Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Plumber · Vallejo, CA · Open 24 hours per Google listing
Our verdict
Fast emergency response and solid workmanship, but pricing complaints are frequent enough to warrant budget caution—expect surprise charges significantly above initial quotes.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Ranked #5 of 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Vallejo, CA · compare all →
Our opinion, based on the 143 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated May 2026 · How we decide ↗
Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.
What reviewers praise
Exceptional emergency availability: multiple reviews praise same-day or rapid response to after-hours and weekend calls, including during holidays
2 cited reviews
“When no other company would even show up he did and cleared our drain.”
“Less than 30 minutes after arrival house is flushing like it should.”
Cited in 5 of the 143 reviews we analyzed — 3 cited reviews not excerpted here.
Skilled technicians: 6 reviews explicitly praise specific technicians by name for quick diagnosis, thorough work, and attention to detail
2 cited reviews
“Less than 30 minutes after arrival house is flushing like it should.”
“They carefully explained the problem and made sure we understand each step.”
Cited in 6 of the 143 reviews we analyzed — 4 cited reviews not excerpted here.
Clear communication: 4 reviews specifically mention technicians explaining work thoroughly and keeping customers informed
1 cited review
“They carefully explained the problem and made sure we understand each step.”
Cited in 4 of the 143 reviews we analyzed — 3 cited reviews 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
Deceptive quoting practices: 2 reviews explicitly report being told services were 'free' or promised one price, then charged fees not mentioned in initial phone conversation
Cited in 2 of the 143 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
Poor follow-through and accountability: 1 review describes a failed repair requiring two technician visits, water damage, refusal to refund overbilled amount, and owner unwilling to stand behind technician work
Cited in 1 of the 143 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
Unprofessional behavior under pressure: 1 review reports technician becoming 'belligerent' and slamming door when questioned about charges
Cited in 1 of the 143 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
No-show and scheduling issues: 1 review describes customer waiting full day for promised Thursday appointment with no arrival, then rescheduled to Friday with follow-up fees not disclosed upfront
Cited in 1 of the 143 reviews we analyzed.
Consistent pricing concerns: 5 reviews report final bills significantly exceeding expectations or initial quotes—ranging from $335 for a simple wax ring replacement to $750 for a 2-hour job to $2800 for a diagnostic on a water heater
“Wanted $2800 to tell what was wrong when new costs $700-$800.”
Cited in 5 of the 143 reviews we analyzed.
Discrepancy between quoted and final charges: 2 reviews report being quoted one price over the phone but charged significantly more on-site ($270 quoted, $390 charged; another $535 for a 20-minute job without clear upfront hourly rate disclosure)
Cited in 2 of the 143 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 7 of the 143 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“Unfortunately, I'm not able to recommend this business to anyone. Given the opportunity to make it right for $75, the owner refused. The first technician was unqualified, leaving the water turned on, resulting in flooding on the bathroom floor. After him not being able to fix it in two visits, a second technician came out, rigged the toilet with shower washers, and tried to charge us again. When he was advised …”
“The guy from Roto-Looter wanted $2800 to tell me what was wrong with the gas powered water heater, when a new one costs only about $700 - $800. This is in Fairfield, CA. And he said it will cost an additonal $800 to replace the defective water heater. If I were you, I would avoid them like plague. These guys have no conscience, morals or ethics. If only they could, they would charge you $100,000 to replace the …”
“If I could give negative stars I definitely would. I called Monday, for a leak. The city of Fairfield said I must have a leak since my water bill has been outrageous. It's jumped 4 times what I usually spend. The last bill being 1k. I believe his name was Mike, specifically said it's a FREE CONSULT. he said someone would be out Thursday. I work nights so of course I already new I had to adjust my schedule so I would …”
Positive
“Roto-Rooter Fairfield was extremely helpful, polite, courteous, clean, professional, and hard working. Chris and Marty are the best and did everything they could to fix the issue and keep the price down for us. Thank you very much for everything! They careful explained the problem to us and made sure we understand each step of the way. We have been customers for years and will continue to use this company for any …”
“Doug went above and beyond what anyone could expect. When no other company would even show up he did and cleared our drain. Me and my family will be forever grateful for the service we got from Doug and roto rooter. Thank you.”
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
Newest review in our sample: Feb 2026.
Across platforms
Google (4.4/5 from 243 reviews) significantly outpaces Yelp (2.3/5 from 58 reviews)—a 2.1-star gap. Yelp reviews concentrate pricing complaints, billing disputes, and accountability issues; Google reviews emphasize emergency availability and workmanship. Suggests customers satisfied with emergency service post 5-star reviews on Google, while those burned by pricing gravitate to Yelp warnings.
Should you hire Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup?
Best for
- Bathroom and kitchen remodel plumbing
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 need predictable, consistent service across every visit
- You need rock-bottom prices with zero flexibility on the quote
- You need detailed walkthroughs and written estimates before work starts
Look elsewhere if
- You're highly price-sensitive
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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