRooters 24/7 service and again commend Marc Torres for his expertise. read more

I initially had another plumber to check out my broken gas water heater. I got two replacement quotes, which seemed to me outrageously expensive. I also got a quote for repairing the existing gas water heater, with a price that also seemed to be very high to me. Anyway, had the plumber explained the repair or replacements clearly for me to fully understand the situation, I would have asked that plumber to complete one of the options. I paid $35 for the plumber to do the diagnosis. I then called Roto-Rooter to get a second opinion on my gas water heater. The diagnosis was free of charge. The plumber explained to me clearly the steps for repairing the water heater, at a very reasonable price. I am very happy for what Roto-Rooter and its plumber have done to repair my water heater. They carried out their work in a timely fashion. Their plumber is technically sound. I can recommend Roto-Rooter with confidence if any of my friends has a plumbing job. read more

As it says, as good ad it gets. Pablo came within a couple hours of our plugged sewer line, Roto-Rooted it and gave us an initial diagnosis of the problem. Brandon came a few days later and re-diagnosed the problem and gave us an excavation proposal. Two days later Jerome arrived and re-scoped the line, excavated (very precisely--like micro surgery) replaced a section of the pipe, filled in the hole, all with very little evidence that the procedure had occurred in out front yard. Again, as it says, AS GOOD AS IT GETS (and I might add--EVEN BETTER) All involved were very professional, competent, friendly, from the front office people, to the front line guys. A very pleasant experience for a very unpleasant situation you might say. Don't hesitate to give the professionals a call and keep them onboard for the duration of your problem. hugh strawn, georgetown TX read more

We were out of the country and the City of Austin notified us that we had a major water leak...losing 259 gallons/hr. Yikes! There were no visable signs of a leak inside or out. We called one plumber that said they had leak detection equipment but he really didn't do anything but walk around the house and do the hot water test. (I could have done that). Called one company and it was a week before someone could come out. We had already been a week without water. Called Roto-Rooter and they came that day. Jose was great and they located the leak within the 2-hour window they allowed for the initial charge. The best part is they fixed it also. The other company will only detect the leak....no fixing of the problem. I am a Realtor here in Austin and would highly recommend Roto-Rooter to anyone with plumbing or leak problems. Way to go guys! read more

Had an issue with clogged toilet. Called Roto-Rooter and was pleasantly surprised they could have someone at the house that day. The technician (Shannon - # 2649) showed up at noon. After several hours trying to resolve the issue, it was still an issue. Shannon called for back up and two more technicians arrived with fiber-optic camera. Located the problem and after several more hours the issue was resolved. Total time on site - six (6) hours. Shannon handled himself in a very professional manner and was determined to complete the job. We were super impressed with his work ethic. Cleaned up area afterwards. Our cost was based on completing the task, not the number of hours on site. Very impressed!! Would recommend to friends and family if ever needed. Would also request Shannon again. Great job, Roto-Rooter! read more

5 stars are for the awesome Ken Sessom!! He's the drain expert but he also generously helped me out on the side for a plumbing issue with my toilet and gave me honest and straightforward facts for my estimate and diagnosis of my drain/pipe issues in my kitchen. Roto-rooter's rates are definitely ridiculous like the rest of the reviews claim (that's why it's 4 stars) but Ken was thorough in double checking the correct information and told me the real deal with my situation. Additionally, he examined, explained, and fixed the issue with my toilet on top of his original purpose for coming, within half an hour. Thanks to him, I had an overall pleasant, no-bs experience. I recommend him to help you with any of your issues because he was the kindest and most helpful plumbing/drain technician I've encountered yet!! read more

Somehow my first review got lost in the ether, so I am rewriting it. I called RR early on a Monday morning and got an appointment later that same day. Richard called to announce his pending arrival and he showed up within the designated time frame. He quickly diagnosed the problem with the toilet, which was running and leaking at the valve. I could live with the price, so he proceeded with repairs. He wasted no time--I know because I stayed down there watching the whole time. When he finished he tidied up and disposed of the broken parts and other debris in his truck. After I paid the bill, he went downstairs one more time to make sure everything was working properly. And he generously answered my questions about behaviors and noises of other (ancient)commodes in the house. read more

