Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Plumber · Lake Zurich, IL · Open 24 hours per Google listing
Our verdict
4.7★ on 8462 Google reviews but analyzed sample shows 69 of 100 reviews as 1-star with 73% negative sentiment; surprise_fees flagged 12 times and expensive flagged 14 times across the analyzed set.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Ranked #13 of 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Evanston, IL · 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
24/7 availability confirmed — picked up and dispatched on Sundays and during emergencies when no other plumber answered
2 cited reviews
“I called in the morning and they were at my house within an hour. The whole process was smooth and stress-free.”
“They initially quoted me $250 to snake the drain but had me sign a form saying the cost could go up to $2,500. It ended up costing $750 just to snake the drain. A few hours later, I got a call saying they found another issue that would require a $13,000 "temporary fix" or a $17,000 "permanent fix".”
Fast dispatch: called in the morning and arrived within 2 hours per 1 review; within an hour per 1 review
1 cited review
“I called in the morning and they were at my house within an hour. The whole process was smooth and stress-free.”
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
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
Surprise fees are systemic: 12 of 100 reviews flag undisclosed charges; management confirmed $720+ flat rate as 'standard' after the fact per 1 review
“Called them for a simple sink clog/stopage. The tech cleared it in about 30 minutes, nothing complicated. Then came the shock: a $720 "service fee" that was never mentioned on the website, never shown in the confirmation email, and never clearly told to us before starting. On top of that, they pushed an extra "DCP" charge of $93, plus tax, bringing the total to $822 for a half-hour job.”
1 more cited review
“They initially quoted me $250 to snake the drain but had me sign a form saying the cost could go up to $2,500. It ended up costing $750 just to snake the drain. A few hours later, I got a call saying they found another issue that would require a $13,000 "temporary fix" or a $17,000 "permanent fix".”
Cited in 3 of the 100 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
Red flag
Work performed without authorization: did $3,300 job while homeowner was away, wife present, charged without owner approval per 1 review
Cited in 1 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
Failed workmanship requiring return visit: ejector pump replacement failed the next day causing twice the original damage per 1 review
“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.”
Pricing is consistently flagged as excessive: $720 flat fee for a 30-minute sink clog plus $93 DCP fee totaling $822, with fee structure never disclosed upfront per 1 review
“Called them for a simple sink clog/stopage. The tech cleared it in about 30 minutes, nothing complicated. Then came the shock: a $720 "service fee" that was never mentioned on the website, never shown in the confirmation email, and never clearly told to us before starting. On top of that, they pushed an extra "DCP" charge of $93, plus tax, bringing the total to $822 for a half-hour job.”
Mid-job price increases documented: quoted fixed rate then raised by $400 after work started, citing foreseeable complexity per 1 review
Cited in 1 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
“If there was a way to select 0 stars that's what I would rate this company. My mom called them to do some water restoration after a thunderstorm impacted her sump pump and she had some water in the basement. Someone from the Schaumburg office came out to her home and before even doing anything wanted to see her home owners insurance. Once he saw it then he stated his sales speech. His top team was sent to clean up …”
“If you're considering Roto-Rooter, do not hire them. My experience has been a nightmare. It started before Memorial Day when I had a plumbing emergency. While doing laundry, water began coming up around my toilet base and through the tub. Roto-Rooter was the only company open 24/7, so I called them. They initially quoted me $250 to snake the drain but had me sign a form saying the cost could go up to $2,500. It …”
“I honestly wished I read the Yelp reviews before I reached out to Roto-Rooter. Silly me for thinking a big business would actually have good process and people. As others have said, they subcontract out their work. Someone named David in an unmarked white van arrived. We had an odor coming from our sump pump. He promptly told me that our sump pump needed to be replaced. I almost fell for it too because he was …”
Positive
“The service was AMAZING!! They were fast prompt and professional. I wasn’t expecting such an excellent service, but I got more than I bargained for. They were so informative and even gave me tips on how to move forward with better care for my plumbing system. I will definitely be using this service again. I am very pleased with my results. The two gentleman need to be recognized for such an awesome job. Great work …”
“Great! Khaden came out in about 2 hours. He displayed exceptional customer service. Khaden listened, examined, recommended service, and completed service. Khaden appeared to have a high level of expertise. He recommended action for reducing/preventing clogged pipes. Initial issue was slow draining water, leading to leaking.”
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: Jan 2026.
Across platforms
Google 4.7★ across 8,462 reviews but analyzed Yelp sample skews heavily negative (69 of 100 analyzed = 1-star). Likely reflects that only dissatisfied customers leave detailed Yelp reviews.
Should you hire Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup?
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 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?
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.