Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Humboldt County homeowners dealing with mold after plumbing failures or flooding who want one company to fix the leak and handle remediation under one roof.
Best for
- Humboldt County homeowners who need mold cleaned up after a plumbing failure — burst pipe, sewer backup, or flooding — and want the same company to fix the source and do the remediation.
- Situations where you need someone on-site fast, including nights, weekends, and holidays, because they dispatch around the clock.
- Property owners who want insurance documentation handled as part of the job — they photograph, log, and report directly to insurers.
- Commercial properties (restaurants, hotels, offices) dealing with water damage and mold that need a single contractor for the full scope.
- Homeowners in remote Humboldt County communities like Garberville, Willow Creek, or Bridgeville where few mold remediation options exist — though expect a hefty travel fee.
About this company
Roto-Rooter in Eureka operates as an independent franchise under Dane and Angela Grytness, headquartered at 605 Harris St. Their primary identity is plumbing and drain service, but they also handle water damage restoration and mold remediation. The mold work falls under their water damage division — they position it as a continuation of water cleanup rather than a standalone service.
The thing that sets this location apart from mold-only companies: they fix the plumbing problem that caused the moisture in the first place. Their mold remediation page describes IICRC-trained crews using HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and antimicrobial treatments. They also handle contaminated material removal, documentation for insurance claims, and source detection with plumbing repair. For someone whose mold grew from a burst pipe or sewer backup, that single-company pipeline from leak fix to mold cleanup to dryout is genuinely useful.
Roto-Rooter has operated nationally since 1935. The Eureka franchise covers all of Humboldt County — from Garberville in the south to Orick in the north, including Arcata, Fortuna, McKinleyville, and about 30 smaller communities. They dispatch 24/7, 365 days a year.
4.7 stars across 618 Google reviews is a strong rating for a high-volume service company. The volume alone means they handle far more calls than any mold-only outfit in the area. But the reviews tell a split story: technicians earn praise while pricing draws sharp criticism.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Eureka, California at 605 Harris St. Covers all of Humboldt County including Arcata, Fortuna, McKinleyville, Garberville, Trinidad, Willow Creek, Ferndale, Rio Dell, Blue Lake, and about 25 other communities. One reviewer was quoted a $586 travel fee from Eureka to Garberville (about 65 miles south), so outlying areas carry significant surcharges.
Review consensus
Technicians earn praise by name even in negative reviews. Chris (also listed as Chris Livingston) appears in six or more positive reviews for water heaters, sewer work, and drain clearing — described as informative, personable, and quick. Anton shows up in five positives for fast, cost-effective work and clear explanations. Josh (also Josh Lewis or Josh Luiz) draws praise for precision and fair pricing across residential and commercial jobs at the Eureka Ramada. Todd gets called out for effective water heater installs and strong communication. Dan White and Galen Moxon also earn specific praise. Reviewers consistently highlight that techs explain what they find before starting work, arrive equipped, and clean up after themselves. Several 5-star reviewers note that Roto-Rooter answered the phone when other plumbers did not return calls.
18 found across 618 total reviews at 4.7★. Pricing generates the most anger. Stormy CC wrote that Ko Yang did great work but charged $1,000 for a drain snake. P described waiting 30 minutes for a quote only to find the tech asleep in the vehicle, then receiving a $900-1,000 estimate for a main line flush. Chelsea Danielle was quoted $586 just to drive from Eureka to Garberville plus a $99 diagnostic fee. Shawn Goodin called a $1,500 bill for $20 in PVC parts "highway robbery." Makenzie Wolff spent $3,300, had the problem recur within minutes, made eight phone calls, and still could not get a callback. Scheduling complaints are the second pattern: Geo Barber waited from Friday to Tuesday with no explanation. Shelley dealt with a dispatcher named Christina who was rude and condescending, and the tech never showed. cs missed 1.5 days of work waiting. Two reviewers — Courtney S and lostcoastlocal 707 — allege that ownership fired Abraham, a 25-year senior technician, to cut labor costs.
The franchise model creates a split personality in the reviews. Technicians in the field earn genuine praise — even most 1- and 2-star reviewers say the person who showed up was friendly, skilled, or both. The complaints target everything around the tech: corporate-level pricing, wide appointment windows, poor office communication, and canned owner responses. A batch of 15+ owner responses posted on October 21, 2025 use nearly identical wording regardless of the complaint, and one misidentifies a 1-star review as a 5-star. This disconnect between field quality and business-side operations is structural, not a one-off.
Chris / Chris Livingston (technician — positive, mentioned in 6+ reviews for water heaters, sewer work, drain clearing). Anton (technician — positive, mentioned in 5 reviews for fast and cost-effective work). Josh / Josh Lewis / Josh Luiz (technician — positive, mentioned in 3 reviews for precision and fair pricing). Todd (technician — positive, mentioned in 2 reviews for water heater installs). Dan / Dan White / Dan W. (technician — positive, mentioned in 3 reviews for knowledge and courtesy, though price complaints accompany). Galen Moxon (technician — positive, mentioned in 1 review for solo sewer lateral work). Sean (technician — positive, mentioned in 1 review alongside Anton). Ko Yang (technician — mixed, praised for work quality but named in $1,000 drain complaint). Jeff (technician — neutral, sewer inspection). Alex (technician — neutral, CCTV rescan). Christina (office/dispatch — negative, described as rude and condescending). Abraham (former senior technician — positive from reviewers, allegedly fired under new ownership). Dane (owner — negative context, named in staffing complaints).
Ask for Chris or Anton by name if you can — they are the most consistently praised techs at this location. Get a written estimate before any work starts, and compare it against at least one local independent. The field work is solid, but the pricing and scheduling are where this franchise loses people.
Keep in mind
- Pricing runs high. Across 29 negative reviews in 18 months, the most common complaint is rates two to three times local independents. Specific examples: $1,000 for a drain snake, $1,400 for a toilet replacement, $1,800 for a faucet install with customer-supplied parts. The mold remediation page does not list pricing, so ask for a detailed written estimate before work begins.
- Scheduling can be unreliable. Multiple reviewers describe wide appointment windows (8am-12pm or 8am-1pm), techs arriving late or not at all, and difficulty reaching someone by phone for updates. One reviewer missed 1.5 days of work waiting.
- The franchise recently changed ownership. At least two reviewers mention that experienced plumbers, including a 25-year senior technician named Abraham, were let go under new management. This may affect the experience level of the crew dispatched to your job.
- Owner responses to negative reviews are heavily templated. A large batch of responses posted on October 21, 2025 use nearly identical language. One response thanks a 1-star reviewer for a "5-star review." This suggests reputation management rather than genuine engagement with complaints.
- Their mold remediation description is national-level website copy, not specific to the Eureka franchise. Confirm directly that the local team carries the equipment and training described on the mold page.