Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
South Bay homeowners dealing with water damage that needs both plumbing repair and mold cleanup handled by a single national franchise with 24/7 dispatch.
Best for
- Milpitas and South Bay residents who need water damage cleanup and the plumbing repair that caused it handled by one company.
- Homeowners facing after-hours emergencies who need someone to actually answer the phone and show up within a couple of hours.
- Property owners who want their restoration company to handle insurance documentation and bill the insurer directly.
- Commercial properties in the San Jose metro area that need scalable water damage and mold response.
About this company
Roto-Rooter in Milpitas is a franchise location of the national plumbing and water damage restoration chain, headquartered at 1780 Clear Lake Ave. Their primary identity is plumbing and drain service, with water damage restoration and mold remediation as a secondary line. The Milpitas office is managed by Justin Cvitkovich and covers Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Benito, and San Francisco counties.
What sets this location apart from standalone mold companies is the ability to fix the plumbing problem that caused the water damage and then handle the cleanup and mold work with the same crew. Their website says technicians carry IICRC certification, and they describe using HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and antimicrobial treatments for mold jobs. They also handle insurance documentation and bill insurers directly.
Roto-Rooter has operated nationally since 1935. This Milpitas location holds California Contractor License #806952 and carries a BBB A+ rating. They are members of BOMA of Silicon Valley. Their trucks are described as fully stocked for same-visit repairs, and they charge no extra fees for nights, weekends, or holidays.
4.8 stars across 161 Google reviews is a strong rating for a franchise plumbing operation. Most franchises in this size range land between 4.3 and 4.6. The volume of named technicians receiving individual praise suggests the local team is genuinely strong, even if the national pricing structure draws occasional backlash.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Milpitas, CA. Serves Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Benito, and San Francisco counties. The service area page lists over 60 cities across the San Jose metro area, from San Francisco south to Gilroy and Watsonville. For a franchise covering five counties, confirm response time to your specific location.
Review consensus
Nicholas Juarez (tech 7919) is the most frequently named technician, praised across at least ten reviews for fast response, clear explanations, and going the extra mile on difficult jobs. Ricky Ronquillo draws similar praise for speed and hands-on skill, particularly on drain and sewer line clogs. James Johnson is highlighted for friendliness and getting jobs done quickly, often paired with Manuel/Emmanuel as a team. Miguel Sanchez gets repeat mentions for water heater work and diagnostic troubleshooting. Keith stands out for courtesy and professionalism. Reviewers consistently mention fast arrival times, often within 60 to 90 minutes, including on weekends and evenings.
4 found across 161 total reviews at 4.8★. Two reviewers described pricing that was dramatically higher than competitors. T Z paid $1,200 for a 20-minute after-hours job, then got the same work done for $300 elsewhere. Nicholas Leonard was quoted $8,000 for a sewage pump replacement that a local company estimated at $3,000. Arthur Radcliffe, the technician on that call, discouraged getting additional quotes. Susan Mason reported a toilet clog that recurred two days after service, and said Roto-Rooter would not stand behind the work. Peggy Misquez left a brief complaint about misleading prices. All four negatives come from reviewers with few reviews and no Local Guide status, though the pricing complaints include enough detail to be credible.
The pricing complaints follow a pattern common to national franchise plumbing operations: centralized pricing calculators that do not flex for local market rates. The owner responses to all four negative reviews are nearly identical templates directing customers to email Pat Swanson, the corporate Customer Satisfaction Manager. None of the responses engage with the specific complaint or dispute the pricing claims. This template approach to reputation management is a contrast to the personalized, hands-on service the field technicians deliver.
Nicholas Juarez (technician #7919 -- praised repeatedly across 10+ reviews for fast response, clear communication, and thorough work). James Johnson (technician -- praised for friendliness, speed, knowledge, often works with Manuel). Ricky Ronquillo (technician -- praised for speed, drain/sewer expertise, hands-on skill). Miguel Sanchez (technician -- praised for water heater installs, diagnostics, patience). Keith (technician -- praised for professionalism and courtesy). Manny (technician -- praised for diagnostics). Ivan (technician -- praised for leak detection). Manuel/Emmanuel (technician -- praised as team member with James). Barnaby (technician -- praised for emergency weekend work with Nicholas). Robert Gottula (field supervisor -- mentioned positively). Arthur Radcliffe (technician -- named in negative review for high quote and discouraging second opinions). Pat Swanson (Customer Satisfaction Manager -- responds to all negative reviews via corporate template).
The Milpitas field team is genuinely strong. If you need fast emergency plumbing or water damage response, ask for Nicholas Juarez or Ricky Ronquillo by name. But get a written estimate before any work begins and compare it to at least one local plumber, especially for non-emergency jobs where the franchise pricing formula may not reflect market rates.
Keep in mind
- Roto-Rooter does both mold testing and mold remediation. That is a conflict of interest. The company that finds the mold profits from fixing it. Consider getting an independent mold assessment before committing to their remediation scope.
- Pricing is the top complaint in negative reviews. Two reviewers reported quotes two to three times higher than local competitors for the same work. One technician (Arthur Radcliffe) told a customer it would be a waste of time to get other quotes. Always get a second estimate.
- This is a national franchise. The website content, pricing systems, and customer service escalation all funnel through corporate channels. The local technicians are well-reviewed, but complaint resolution goes through a corporate Customer Satisfaction Manager (Pat Swanson) rather than someone at the Milpitas office.
- The service area claim spans five counties from San Francisco to San Benito. Confirm that your specific location gets the same-day response the Milpitas office promises.