Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Independence and Jackson County homeowners dealing with water damage that has led to mold, who want one company to handle plumbing repair, water extraction, and mold remediation under a single call.
Best for
- Independence and eastern Kansas City metro homeowners who need mold remediation tied to a water damage event — burst pipe, basement flood, or sewer backup — and want one company from leak repair through final clearance.
- Property managers and commercial building owners who need a single vendor with 24/7 availability, insurance documentation, and direct billing.
- Homeowners facing an active water emergency who need same-day response and want mold prevention built into the water damage cleanup from the start.
- Buyers who value a national brand with a local presence and financing options for large restoration bills.
About this company
Roto-Rooter's Independence, Missouri location is a franchise of the national chain founded in 1935, operating out of 3010 S State Route 291 under manager Don Scarpelli. Their primary business is plumbing and water damage restoration, not mold. Mold remediation is one service within their water damage division. They handle residential and commercial work across Jackson County and the broader Kansas City metro area, covering counties in both Missouri and Kansas.
What sets this location apart from standalone mold companies is the pipeline: their own plumbers fix the leak, their water damage crew extracts and dries, and their IICRC/AMRT-trained technicians handle mold remediation — all under one dispatch. They use HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and antimicrobial treatments. They bill insurance directly and offer Synchrony Bank financing. They run 24/7 with no upcharge for nights, weekends, or holidays.
Roto-Rooter has operated for over 90 years nationally. This Independence location holds Missouri plumbing license #204549 and is a member of the Apartment Association of Kansas City, the Institute of Real Estate Management, and PHCC. They maintain fully equipped service vehicles throughout the area.
4.8 stars across 1,952 Google reviews is a strong number for a high-volume franchise location. Most of the praise lands on individual technicians rather than the brand, which suggests the field staff carry the reputation while the corporate pricing structure generates the friction.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Independence, Missouri at 3010 S State Route 291. Serves the Kansas City metro broadly, listing nine Missouri counties (Jackson, Cass, Lafayette, Clay, Ray, Buchanan, Johnson, Platte, Clinton) and eight Kansas counties (Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Jefferson, Wyandotte, Miami, Franklin, Atchison). Named cities include Kansas City, Blue Springs, Raytown, Grandview, Belton, Raymore, Overland Park, Shawnee, Leavenworth, Excelsior Springs, Warrensburg, Atchison, and North Kansas City. That is an unusually large footprint — confirm response time for locations outside Jackson County.
Review consensus
Chandler is the standout name in recent reviews — roughly 20 five-star reviews in the last two months mention him by name, praising his speed, knowledge, and willingness to explain problems. Jason draws similar praise for backflow inspections and plumbing work, with multiple reviewers calling him honest and detail-oriented. Nate and Thomas also receive positive mentions. Reviewers consistently note 24/7 availability with no extra charge, same-day or next-day response, and technicians who explain the issue before starting work. Several customers specifically praise the company for showing up on weekends and holidays.
11 found across 1952 total reviews at 4.8★. Pricing dominates the complaints. Evie stjohn paid $340 for a 7-minute pipe fix. KCKitty paid $425 for two drains snaked in under 20 minutes. J & T Clutts paid $450 for 30 minutes of drain snaking. Sophia Hoang reports a $12,000 bill for drying fans on a small kitchen leak. One reviewer saw a follow-up estimate jump from $6,000 to $35,000 before shopping around. Mila and TJ describe a technician recommending they break their foundation and replace all plumbing on a recently inspected home — an independent inspector found nothing wrong. Darian Smith names technician Jair as visibly unhappy to be on a late call, quotes $1,600 for hydrojetting (double other quotes), and criticizes the lack of communication and scheduling updates. TMB Adventures waited two days for a follow-up visit that never came after paying $151. Nightlistic paid $500 for a faucet repair that failed within a month. Two reviewers — Roddy Lee and Andy Collins — describe extended waits well past their appointment windows with poor communication from dispatch.
The pricing complaints point to a structural issue common with national franchise operations: standardized pricing schedules that charge by the job rather than by time, resulting in bills that feel disproportionate for quick fixes. Several negative reviewers explicitly say the work itself was fine — the plumber solved the problem — but the price made them unlikely to return. Owner responses come at a 100% rate from Pat Swanson, Customer Satisfaction Manager, but every response follows the same template directing the customer to email pat.swanson@rrsc.com. None address the specific complaint. This is reputation management, not problem resolution.
Chandler (plumber/technician — strongly positive, named in 20+ recent reviews for speed, knowledge, and reliability). Jason (plumber/technician — positive, praised for backflow inspections and honest work). Nate (technician — positive, worked with Chandler on water heater install). Thomas/Tom (technician — positive, praised for Saturday night water line and toilet replacement). Jair (technician — negative, described as visibly unhappy during a late evening call). Pat Swanson (Customer Satisfaction Manager — responds to all negative reviews via template). Don Scarpelli (location manager — named on website).
Ask for Chandler or Jason if you can — they account for the bulk of the positive reviews. Get a written, itemized quote before any work starts, and compare it to at least one local competitor, especially for jobs beyond basic plumbing. The 24/7 response and one-company-handles-everything model works well for emergencies, but the pricing pushback in reviews is real and consistent enough to warrant shopping around for non-urgent mold or restoration work.
Keep in mind
- Roto-Rooter does both mold testing and mold remediation. That creates a conflict of interest — the same company that tells you mold is present also sells you the remediation. Consider getting an independent mold test before committing to their remediation scope.
- Pricing is the number-one complaint in recent reviews. Multiple customers report charges of $325-$500 for plumbing visits lasting under 30 minutes, and one reviewer described a follow-up estimate that started at $6,000 and climbed to $35,000 before they shopped around. Get a written quote before work begins and compare it to at least one other company.
- This is a plumbing and water damage company first. Mold remediation is a secondary service. If your mold issue is not connected to a water or plumbing event, a dedicated mold remediation company may be a better fit.
- The service area claims are broad — they list 17 counties across Missouri and Kansas. Confirm availability and response time for your specific location before booking.
- All owner responses to negative reviews follow the same template from Pat Swanson directing customers to email. None engage with the specific complaint in the review itself.