Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Reviewers consistently name individual technicians who explain what they find, describe pricing before starting, and clean up after themselves. Anthony Abdaal drew particular praise as an on-site supervisor who guided a family through a major sewer emergency with clarity. Austin cleared drain lines and left detailed notes on invoices across multiple visits. Eric Smith earned trust from repeat customers for honest assessments and clean work areas. Robert (Red) correctly diagnosed a blockage that a previous company had misidentified. Julian, Matt, Jermel, Neil, and Dave each received individual five-star reviews for punctuality and straightforward communication. The dispatch team, including receptionist Andria, gets credit for scheduling flexibility. Multiple reviewers mention same-day or next-day service, including weekends and evenings.

12 found across 1,271 total reviews at 4.5★. Pricing is the dominant complaint. Katie Adair received a $13,608 quote to dig up and replace sewer pipe; a second contractor cleared the same line for $330 and found no pipe damage. The owner responded by citing camera footage showing broken cast iron, creating a factual dispute the buyer cannot resolve without a third opinion. Cory Newsom paid $1,250 for a straightforward sump pump replacement and itemized the parts at roughly $366 retail. Jazzy J paid $355 for an unsuccessful drain cleanout and felt the company should have offered camera inspection first. Mickayla Cox paid $79 for a service call where the plumber only checked the manufacture date on a water heater. Beth Kacell paid $200 for routine maintenance and says the visit caused a backup, then was quoted $400 more to fix it. Beyond pricing, jerad forster described technician Austin B. making comments about alcohol and playing poker on his phone while waiting for payment. Pauline Smith accused representative Dave Villanue of misleading her about an assignment of benefits document, which she says she was told she did not sign but later discovered she had. Erin Hollerback described a replacement plumber arriving with no knowledge of the previous day's work, then spending time petting her cat instead of completing the job. Lashawn Chaney described the warranty as misleading, covering only a single return visit within six months.

The pricing complaints follow a pattern consistent with franchise service models: technicians arrive fast and handle the immediate problem, but the quoted prices for follow-up or larger-scope work run significantly above market rate. Several reviewers noted the initial service was fine but the upsell or follow-up quote felt predatory. The owner response pattern is mixed -- some responses engage with specifics and provide factual context (Lisa Wilson's response explained the storm vs. sanitary distinction; Katie Adair's cited camera footage), while others default to 'we have no record of you' or request the review be taken down. The 53% response rate on recent negatives suggests selective engagement rather than a consistent reputation management practice.

Anthony Abdaal (supervisor -- positive, praised for guiding emergency repairs with confidence and empathy). Austin (technician -- positive across multiple reviews for detailed reporting and clean work; one negative from jerad forster for unprofessional comments about alcohol and playing poker). Austin B. (likely same as Austin -- negative, unprofessional behavior during service call). Eric Smith / Erik Smith (technician -- positive, praised for honesty, clean work areas, and detailed explanations by multiple reviewers). Robert 'Red' (technician -- positive, correctly diagnosed a blockage misidentified by a competitor). Julian (technician -- positive, praised for timeliness and kindness). Matt (technician -- positive, resolved sewer backup and earned repeat business). Matt U. (technician -- positive, went beyond expectations on drain work). Jermel (technician -- positive, outstanding work with detailed explanations). Ryan (technician -- positive, arrived promptly on a Sunday, straightforward on pricing). Neil (technician -- positive, explained work clearly, provided helpful tips). Dave/David (technician -- positive, explained pricing upfront, cleaned up after himself). Dave Villanue (sales representative -- negative, accused of misleading customer about assignment of benefits). Carlos (technician -- positive, efficient and knowledgeable). AJ (technician -- positive, stayed past shift, educated children about drain care). Charlie Campbell (technician -- positive, friendly and honest). Mark (technician -- positive, resolved plumbing issue for long-time customer). Lamar (technician -- positive, patient and explanatory). Chris (technician -- positive, transparent about cost and aftercare). Noah (technician -- positive, solved drain clog). Norm (technician -- positive, evaluated and fixed problem quickly). James Biondo (technician -- positive, handled large pipe and drain replacement job). Andria (receptionist -- positive, accommodating with scheduling). Sam Delli (manager -- listed on website). Bill Hall (manager -- listed on website).

Roto-Rooter Detroit sends knowledgeable technicians who explain their work and clean up after themselves -- the individual service experiences are genuinely strong. The risk is on pricing. Before approving any job over a few hundred dollars, get a written quote with itemized parts and labor, then get a second opinion from a local competitor. Ask for the same tech by name if you had a good experience, since quality varies by who shows up.