Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Overland Park and KC metro homeowners dealing with water damage that triggered mold growth, who want plumbing repair and remediation handled by a single 24/7 crew.
Best for
- Overland Park and KC metro homeowners who need water extraction, structural drying, and mold remediation after a flood or sewage backup.
- Buyers who want one company to fix the plumbing problem and handle the mold work, avoiding coordination between separate contractors.
- Commercial property managers needing 24/7 emergency water damage response with direct insurance billing.
- Homeowners dealing with basement flooding from Kansas clay soil shifts or severe storms who need same-day service.
About this company
Roto-Rooter in Overland Park is a franchise location of the national plumbing and water cleanup chain, headquartered at 8600 W 95th St. They operate as a full-service plumbing company that also handles water damage restoration and mold remediation. Manager Don Scarpelli runs this location, which covers the entire Kansas City metro across both Kansas and Missouri.
The main differentiator here is the plumbing-plus-restoration model. When a pipe burst or sewer backup causes water damage and subsequent mold growth, Roto-Rooter sends its own plumbers to fix the source and its own IICRC-trained restoration crew to handle extraction, drying, and mold work. They use HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and antimicrobial treatments. Most standalone mold companies must wait for a third-party plumber before starting remediation work.
The company has operated since 1935 nationally. This Overland Park location holds an A+ BBB rating and is a member of the Apartment Association of Kansas City and PHCC. They carry Missouri plumbing license #204549 and offer financing through Synchrony Bank.
4.9 stars across 4,220 Google reviews is an unusually strong rating at that volume. The overwhelming majority of reviewers describe fast response times and technicians who explain the work clearly. That said, the negative reviews follow a specific and concerning pattern worth reading carefully.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas at 8600 W 95th St. This location covers the entire Kansas City metro area across both states, including Johnson, Douglas, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, and Miami counties in Kansas, and Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass, and Buchanan counties in Missouri. The service area list includes over 100 cities from Lawrence, KS to Warrensburg, MO, which is a broad geographic claim for a single office.
Review consensus
Anthony draws the most praise across recent reviews. Customers describe him as knowledgeable, patient with explanations, and fast at clearing drains. Aaron is the second most-mentioned technician, praised for quick leak repairs, pipe replacements, and weekend availability. Tony gets credit for fast response times. Jessica and Chris earned praise for sewage damage cleanup in a basement. Khari stood out for going the extra mile on a Sunday night call. Gabby in the office was called out for helpfulness. Across positive reviews, fast response time and clear communication are the two most consistent themes.
17 found across 4220 total reviews at 4.9★. High and inconsistent pricing dominates the complaints. James Anderson paid $474 for a 30-minute kitchen drain snake. Mike Groom saw the same drain cleaning jump from $200 to $500 in four months, with plumber Joe quoting the higher price. Harpreet Grover was initially quoted $475 for a drain cleaning before bargaining it down to $200. Trey Schorgl was bid $450 for a toilet fill valve replacement. More concerning is a pattern of recommending expensive sewer repairs that second opinions did not confirm. Koy Kutz was told of a collapsed main line requiring $10,000-$12,000 in repairs; another company found no issue, and two years later no problems have occurred. Patti Greenbaum was told her pipes were in bad shape and needed a $20,000+ liner and trenching; a second plumber found nothing wrong. Cindy E had manager Chuck declare three sewer line cracks requiring $10,000-$12,000 with an immediate DocuSign and $5,000 deposit; a second plumber fixed the actual problem for $600. David McNeal was told he needed a $5,000 excavation and cleanout; a competitor fixed his clog for $175. Chuck Borchers was told he needed a $21,000 drain line replacement and could not see the camera video without signing a contract. Rachel Katz hired them for water damage mitigation and was not given clear pricing upfront, only told insurance would cover it. When insurance covered only a portion, Roto-Rooter held firm on the full price. Ashley described a technician who opened a basement pipe during a drain snake, spilling sewage across the floor, then cleaned up with paper towels and left. Ashley Coverdale took an afternoon off work for a 3-4 PM window and nobody showed up by 7 PM.
The upselling pattern has a specific shape: a technician or field supervisor runs a camera scope, diagnoses a catastrophic sewer problem, quotes $5,000-$21,000, and pressures the homeowner to sign immediately. In at least four cases, independent plumbers found nothing wrong. This looks structural to how the franchise compensates its field teams rather than isolated bad actors. Manager Chuck is named in one of these incidents. The owner responses reinforce the pattern: every single negative review gets the same template reply directing the customer to email Pat Swanson, with no engagement on the specifics of the complaint. Two responses used the "we can't find you in our system" language, including one where the reviewer then provided their invoice number.
Anthony (technician — praised repeatedly for clear explanations and fast drain work). Aaron (technician — praised for quick repairs, pipe replacements, and weekend responsiveness). Tony (technician — praised for fast response). Khari (technician — praised for going the extra mile on a Sunday night). Jessica (restoration crew — praised for basement sewage cleanup). Chris (plumber — praised for plumbing expertise). Nate (technician — praised for Sunday drain cleaning). Gabby (office staff — praised for helpfulness). Joe (plumber — named in pricing complaint for quoting $500 on a recurring $200 job). Chuck (manager — named in scare-tactics complaint for diagnosing nonexistent sewer cracks). Pat Swanson (Customer Satisfaction Manager — named in all owner responses, template replies only).
Ask for Anthony or Aaron by name if you can. For routine plumbing or water damage emergencies, this location responds fast and the field technicians get strong reviews. But if any technician or supervisor tells you that you need thousands of dollars in sewer line work, do not sign anything on the spot. Get an independent camera inspection from a second company before committing. The upselling pattern in the negative reviews is too consistent to ignore.
Keep in mind
- Roto-Rooter does both mold testing and mold remediation. A company that finds the mold also profits from removing it. Ask whether they use a third-party environmental firm for testing, or request your own independent test before committing to remediation work.
- Multiple reviewers report being told they needed $5,000 to $21,000 in sewer line repairs, only to have second opinions find no issue. At least three reviewers describe camera scope findings that independent plumbers contradicted. Get a second opinion before approving any large repair.
- Pricing for basic drain cleaning varies widely in reviews, from $200 to $700 for similar work. One reviewer reported the same service doubling in price within four months. Ask for a written estimate with line-item costs before work begins.
- Every owner response to negative reviews follows the same template directing customers to email Pat Swanson. None engage with the specific complaint. This suggests reputation management rather than case-by-case resolution.
- This is a national franchise. Individual technician quality varies, and the field supervisor recommendations for expensive repairs may reflect company sales targets rather than your actual needs.