Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Plumber · Fresno, CA · Open 24 hours per Google listing
Our verdict
4.8★ on 460 reviews but 28% negative sentiment in sampled 100 — fast_response=18 and professional=41 in positives, offset by 7 slow_response, 7 expensive, and 2 surprise_fees complaints.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Ranked #14 of 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Fresno, CA · compare all →
Our opinion, based on the 100 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated Jun 2026 · How we decide ↗
Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.
What reviewers praise
fast_response=18 in 100 analyzed reviews; same-day service on Saturdays confirmed in at least 2 reviews including an after-hours emergency
1 cited review
“We had a Saturday emergency of a clogged toilet. I contacted Roto Router and their Tech Sammy was here within a hour. He was one of the best professionals we have had in our home, very efficient and did not give up because our fix was a little complicated.”
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
Technicians praised for explaining issues and not upselling — Enrique C. noted specifically for 'no upsell' approach
Cited in 2 of the 100 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
1-star review cites CSLB licensing lapse in multiple CA areas; reviewer paid $1,850 and alleges unlicensed work exceeded legal $500 cap
Cited in 1 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
Rude technician cited in 1-star review; reviewer felt 'uncomfortable in my own home'
Cited in 1 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
7 slow_response mentions in 100 reviewed; one reviewer waited a week after initial visit before giving up entirely
“We called and they came out. Said the boss wanted to come see for himself so they scheduled for him to come. They called and never showed up again. Has been a week and haven't heard back from anyone.”
expensive=7, surprise_fees=2 in 100 reviews; one reviewer was charged $890 for a repair that leaked again days later
“They came nearly 4 hours late to their appointment with me, without calling me and warning me. Their costs for the two things I needed repaired were outrageous. I have since called another plumber charging about $400 less.”
Cited in 3 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 5 of the 100 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“I took the day off to do a simple drain snake. Called at 10AM. Was given an appt window of 1-5. Called at 4 to make sure they were still coming. Scheduler said technician would call within 10 min to update. No call. I called back at 4:45. Scheduler said they could be there by 7PM. Had to make another appointment for following day.”
“I just read on the CSLB that Roto Rooter is no longer licensed in several areas of Calif and in the areas where they actually sent me a technician. I paid $1850.00 asked for a detailed bill on the charges and only received an invoice that stated what I paid. And that was with a $200 or $300.00 dollar Senior discount. If the contractor you hire is unlicensed, 1st,they must tell you, and 2nd. they cannot charge …”
“My main sewer line has backed up 3 times in one year. On October 1 they came and unclogged the line for the second time. They were back on November 2 because it was backed up again. They finally took the time to look deeper and found tree roots in the pipe. They immediately tried talking me into paying for a whole new pipe, over $6500. I asked them to send over the estimates and they left. I started researching and …”
Positive
“It was an after hours emergency situation where we had no toilets or water use due to a tree root entanglement that resulted in a back up and blockage of our line. James F. showed up and quickly assessed the situation and cleared the line making it possible to use our water until they could fix everything a couple days later. He set everything in motion and was so comforting and so knowledgeable that I felt …”
“We had a Saturday emergency of a clogged toilet. I contacted Roto Router and thier Tech Sammy was here within a hour. Her was one of the best professionals we have had in our home, very efficient and did not give up because our fix was a little complicated. He helped to make sure the costs did not get out of hand and cleaned up really well before he left. Roto Rooter as a company appears to do well at hiring and …”
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
Should you hire Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup?
Hire if
- You need high-quality work that holds up over time
- You need fast same-day or after-hours response
Think twice if
- 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
- You need this for a complex or high-stakes install
Advice derived from the review analysis above — how we decide.
Own Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup?
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