Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Worcester homeowners dealing with basement flooding or water damage that has triggered mold growth, where Roto-Rooter can fix the plumbing cause and handle remediation in one visit from a 24/7 national operation.
Best for
- Worcester homeowners with basement flooding or water damage from pipe failures who need the plumbing fix and water cleanup handled by one company.
- Property owners who discover mold after a water event and want the source repair, water extraction, and mold remediation under a single contract with insurance coordination.
- Commercial property managers in Worcester County who need 24/7 emergency water damage response with same-day dispatch and no weekend surcharges.
- Homeowners in Worcester's older neighborhoods (Main South, Vernon Hill, Burncoat) where aging plumbing and basement water intrusion create recurring moisture problems.
About this company
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup in Worcester, MA is a franchise location of the national Roto-Rooter chain, headquartered at 1077 W Boylston St. The operation runs 24/7, 365 days a year, handling plumbing, drain cleaning, water damage restoration, and mold remediation for residential and commercial properties. Manager Anthony Swackey runs this location. Mold work is one piece of a much larger plumbing and water damage operation -- this is not a mold-focused company.
The main differentiator is the plumbing-plus-restoration model. When a pipe burst or sewer backup causes water damage that leads to mold, Roto-Rooter can fix the plumbing source, extract the water, dry the structure, and remediate the mold without bringing in a second contractor. Their water damage technicians hold IICRC training and use truck-mounted extraction units, infrared thermal cameras, moisture meters, industrial air movers, and commercial dehumidifiers. For mold work, the website references HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, and antimicrobial treatments. They apply antimicrobial applications during drying to prevent mold growth on building materials.
Roto-Rooter has operated nationally since 1935. The Worcester location holds MA plumbing license MP: 12611 and carries BBB A+ accreditation. They offer financing through Synchrony Bank and work directly with insurance companies on documentation and claims. The company serves commercial clients including hospitals, schools, manufacturing plants, and retail facilities.
At 4.7 stars across 1238 Google reviews, the Worcester location maintains a strong rating at significant volume. Only 6 reviews at 3 stars or below appeared in the last 18 months, which is a low complaint rate for a high-volume operation.
Services
Service area
Roto-Rooter Worcester operates from 1077 W Boylston St, Worcester, MA. The company lists service across Worcester, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Auburn, Holden, Uxbridge, Millbury, Charlton, Webster, Dudley, Sutton, North Grafton, Whitinsville, Leicester, Grafton, Oxford, Spencer, Paxton, South Grafton, Boylston, and Jefferson. The broader service area claim extends to 7 counties (Worcester, Hampden, Middlesex, Essex, Hampshire, Franklin, Suffolk), covering most of Massachusetts. A reviewer in Springfield confirmed service there. For locations outside Worcester County, confirm response times.
Review consensus
Brian is named in multiple 2026 reviews for basement cleanup work, praised for communication, timeliness, and thoroughness over multi-day jobs. Manny gets repeat mentions for fast same-day service and friendly demeanor, with one reviewer giving him "10 stars." Alex earned praise for Sunday service, fixing a clogged pipe quickly at a reasonable price. Kit handled a sink drain and septic line check and was called courteous and quick. Danny, Oleksandr, Ernst Sajou, Zack K (#2985), Jim (#2512), and Raymond all receive individual praise for politeness, knowledge, and clean work. Warley, Ben, and Celeste from Boston North were noted for friendliness. Across positive reviews, fast response time, same-day or next-day service, and clean job sites are the consistent themes.
3 found across 1238 total reviews at 4.7★. Rachel Archeron (Jan 2025) describes a blockage that was not cleared on the first visit, a $6,000 quote for pipe replacement, and a camera technician who left without using the camera. The owner response offered an email to Pat Swanson but did not address the incomplete work. Hanna Lu (Mar 2026) reports a sink pipe damaged during a clog service that was not resolved. Mark Spivey (Mar 2026) left a vague complaint about a driver being reported to the BBB. All three are from low-review-count accounts (3-4 reviews each), and none received substantive owner responses.
The pricing concern appears across different review tiers. Sarah MacConduibh (3 stars, 7-review account) called the service responsive but expensive. Shawn Beaudry (2 stars) warned about negotiation tactics. Michelle Dolimpio (5 stars) acknowledged Roto-Rooter is expensive but said Manny's work justified it. This split suggests the company charges premium rates that some buyers accept and others resist. Owner responses to all negative reviews follow an identical template directing reviewers to email Pat Swanson -- the company responds to 83% of recent negatives, but no response engages with the specific complaint.
Brian (water damage technician -- positive, praised for multi-day basement cleanup communication in multiple 2026 reviews). Manny (plumber -- positive, praised for fast same-day service and friendliness in multiple reviews). Alex (plumber -- positive, praised for Sunday service and reasonable pricing). Kit (plumber -- positive, praised for sink drain and septic work). Danny (plumber -- positive, praised for professionalism and communication). Oleksandr (plumber -- positive, praised for fast response to Springfield). Ernst Sajou (plumber -- positive, praised for knowledge and customer service). Zack K, tech #2985 (plumber -- positive, praised for knowledge and conscientiousness). Jim, tech #2512 (plumber -- positive, praised for fast basement leak repair). Raymond/Ray (plumber -- positive, praised for courtesy and clean work). Stephen H (plumber -- positive, praised for clearing grease blockage). John D (plumber -- positive, praised for sink repair). Burim (plumber -- positive, praised for explaining preventive measures). Lyndon (plumber -- positive, praised for sewer backup fix). Elie (plumber -- positive, praised for efficiency). Chet, #761, and Steve, #4171 (plumbers -- positive, praised for knowledge). Greg and Sergey (plumbers -- positive, praised for Labor Day service). Warley, Ben, and Celeste (Boston North team -- positive, praised for friendliness). Tom (plumber -- positive, praised for going above and beyond). Pat Swanson (Customer Satisfaction Manager -- neutral, handles all owner responses via template).
Request Brian by name for water damage and basement cleanup work -- he has the strongest track record in recent reviews. Get a written estimate upfront and compare pricing before committing, since multiple reviewers flag high costs. If your issue is mold without an active plumbing problem, consider whether a mold-focused company would serve you better than a plumbing operation that also does mold.
Keep in mind
- Roto-Rooter does both mold testing and mold remediation. The same company that identifies your mold problem profits from fixing it. Get an independent mold assessment before agreeing to remediation work.
- Several reviewers flag pricing as a concern. One called the technician a "master negotiator" and warned other buyers to be careful. Another noted the company is "very responsive, but also very expensive." Get a written estimate and compare it before committing.
- Owner responses to negative reviews follow a template pattern. Every response directs the reviewer to email Pat Swanson, the Customer Satisfaction Manager, without addressing the specific complaint. This is reputation management, not problem-solving.
- The service area claim covers 7 counties across the Boston metro, from Worcester to Suffolk to Franklin. That is a massive geographic footprint. Confirm response times for your specific location, especially if you are outside Worcester County.
- Mold remediation is a small part of what Roto-Rooter does. The bulk of their work is plumbing and drain cleaning. If you have a standalone mold problem not connected to a plumbing issue, a dedicated mold remediation company may offer more focused expertise.