Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Greater Baltimore
Plumber · Baltimore, MD
Our verdict
Responds within hours even on holidays and delivers solid workmanship, but pricing runs 30-100% above competitors and communication breaks down after the sale.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Ranked #15 of 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Baltimore, MD · compare all →
Our opinion, based on the 155 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated Jun 2026 · How we decide ↗
What reviewers praise
Emergency response speed: 6 reviewers praise same-day or next-morning arrival, including holiday service on New Year's Day and Thanksgiving.
1 cited review
“called me within minutes, out here the very next morning”
Cited in 6 of the 155 reviews we analyzed — 5 cited reviews not excerpted here.
Workmanship quality: 8+ reviewers describe thorough, professional repairs with attention to testing and cleanup before departure.
Cited in 6 of the 155 reviews we analyzed.
Team professionalism: Multiple reviews highlight courteous, knowledgeable technicians (Rich Bush, Wayne, Roland, Umesh) who explain work and answer questions.
Cited in 4 of the 155 reviews we analyzed.
What reviewers report — the concerns
Other directories bury these. We think you should read them before you call. Every concern below comes from the reviews it cites.
Red flag
Contract/scope disputes: 1 review alleges company refused to honor $12,800 contract and failed to replace upstairs piping as agreed.
“Refused to honor $12,800 contract, didn't replace upstairs piping.”
Red flag
Owner conduct issue: 1 detailed review describes branch owner 'Fran' yelling aggressively, hanging up on customer, and leaving reviewer feeling threatened during a service dispute.
Cited in 1 of the 155 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
Job site cleanup: 1 review reports concrete waste and aggregate left in street/sidewalk after work.
Cited in 1 of the 155 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
Property damage mishandling: 1 review documents drywall damage during water heater installation met with rude manager response ('Why did you wait so long?') and complete lack of follow-up despite multiple emails.
Pricing significantly above market: 4 reviewers explicitly note costs as 'higher than anticipated,' 'high,' or 30-40% above other estimates ($600 vs $150-300 for same service).
“called me within minutes, out here the very next morning”
Cited in 4 of the 155 reviews we analyzed.
Communication failure post-service: 2 reviews document unresponsive service managers—one with 5+ unanswered calls after a $1,000 failed repair; another manager hung up mid-conversation and never replied to follow-up emails about property damage.
“$1000 repair didn't fix problem; service manager never returned 5+ calls.”
Inconsistent follow-through: 1 reviewer reports work was incomplete (kitchen sink still clogged after hydroscrub) and unresolved despite payment.
Cited in 1 of the 155 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 8 of the 155 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“I contacted a few different plumbers to get estimates. Mr. Rooter was the 3rd estimate I got. Two techs showed up and I immediately got a bad vibe. I asked them in and the lead tech was very awkward and seemed shady. The second tech didnt say a word. I told them my kitchen sink needed to be snaked for a clog. The lead tech asked to take a look at my pipes in the basement. I'm thinking to myself what for?? He looks …”
“Mr. Rooter (dba Reliable Expert Plumbing) Technician came and replaced water heater. The work was fine but he gashed the drywall in our stairwell with the something. It wasn't noticed before installer left and when it was noticed later, the manager who answered the phone rudely asked "Why did you wait so long?" (It was less than a week later) The water heater went out the day before my wife and I traveled …”
“If you are desperate to have a plumbing emergency fixed please DO NOT CALL THIS COMPANY. We called this company hoping they could come out quickly to inspect a clogged bathroom drain on (8/19/20). The technician never even told us his name. He immediately diagnosed the problem as a clogged sewer line without even inspecting our toilet or pipes. He told us it would be $579 to snake our line and that he would have no …”
Positive
“Rich came out to repair my shower nozzle and did a fantastic job. He was polite, very knowledgeable, and took the time to explain exactly what the issue was and how he fixed it. The repair was quick, the price was great, and everything is working perfectly now. I really appreciated his professionalism and would definitely recommend him to anyone who needs a reliable plumber. 👍🚿🔧”
“Absolute expediency and professionalism. Found on Thumbtack, Mr. Rooter called me within minutes of my request for servicing a defective toilet flange. My technician, Rich, was out here the very next morning to diagnose the issue and then the morning after that to make the repair. Rich even took a look beyond the immediate fix to ensure there wasn't a larger issue that needed to be addressed. All in all, I am …”
Quotes are reproduced verbatim from public reviews on the platforms shown; we select which to feature, and selection reflects our editorial judgment. Report a quote that doesn't match its source ↗
The rating picture
Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.
Newest review in our sample: Mar 2026.
Across platforms
Stark divergence: Google 4.8/5 (1404 reviews) vs Yelp 2.6/5 (71 reviews). Yelp concentrates older, service-failure complaints (2018-2020) including contract disputes, unresolved work, and owner hostility; Google shows recent 5/5 reviews emphasizing speed and workmanship. Suggests company may have addressed some issues or Yelp attracts dissatisfied customers with larger disputes.
Should you hire Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Greater Baltimore?
Hire if
- You need fast same-day or after-hours response
- You need high-quality work that holds up over time
Think twice if
- You need predictable, consistent service across every visit
- You want detailed upfront explanations
- You need rock-bottom prices with zero flexibility on the quote
- You need airtight scheduling and guaranteed arrival times
Look elsewhere if
- You're highly price-sensitive
Advice derived from the review analysis above — how we decide.
Own Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Greater Baltimore?
You can respond to our analysis, correct business facts, or dispute the accuracy of a quoted review. Responses that check out get published on this page, and factual errors get corrected — see our corrections policy. We don't remove accurate quotes, but we'll re-run your assessment as your reviews change.
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Nearby: Baltimore · Pikesville · Annapolis Junction · Arnold