Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Boston metro homeowners dealing with water damage that led to mold, who want one company to fix the plumbing, extract the water, and handle remediation under a single dispatch.
Best for
- Boston metro homeowners who need mold remediation triggered by a plumbing failure or flood, and want one company to handle both the source repair and the cleanup.
- Property owners facing after-hours water emergencies who need same-day extraction and drying to prevent mold growth in the 24-48 hour window.
- Commercial properties in the Seaport, Back Bay, or Faneuil Hall area that need a single vendor for plumbing maintenance, water damage response, and mold work.
- Homeowners in older Boston neighborhoods like Beacon Hill or South Boston where aging pipes create recurring water intrusion and mold risk.
- Insurance claimants who want a restoration company that coordinates directly with their carrier and provides documentation.
About this company
Roto-Rooter in Boston is a national franchise operation headquartered at 50 Franklin Street, managed by Andrew Berg. The Boston branch does plumbing, drain cleaning, water damage restoration, and mold remediation across seven counties in eastern Massachusetts. Mold work is one piece of a much larger plumbing and water cleanup business.
What stands out here is the plumbing-to-remediation pipeline. When a pipe bursts or a sewer backs up, the same company that fixes the plumbing source also handles water extraction, drying, and mold remediation. Their website references IICRC-trained technicians, HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and antimicrobial treatments for mold work. They bill insurance directly and offer Synchrony financing for uncovered costs.
Roto-Rooter has operated nationally since 1935. The Boston office covers Suffolk, Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, Plymouth, Dukes, and Nantucket counties. They hold Massachusetts master plumber license MP 15534 and carry BBB accreditation.
4.8 stars across 3,071 Google reviews is a strong number for a franchise operation at this volume. Most plumbing companies in the Boston metro with comparable review counts sit between 4.3 and 4.6. The high rating reflects consistently positive field technician interactions, though pricing transparency remains a sore spot.
Services
Service area
Headquartered at 50 Franklin St #407, Boston, MA. Serves Suffolk, Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, Plymouth, Dukes, and Nantucket counties. The listed service area includes over 150 cities and towns from downtown Boston to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. Response times and service availability for mold remediation on the islands and outer Cape are worth confirming before booking.
Review consensus
Ron (also called Ronnie) dominates the positive reviews. Roughly half of all named-technician mentions reference him, with customers praising his speed, friendliness, and willingness to take late-night emergency calls. Steve Petersen described Ron arriving at 11 PM for a sewer backup. Ashley Blades credited Joe, the manager, for personally coming out to fix a bad first experience, then sending Gilbert for three hours of follow-up work. Shawn gets praised for punctual arrivals and fast drain clearing. Atef (also spelled Atif) drew compliments for Saturday emergency response and careful work. Sokol, Harry, Rick, and Kiro each received individual positive mentions. The consistent theme across positive reviews is speed: same-day or next-day service, technicians arriving within the quoted window, and jobs finished in under an hour.
8 found across 3071 total reviews at 4.8★. Pricing shock is the dominant complaint. Ayelet Reiter described paying over $1,000 for a valve replacement that took less than an hour, after repeated rescheduling forced her to miss work. Tanya Mezhebovsky paid $521.80 (after a $100 senior discount) for a toilet unclog that took three minutes, after waiting 4.5 hours for the technician. Johny Kim was quoted $700+ to snake a drain. Luis Anjos spent $2,000+ over two days for what turned out to be a broken pipe. Robert Chua and Joshua Mercer left brief complaints about overpricing. Tully Hannan called for an emergency broken pipe repair and was told the office does not work after 4 PM, contradicting the 24/7 advertising. Elisa Daley, in a 2-star review, reported a young plumber who nearly gave up on a clog and quoted $2,000+ for a larger machine before a senior plumber intervened. She was also promised a follow-up camera search and cleanup call that never came.
Every owner response across all eight negative reviews follows the same template: apologize, direct the customer to email Pat Swanson at pat.swanson@rrsc.com. None of the responses engage with the specific complaint or offer a concrete resolution. This is reputation management by template, not problem-solving. At least two reviewers (Ayelet Reiter, Elisa Daley) describe reaching out through official channels and getting no follow-through. The pricing complaints cluster around a structural issue: Roto-Rooter does not quote prices over the phone, technicians present flat-rate pricing on arrival, and customers who need urgent service feel trapped into paying.
Ron/Ronnie (technician — repeatedly praised for speed, friendliness, and late-night availability). Shawn (technician — praised for punctuality and fast drain clearing). Atef/Atif (technician — praised for Saturday emergency response and careful work). Gilbert (technician — praised for extended follow-up work). Joe (manager — praised for personally resolving a bad experience). Sokol (technician — praised for knowledge and quality of work). Harry (technician — praised for clear explanations and friendliness). Rick (technician — praised for work on old South Boston plumbing). Kiro (technician — praised for punctuality and cleanliness). Robert and Mike (technicians — praised for fast response). Pat Swanson (Customer Satisfaction Manager — named in all owner responses).
Ask for Ron by name if you can. He handles a disproportionate share of Boston calls and draws consistently strong reviews. Get a written quote before any work starts, because the most common complaint is surprise pricing with no advance estimate. If your mold problem stems from a plumbing failure or flood, Roto-Rooter's ability to handle source repair and remediation under one dispatch is a genuine advantage.
Keep in mind
- Pricing is the consistent complaint. Six of eight recent negative reviews describe sticker shock, with bills from $500 to over $2,000 for drain clearing or valve replacement. Roto-Rooter does not provide estimates over the phone; you only see the price when the technician arrives. Ask for a written quote before any work starts.
- Mold remediation is a secondary service. This is a plumbing and water damage company first. If you need standalone mold remediation without a plumbing trigger, a mold-focused firm may have deeper specialization.
- The service area spans seven counties from Suffolk to Nantucket. Response times outside Boston proper will vary. Confirm scheduling windows for your specific location.
- One reviewer reported being told the Boston office does not do work after 4 PM, despite 24/7 advertising. Confirm after-hours availability for your service type when you call.
- All negative review responses follow an identical template directing customers to email Pat Swanson. Multiple reviewers report no follow-through after reaching out. Do not rely on post-service escalation to resolve billing disputes.