Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
East Orange and Essex County homeowners dealing with water damage that has led to mold, where having plumbing repair and restoration handled by one company matters.
Best for
- East Orange and northern NJ homeowners who need a plumbing fix and water damage cleanup from a single company rather than coordinating multiple contractors.
- Basement flooding emergencies where same-day response matters -- reviewers consistently report technicians arriving within one to two hours.
- Property owners who want insurance documentation handled by the restoration company, since Roto-Rooter bills insurance directly and provides photos, drying logs, and sketches.
- Commercial facilities in Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, or Somerset counties that need plumbing and water damage services with 24/7 availability.
- Homeowners with aging cast iron or clay tile pipes common in East Orange's older housing stock, where the plumbing problem and resulting water damage are connected.
About this company
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup operates out of East Orange, NJ, serving Essex County and a broad swath of northern and central New Jersey. This is a franchise location of the national Roto-Rooter brand, managed locally by Scott Jackson. Their primary identity is a plumbing company that also handles water damage restoration and mold remediation -- not a dedicated mold company.
The differentiator here is the single-vendor model. Roto-Rooter fixes the plumbing problem that caused the water damage, then handles extraction, drying, and mold work with the same team. Their water damage technicians hold IICRC certification, and the mold remediation page references AMRT-trained crews using HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and antimicrobial treatments. They also coordinate directly with insurance companies and offer financing through Synchrony Bank.
The company has operated since 1935 as a national brand. The East Orange location holds plumbing license MP #36BI01320500 under John Lucchese. They claim 24/7/365 availability with no extra charge for nights, weekends, or holidays, and their service area spans 10 counties across New Jersey.
4.9 stars across 202 Google reviews is unusually high for a franchise plumbing operation of this size. Most of that rating comes from fast response times and individual technicians who get called out by name repeatedly -- Erik alone appears in at least 10 reviews. The handful of negatives center on scheduling failures and pricing, not on work quality.
Services
Service area
Headquartered at 169 Tremont Ave, Unit 3, East Orange, NJ. The website claims coverage across 10 New Jersey counties: Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, Union, Bergen, Passaic, and Hunterdon. Named cities include Jersey City, Bayonne, Bridgewater, Old Bridge, Woodbridge, Orange, New Brunswick, Freehold, and Middlesex. That is a very large territory for one office -- confirm your specific location is served by this branch.
Review consensus
Erik (also spelled Eric) is the standout technician, named in at least 10 positive reviews for fast diagnosis, clear explanations, and clean work. He handled jobs ranging from sewer clogs and water filter installations to drain cleaning and coordinated remediation team follow-ups. Sai draws similar praise across at least 6 reviews for quick response and professionalism on drain and plumbing calls. Joshua, Liam, Pablo, Justine, Jamil, Johnny, Juan, Anthony, and Leo each get individual shoutouts for courteous, knowledgeable service. Response time is the most consistent praise theme -- multiple reviewers report technicians arriving within one to two hours, including on weekends.
3 found across 202 total reviews at 4.9★. 3 found across 202 total reviews at 4.9 stars. Chazz Fellenz (January 2026) scheduled a clogged toilet repair with an 8 PM to midnight window, agreed to an earlier arrival, and no one showed up. A rescheduled visit the next day also produced a no-show. When his wife called, staff gave dismissive responses. Patty Smith (October 2025) left a one-line review saying she was overcharged. Karim Hussein (May 2025, a 12-review account) reported poor customer service when trying to get a service report -- three weeks of being passed between staff with no resolution. He also called the pricing expensive. The owner response to Hussein noted they located his contact information and would follow up, which at least acknowledged the issue specifically. Two additional 2-star reviews round out the negatives: Eniminlin Assale (March 2026, Local Guide with 14 reviews) described an inexperienced plumber who could not fix a hose bib and broke part of the handle; Jacqueline Greene left a 2-star with no text.
The split between field and office is visible in these reviews. Technicians like Erik, Sai, and Joshua draw enthusiastic praise for their on-site work. Every complaint targets what happens before or after the technician arrives -- scheduling failures, phone staff attitude, difficulty getting documentation, and pricing transparency. All five owner responses to recent negatives use the same Pat Swanson template, which signals centralized reputation management rather than local engagement with the specific issue. This is a common franchise pattern where the people doing the work are strong but the dispatch and administrative layer introduces friction.
Erik/Eric (technician -- strongly positive, named in 10+ reviews for fast work, clear explanations, and clean job sites). Sai (technician -- strongly positive, named in 6+ reviews for quick response and professionalism). Joshua (technician -- positive, praised for persistence on tough clogs and code-related repairs). Liam (technician -- positive, praised for friendly and efficient sewer work). Pablo (technician -- positive, praised for knowledge and resolving drainage issues). Justine (technician -- positive, praised for neat, clean shower stall work). Jamil (technician -- positive, praised for keeping customers informed). Johnny (technician -- positive, praised for answering questions and prompt clog clearing). Juan (technician -- positive, praised for water heater replacement with a partner). Anthony (technician -- positive, praised for stopping a sewage leak). John (technician -- positive, praised for identifying issues and walking customers through next steps). Leo (technician -- positive, praised for resolving plumbing issues in a timely fashion). Pat Swanson (Customer Satisfaction Manager -- named in all owner responses to negative reviews).
Ask for Erik or Sai by name if you can -- they are the technicians reviewers call out most often, and their work quality is not in question. Confirm your appointment the day of service, since scheduling no-shows are the main complaint pattern. Get the price in writing before work begins, and if you need mold remediation specifically, ask whether an independent environmental firm will handle the testing.
Keep in mind
- Roto-Rooter does both testing and remediation for mold. That creates a conflict of interest -- the company assessing your mold problem is the same one that profits from fixing it. Ask whether they use an independent environmental professional for mold testing, or get a separate assessment before committing to remediation.
- Three one-star reviews in the last 18 months describe scheduling failures: a no-show with no callback, difficulty getting a service report, and a pricing complaint. The office side of this franchise draws more criticism than the field technicians.
- All five owner responses to negative reviews follow the same template -- contact Pat Swanson at the corporate email. None of the responses engage with the specific complaint. This is reputation management, not problem-solving in public.
- The service area claim spans 10 counties across New Jersey. That is an enormous territory for a single office at 169 Tremont Ave in East Orange. Confirm that your specific city gets service from this location, not a different Roto-Rooter franchise.
- Mold remediation is one service line within a plumbing-first company. If your mold situation is complex or not connected to a water event, a dedicated mold remediation firm with deeper specialization in that area may be a better fit.