Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Rahway and Union County homeowners dealing with water damage that has led to mold growth, who want a national-brand plumber to fix the leak and handle remediation in one call with 24/7 availability.
Best for
- Rahway and Union County homeowners who discover mold after a pipe burst, basement flood, or sewer backup and want one company to fix the plumbing and handle remediation.
- Property managers and landlords across central New Jersey who need a single vendor for emergency plumbing, water damage cleanup, and mold work on a 24/7 schedule.
- Homeowners dealing with insurance claims for water damage, since Roto-Rooter documents the damage and coordinates directly with insurance carriers.
- Buyers who prioritize fast response over specialty focus. Multiple reviewers report same-day service and arrivals within hours of calling.
About this company
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup is a national franchise location based in Rahway, New Jersey, managed by Scott Jackson. Their primary identity is plumbing and water damage restoration. Mold remediation is a secondary service that grows out of their water damage work. They handle residential and commercial jobs across a large swath of central and northern New Jersey, covering 10 counties from Bergen to Monmouth. The Rahway office operates 24/7, 365 days a year, and they hold New Jersey plumbing license MP #36BI01320500 under John Lucchese.
What stands out is the single-call pipeline from plumbing repair to water extraction to mold remediation. Their website describes IICRC-certified water restoration technicians handling the dryout, and AMRT-trained crews handling mold work with HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and antimicrobial treatments. They also do air quality testing and post-remediation inspection. Because they are a plumbing company first, they can fix the pipe, drain, or sump pump that caused the moisture and then handle the mold that followed. Most standalone mold companies cannot do the plumbing repair themselves.
Roto-Rooter has operated nationally since 1935. This Rahway location carries a BBB A+ rating and lists memberships with the Institute of Real Estate Management and NJ Apartment Association. Several website pages reference Synchrony Bank financing for larger jobs. The Rahway location also offers $55 off plumbing or drain service via coupon, plus senior and military discounts.
At 4.9 stars across 667 Google reviews, this is an exceptionally high rating for a high-volume franchise location. That volume gives the rating statistical weight that a 4.9 on 30 reviews would not have.
Services
Service area
Headquartered at 1600 St Georges Ave, Suite 215, Rahway, New Jersey. They serve 10 counties: Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, Union, Bergen, Passaic, and Hunterdon. Specific communities named on their website include Woodbridge, Roselle, Nutley, Verona, West Orange, New Brunswick, Bridgewater, Warren, West Windsor, Montgomery, Manalapan, Princeton, Union City, Weehawken, and South River. That is a very large territory for one office. Confirm response time for locations far from Rahway.
Review consensus
Angel is the standout name. At least 12 separate reviewers praise him by name for fast work, clear explanations, and friendly demeanor. E. George described him figuring out a clog by process of elimination. Sarge Gsa credited him with installing a water pump in a difficult area. Chris Zaturoski, a Local Guide with 46 reviews, praised his communication and customer service on a tenant's apartment. Juan is the second most mentioned technician, with praise from Mike, Linda Pham, Chris Bocchino, Christine Gizzi Giaimo, Alex Giaimo, Patrick Smith, and Wass Demha. Reviewers describe him as a clear communicator who explains options and pricing upfront. Andrew, Warren, and Jerry each appear once in positive reviews. Multiple reviewers note same-day scheduling and fast arrivals.
2 found across 667 total reviews at 4.9★. Devon Stevenson described paying nearly $4,000 with little to show for it and singled out Sonia, a phone staff member, for telling the customer the company took the job out of pity and to not contact them again. The owner response from Pat Swanson stated they could not locate the customer's record, which leaves the complaint unverified. Carlos Solorzano, a reviewer with 8 reviews, described a toilet replacement where the technician forgot to close a valve, flooding the floor and damaging first-floor ceiling lights. He also noted missing screws, incomplete sealing, and a cup placed to catch a tank leak.
Pricing is the thread connecting most negatives. Both 2-star reviews from John MacDougall and Anant Sookdeo simply say the company is overpriced, and Linda Samuelsen's 2-star review calls them ridiculously expensive while also noting the technician was too much of a salesman. This is consistent with national franchise pricing, which tends to run higher than independent plumbers. Notably, Anant praised the technician himself and directed his frustration at the company's pricing structure. All owner responses come from Pat Swanson, Customer Satisfaction Manager, and follow a template pattern: acknowledge the concern, ask the customer to email with address and review copy. None of the responses engage with pricing specifics or offer adjustments. One response date (John MacDougall, April 18) predates the review date (April 23), suggesting a pre-drafted or misattributed response.
Angel (technician — praised by 12+ reviewers for speed, clarity, and friendliness). Juan (technician — praised by 8+ reviewers for communication, upfront pricing, and professionalism). Andrew (technician — praised for knowledge). Warren (technician — praised for timeliness and clear explanations). Jerry (technician — praised alongside Juan for sewer line work). Sonia (phone staff — criticized in one review for rude comments). Pat Swanson (Customer Satisfaction Manager — responds to all negative reviews via template).
Ask for Angel or Juan if you can. Both are consistently praised by name and reviewers describe them as clear communicators who explain costs before starting. Get a written estimate upfront and compare pricing, because the most common complaint is sticker shock. If you need mold work, bring in an independent tester before letting them scope the remediation.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. That is a conflict of interest. The company that identifies mold has a financial incentive to find more of it. Get an independent mold assessment before authorizing remediation work.
- Pricing is the most consistent complaint. Three of five recent negatives specifically call out overcharging, with one reviewer reporting $684 for a drain snake job and another describing $4,000 with little to show for it. Get a written estimate and compare it against at least one other bid.
- Mold remediation is not their core business. They are a plumbing and water damage company that also handles mold. If you have a standalone mold problem unrelated to plumbing or water damage, a mold-focused firm may be a better fit.
- This is a franchise operation, not a local independent. Your experience depends on the specific technician dispatched. One reviewer noted that the phone dispatcher (Sonia) was rude, while the field technicians are consistently praised.
- They claim a service area spanning 10 counties across central and northern New Jersey. Confirm response time for locations far from the Rahway office, particularly in Hunterdon, Mercer, or Bergen counties.