Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Plumber · Philadelphia, PA · Open 24 hours per Google listing
Our verdict
4.8★ across 3,850 reviews, but 2 of 5 sampled are 1-star — one documents sloppy vent install on a water heater, another a $948 toilet/sewer job left incomplete with toilet uninstalled.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Ranked #8 of 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Philadelphia, PA · compare all →
Our opinion, based on the 5 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.
Only 5 reviews analyzed — treat this assessment as a first impression, not a track record.
What reviewers praise
Sunday night 9pm emergency response confirmed: technician dispatched same night for backed-up sewer/toilet
1 cited review
“Roto Rooter sends a plumber to unclog my sewer drain at 9pm on Sunday, thankfully.”
Individual technicians praised for honesty and detailed diagnosis: Bobby educated customer on root cause; Chalana resolved snake-stuck-in-drain issue calmly
1 cited review
“Bobby came out to service my property and not only diagnosed the issue but also educated me on the root cause.”
Cited in 2 of the 5 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
Incomplete job + $948 charge: technician removed toilet, failed to clear drain, left toilet off, and departed — problem unresolved after $948 payment (later refunded $300 after review posted)
“Roto Rooter sends a plumber to unclog my sewer drain at 9pm on Sunday, thankfully.”
Red flag
Sloppy vent install on water heater left crooked and messy on front of house — reviewer had to repaint to improve appearance
“Terrible, sloppy vent install. Crooked, messy, and nothing like professional work. Very disappointing.”
Poor workmanship flagged: reviewer documented crooked, messy vent install on water heater described as 'nothing like professional work'
“Terrible, sloppy vent install. Crooked, messy, and nothing like professional work. Very disappointing.”
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 2 of the 5 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“UPDATE: After posting this review, Roto Rooter reached out and apologized and offered to send me back my $300. Thank you. I appreciate the accountability and response. I first want to say, before I say so many bad things about this company, that the two men I dealt with were very, very nice. Roto Rooter sends a plumber to unclog my sewer drain at 9pm on Sunday, thankfully. My toilet and sink are backing up into my …”
Positive
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Chalana from Roto-Rooter, and I can’t say enough good things about the experience. He did a phenomenal job from start to finish. My shower had a serious issue — there was a snake stuck in the drain, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Chalana handled the situation calmly, professionally, and with real expertise. He quickly diagnosed the problem, cleared the clog, …”
“Brian was great to deal with which is always nerve racking with most plumbers. He was honest, on point with pricing , had unlimited knowledge with how to address my plumbing issues. Easy going quick and no mess to clean up once done. I would highly recommend his services and Roto-Rooter.”
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
Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 3,850 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.
Newest review in our sample: Mar 2026.
Should you hire Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup?
Hire if
- You need fast same-day or after-hours response
- You need clear communication and upfront explanations
Think twice if
- You need predictable, consistent service across every visit
- You need rock-bottom prices with zero flexibility on the quote
- You need warranty-grade work on a complex or high-stakes install
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.
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Nearby: Moorestown · National Park · Philadelphia · Berlin