Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Upper Marlboro and Prince George's County homeowners dealing with water damage that has led to mold, where having plumbing repair and remediation handled in one call matters.
Best for
- Prince George's County and Baltimore metro homeowners who need both the plumbing fix and the water damage cleanup handled by one company
- After-hours emergencies where 24/7 dispatch and no extra charge for nights, weekends, or holidays matters
- Water damage situations that have progressed to mold, where a single provider can handle extraction, drying, and remediation under one scope of work
- Commercial properties needing scalable water damage restoration with insurance claim documentation
- Homeowners who want a national brand's accountability and financing options for unexpected plumbing or restoration costs
About this company
Roto-Rooter's Upper Marlboro location operates out of 14806 Pratt St as a franchise of the national chain, managed by Josh Phillips. Their primary identity is plumbing and drain service, with water damage restoration and mold remediation as secondary lines. They serve the entire Baltimore metro area, including Prince George's County, Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, and the District of Columbia.
What stands out here is the integrated model. Because Roto-Rooter does both plumbing repair and water damage restoration, they handle the source of the water event and the cleanup in a single dispatch. Their mold remediation page references IICRC and AMRT training, HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and antimicrobial treatments. The website describes a structured process: extraction, moisture mapping, structural drying, and sanitization, with documented moisture readings at each stage for insurance claims.
Roto-Rooter has been in business since 1935. That longevity comes with national-scale infrastructure -- standardized diagnostic processes, parts availability, and a dispatch network. The Upper Marlboro location holds MD State license #19631, Washington DC #PC1000420, and WSSC #PFG-82685, among multiple county-level licenses. They are members of the Maryland Multi Housing Association and Property Management Association.
4.8 stars across 477 Google reviews is strong volume for a local branch. Most positive reviews describe fast same-day response, especially for after-hours emergencies, and a recurring technician named Vicente who has drawn praise from more than a dozen reviewers. The negatives cluster heavily around pricing rather than work quality.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Upper Marlboro, MD. Serves the Baltimore metro area including Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, Baltimore, Harford, Carroll, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties in Maryland, plus the District of Columbia. The claimed coverage spans 11 counties and DC, which is broad for a single branch.
Review consensus
Vicente (also spelled Vincente and Vincenti) is the standout technician, named in well over a dozen 5-star reviews for clear explanations, same-day response, and respectful demeanor. Reviewers consistently highlight his patience in walking homeowners through the problem and repair process. Tate draws praise for sewer line work and going above expectations. Brandon, William, Earl, Shondel, Paul, Min, and Oleg each appear in individual positive reviews. Fast response time, including nights and holidays with no surcharge, is the most common operational praise. Several reviewers note that Roto-Rooter arrived within a few hours of calling.
18 found across 477 total reviews at 4.8★. Pricing dominates the 1-star complaints. Dan Winger (Local Guide, 17 reviews) called $800 for drain snaking "highway robbery." Stephen Reilly (Local Guide, 26 reviews) called $850 for the same service "insane." Khalil Sadiev described a $1,000 garbage disposal replacement and a $777 flat labor fee for under an hour of work. Katherine Lee detailed a sewer overflow where a camera technician directed excavation to the wrong location, quoted $16,000, and a second opinion contradicted the diagnosis entirely -- she also raised concerns that her contact information was shared with an outside contractor without consent. Porsha Jones-Pena described a plumber who was unsure how to proceed, cut a pipe incorrectly, and caused an 8-hour wait for WSSC, with managers unreachable for days. Greg Conklin alleged $1,000 in unauthorized PPE charges and drilling without notice. Maria Gordon described 65 pieces of equipment placed during water mitigation that she called "overkill" for 12 hours of actual work over 5 days. Victoria W. received a $10,000 excavation estimate on a new home she considered unnecessary.
The complaint pattern splits into two categories. First, flat-rate pricing that shocks customers -- Roto-Rooter uses standardized national pricing that can run significantly higher than local competitors for routine jobs like drain clearing or disposal replacement. Second, inconsistent technician quality -- while Vicente and Tate draw strong praise, several negatives describe technicians who appeared unprepared or performed questionable diagnostics. The franchise model means the same brand name covers a wide range of individual technician skill levels. Owner responses are handled centrally by Pat Swanson, Customer Satisfaction Manager, using a consistent template that directs reviewers to email rather than addressing specifics publicly.
Vicente / Vincente / Vincenti (plumber -- strongly positive, named in 12+ reviews for clear communication and same-day fixes), Tate (plumber -- positive, praised for sewer line work), Aaron (plumber -- positive then problem recurred per John Darney), Brandon (plumber -- positive), Shondel (plumber -- positive), William (plumber -- positive, sewer drain work), Earl (plumber -- positive, night call), Paul (plumber -- positive), Min (plumber -- positive, clear cost explanations), Oleg (water remediation specialist -- positive, insurance coordination), Miguel (station manager -- negative, unresponsive per Schway Schway), Pat Swanson (customer satisfaction manager -- handles owner responses).
If you need emergency plumbing or water damage response in the Baltimore-DC metro, this location delivers fast dispatch and has a technician bench led by Vicente who consistently earns praise. Request Vicente by name if available. Get a written estimate before authorizing any work -- the flat-rate pricing model produces the most complaints, and comparing quotes with a local plumber could save hundreds on routine jobs.
Keep in mind
- Roto-Rooter does both mold testing and mold remediation. That creates a conflict of interest -- the company assessing whether you have a mold problem is the same one selling the fix. Consider getting an independent mold assessment before committing to their remediation services.
- Pricing is the most common complaint across recent reviews. Multiple reviewers report drain snaking at $800-$850 and garbage disposal replacement at $777-$1,000. Several 3-star reviews with good work quality still flagged prices as "outrageous." Get a written estimate and compare before authorizing work.
- Owner responses to negative reviews follow a template pattern -- nearly all direct the reviewer to email Pat Swanson with the same form language. The 94% response rate looks attentive, but the responses rarely engage with the specific complaint.
- This is a plumbing company first. Mold remediation is a secondary service line, not their core focus. Ask specifically about their mold crew's experience and whether it is the same team doing water cleanup or a separate remediation team.
- The service area spans 11 counties across Maryland and DC. Confirm response times and technician availability for your specific location before assuming the same-day service reviewers describe.