Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Cary-area homeowners dealing with water damage that needs same-day plumbing repair and mold cleanup from one company, especially crawl-space properties on Piedmont clay.
Best for
- Cary, Apex, Morrisville, and Fuquay-Varina homeowners who need water damage cleanup and the plumbing repair that caused it handled by one company.
- Crawl-space homes in older Cary neighborhoods like Preston, Lochmere, or Kildaire Farms where Piedmont clay soil creates recurring moisture and pipe stress.
- Homeowners who want insurance claim documentation handled for them, since Roto-Rooter submits bills directly to insurance and provides photos, drying logs, and diagrams.
- After-hours emergencies where you need someone to pick up the phone at 2 AM, as multiple reviewers confirm same-day or same-night dispatch.
About this company
Roto-Rooter in Cary is a franchise location of the national plumbing and water damage company, headquartered at 744 E Chatham St. Their primary identity is plumbing and drain service, with water damage restoration and mold remediation as an added division. Unlike standalone mold companies, they handle the plumbing source repair and the mold cleanup in a single dispatch.
The Cary location runs IICRC-trained water restoration crews alongside its plumbing technicians. Their mold remediation page lists HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and antimicrobial treatments. They also reference AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician) training for their mold crews. The practical advantage is that when a burst pipe causes mold, one company fixes the pipe and dries the structure without waiting on a separate contractor.
The Cary branch is managed by Jim Lanham and operates 24/7 year-round. Roto-Rooter has been in business nationally since 1935. The local office covers Wake, Durham, Orange, Johnston, and several surrounding counties.
4.8 stars across 1,919 Google reviews is a strong rating for a high-volume franchise operation. Most negative reviews focus on pricing rather than work quality, which is a different risk profile than a company with workmanship complaints.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina. Serves Apex, Benson, Clayton, Four Oaks, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Kenly, Knightdale, Morrisville, Princeton, Selma, Smithfield, Wendell, and surrounding communities across Wake, Durham, Orange, Johnston, Franklin, Vance, Granville, and Person counties. Eight counties is a large footprint for one office, so response times in distant locations like Kenly or Benson will vary.
Review consensus
E-Mann (also written as Emanuel, Emmanuel, or Emanuell) is the most frequently named technician, praised across at least six reviews for fast diagnostics, clear communication, and fair pricing. Adrian draws repeat business and praise for early arrivals, quick assessments, and clean work. Sloan stands out for her knowledge on water heater issues. Facio gets noted for promptness and clear communication. Julius is praised for putting customers at ease during evening emergencies. The consistent positive themes are speed of response, willingness to explain the problem, and same-day resolution.
8 found across 1919 total reviews at 4.8★. Pricing dominates the complaints. Jerred Miklowcic (Local Guide, 25 reviews) paid over $500 for a drain clog and found other plumbers charge $300 maximum. Craig Brown paid $540 for 40 minutes of work. Patricia Miles paid nearly $300 for a 10-minute toilet unclog. Karina Diamond (Local Guide, 11 reviews) was quoted $6,500 to unclog a commode that another company fixed for $50 the next day; she also reports an unauthorized $500 charge and an uninvited restoration salesperson arriving behind the plumber. Anne Houston describes a supervisor who arrived uninvited, persuaded her retired husband to sign a mitigation agreement, told him not to speak with the insurance adjuster, and had the entire bathroom floor and toilet removed without confirming insurance coverage. Alex Watson (Local Guide, 95 reviews) scheduled an emergency sewer call and was strung along from 7 PM to 11:25 PM before the technician cancelled. When reviewers contact management about pricing disputes, multiple report the response was combative or dismissive.
Owner responses follow a rigid template: every negative review gets a near-identical reply from Pat Swanson directing the customer to email their address and ZIP code. In one case, the template misfired entirely: Anne Houston's 1-star review about aggressive upselling received the reply 'Thank you, Anne! We're so glad to hear you had a great experience.' This pattern suggests reputation management rather than genuine engagement with individual complaints. The pricing complaints cut across reviewer types, including multiple Local Guides with extensive review histories, which strengthens their credibility.
E-Mann / Emanuel / Emmanuel / Emanuell (plumber/technician — praised repeatedly for diagnostics, communication, and fair pricing). Adrian (technician — praised for early arrivals, quick assessments, thorough drain work). Sloan (technician — praised for water heater knowledge and friendliness). Facio (technician — praised for promptness and communication). Billy (technician — praised for water heater replacement). Tony (technician — praised for handling challenging repairs alongside E-Mann). Clayton (technician — praised for late-night courtesy). Dennis (supervisor — praised for following up on water mitigation). Julius (technician — praised for reassuring demeanor during evening emergencies). John (technician — praised for hard work on pipe replacement). Case (technician — praised for diagnosing water pressure issues). Rick (mentioned in negative review — did not return a call about a delayed sewer line replacement). Pat Swanson (customer satisfaction manager — template owner responses on all negative reviews).
Ask for E-Mann or Adrian by name if you can. Before any work starts, demand a written, itemized estimate and compare it to at least one other local plumber. If a supervisor shows up and recommends restoration or mitigation work beyond what you called about, do not sign anything until you have spoken with your insurance adjuster independently.
Keep in mind
- Roto-Rooter does both mold testing and mold remediation. This is a conflict of interest: a company that finds the mold also profits from removing it. Consider getting an independent mold assessment before authorizing remediation work.
- Pricing is the single biggest complaint in their reviews. Multiple reviewers report $300-$540 for routine drain or toilet clogs, and one reviewer was quoted $6,500 to unclog a commode that another company fixed for $50. Get a written, itemized estimate before authorizing any work.
- Roto-Rooter does not provide estimates over the phone. Several reviewers were surprised by the final bill because they had no price comparison beforehand. Always ask for a line-item breakdown before the technician starts.
- One reviewer described an uninvited supervisor pushing a mitigation agreement that resulted in unnecessary bathroom demolition and a $2,500 deductible hit. If a supervisor arrives and recommends add-on restoration work, contact your insurance adjuster before signing anything.
- Their service area spans 8 counties across the Raleigh metro. Response times in outlying areas like Kenly, Selma, or Benson will likely be longer than in Cary proper.