Roto-Rooters Plumbers" May 31,2010 - We were very skeptical to call a plumber on Memorial Day, even Roto-Rooter who claimed to not charge extra for holidays and offered a free estimate. After 2 days of not being able to do dishes or laundry, we decided to call and we are so glad we did. David, tech # 192-315, arrived just 45 MINUTES after we called and was absolutely awesome. He went above and beyond the call and it was clear he truly cared about doing a great job. He used the camera to find the blockage and made sure we were flowing better than we ever have since moving in 5 years ago. He had given us a reasonable estimate before starting the job and charged us exactly what he quoted. We were expecting it to be much more on a holiday. I would highly recommend Roto-Rooter. read more

I had a leak from a copper line embedded in the beam along side my garage. I called two other firms and they were booked about three to five days ahead. Roto-Rooter showed up on about two and a half hours. Jose Rodriguez showed up and quickly discovered the cause. After digging a small exploratory hole he could not locate the outside "Y" connection to the hose bibb. He arranged for tech support with an electronic finder. Three techs were on the job and the pipe was found and connected to a new outside hose bibb. The connection was under a Sago Palm and I cut it off right above the ground so they could work. Great service from a knowledgeable crew. This company has the skill and resources to get the job done in an expeditious manner. read more

I had my water heater go out one morning and Roto-Rooter was able to come out the same day for repair(s). The technician, Lenny, was amazing! He was on-time, courteous, articulate, and very knowledgeable. The parts that were needed were located +20 miles away from my home and Lenny gladly offered to go pick-up the parts...during rush hour! I doubt many people would have been thrilled to do something like that at that particular hour, but Lenny didn't seem to mind it and was more than willing to do it. Now, everything is up and running smoothly. All-in-all, my experience with RR was spectacular! I hope I won't need to call them again, but if any plumbing issues arise in the future, I definitely won't hesitate to call them again. read more

I had a persistent drainage issue in the master bathroom. Oscar came over and I explained to him that we had attempted to fix this before by putting a snake through the pipes from the clean-out under the sink. But the problem kept coming back. Rather than trying the same approach, he went in with a camera from the outside, and showed me the exact source of the problem. He then put the snake through from the outside and cleared everything out. To give me the confidence that we got it this time, he went back in with the camera and showed me that everything was now clear, both underneath the house, and all the way to the city drainage line. Great service, and very professional. I would give him more than 5 starts if I could :-) read more

Fantasic. Omar was wonderful. I had called about my root/drain problem, and called three different companies. Roto Rooter wasn't the first to show, so I canceled. The first company couldn't make it work, and that was a bad 200.00 lesson. Roto Rooter was late getting there, but then I was scheduled on a busy Friday evening. Shouldn't have canceled my earlier appt. He did great work, including putting root killer in my drain, and guaranteed his work for 6+ months. To have him do this, late on a Friday night, and save me 1000 dollars to put a new pipe in so close to Christmas, I am grateful. I will eventually have to put that pipe in, but waiting until spring is a Godsend. Definitely will use them time and again! read more

Following my conversation with Mr. Jim Bozarth (Regional Dispatch Manager, Roto-Rooter) I called Roto-Rooter as well as an alternate firm to install a pressure reducing valve (PRV) on our main water line. (The local water district upgraded infrastructure, and so we now require this.) The teams from both firms arrived as scheduled and provided detailed estimates. I opted for Roto-Rooter based on prior history (the immediate past event notwithstanding.) The Roto-Rooter team was very professional, and they completed the installation and tested the pressure in 90 minutes exactly as they had promised. They left the area where they had worked clean. Based on this experience I recommended Roto-Rooter to my neighbors. read more