Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Cleveland Heights homeowners dealing with water damage and mold together, who want one company to handle plumbing repair, water extraction, and mold removal in a single call.
Best for
- Cleveland Heights and eastern Greater Cleveland homeowners who need water damage cleanup and mold removal handled by the same company that fixes the leak.
- After-hours emergencies where a burst pipe or sewage backup has already caused flooding and mold risk is imminent.
- Commercial property managers in Coventry Village or surrounding areas who need a single vendor for plumbing, water extraction, and mold work.
- Homeowners who want their restoration company to handle insurance documentation and bill the insurer directly.
About this company
Roto-Rooter in Cleveland Heights is a franchise location of the national plumbing and water cleanup chain, headquartered at 14100 Cedar Rd. Mold remediation is one piece of a much larger operation that includes plumbing, drain cleaning, water damage restoration, and water heater work. Their differentiator for mold is that they fix the plumbing problem causing the moisture and handle the mold removal under one roof.
The mold remediation process they describe on their website includes moisture source identification, containment of affected areas, removal of contaminated materials, HEPA air filtration, antimicrobial treatment, and post-remediation assessment. They staff IICRC-trained technicians and use dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, and industrial-grade extraction equipment. The Cleveland Heights location specifically highlights the area's damp basements and older construction as conditions that make mold work relevant here.
Roto-Rooter has operated since 1935 as a national brand. The Cleveland Heights location is managed by Nick DeVries and covers Cuyahoga, Lorain, Geauga, and Erie counties. They run 24/7, 365 days a year, with no extra charges for nights, weekends, or holidays. They offer financing through Synchrony Bank and work directly with insurance companies on claims documentation.
4.8 stars across 1,022 Google reviews is a strong number for a franchise operation handling this volume of calls. Most of the recent positive reviews mention plumbing and drain work rather than mold specifically, which tracks with their identity as a plumbing-first company that added restoration services.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Serves the eastern Greater Cleveland metro area across Cuyahoga, Lorain, Geauga, and Erie counties. Named service cities include Shaker Heights, South Euclid, University Heights, Lyndhurst, Beachwood, Pepper Pike, Mayfield Heights, Garfield Heights, Solon, Euclid, Lakewood, Parma, and dozens more across the region.
Review consensus
Owen dominates the recent positive reviews, appearing in roughly a dozen 5-star entries over the past two months. Customers praise his clear explanations of problems, willingness to identify additional issues without pressure, and fast work on drains, showers, and water heaters. Selena Johnson noted Owen and Korey went above and beyond to find a basement leak source during a drain unclog. Matt Z gets strong marks for after-hours responsiveness, including a Friday-night water heater call where he replaced both units by the next afternoon. Matt S, Carlos, Jamir, Leslie, Arthur, Allen, Larry, Van, and Rick each receive individual praise. Same-day service and prompt arrival times come up repeatedly.
4 found across 1022 total reviews at 4.8★. 4 found across 1,022 total reviews at 4.8 stars. Mark Noble (Local Guide, 12 reviews) described a seven-hour visit where he felt the crew staged a high-pressure sales pitch for $20,000 in emergency sewer work, paid up front. He hired another company for a quarter of the price. The owner response could not locate his record. Christian Reese reported booking an appointment online, having no one show up, rescheduling, having no one show again, and then receiving a cancellation email. Cecilia Foreman posted that the 24-hour availability did not match her experience. Jack Hart acknowledged good customer service but called $400+ for a shut-off valve replacement unreasonable.
The pricing complaints span both 1-star and 2-star reviews and touch different service types: sewer work, valve replacement, garbage disposal, drain cleaning. This pattern is consistent with Roto-Rooter's flat-fee pricing model, which bundles labor, parts, and overhead into a single quote. Customers who price-check individual parts feel overcharged. The owner response pattern is notable: Pat Swanson responds to every negative review with nearly identical language directing the reviewer to email, without addressing the specific complaint. This looks like centralized reputation management rather than local problem-solving.
Owen (plumber/technician — strongly positive, mentioned in 12+ reviews for clear explanations and fast work). Matt Z (plumber — positive, praised for after-hours water heater replacements and professionalism). Matt S (plumber — positive, praised for sink repair and drain diagnostics). Jamir (technician #7411 — mixed; one 5-star review for fast water heater fix with great attitude, one 2-star where customer praised Jamir personally but criticized the company's honesty). Carlos (plumber — positive, praised for trustworthiness and going out of his way). Leslie (technician — positive, resolved issue in under ten minutes). Arthur (plumber — positive, praised for handling a holiday basement drain backup). Allen (technician — positive, praised for hot water tank repair). Larry (plumber, Solon office — positive, praised as a repeat-visit technician). Van (plumber — positive, praised for knowing what to do and explaining it). Korey (technician — positive, mentioned working with Owen). Rick (technician — positive, mentioned working with Owen). Pat Swanson (Customer Satisfaction Manager — responds to all negative reviews with template language).
Ask for Owen or Matt Z by name if you can. Get a written estimate before any work starts and compare it to at least one other quote, especially for jobs over $500. Roto-Rooter's strength here is the one-call convenience for water emergencies that involve both plumbing repair and mold risk, but their flat-fee pricing runs higher than smaller local competitors.
Keep in mind
- Roto-Rooter does both mold testing and mold remediation, which creates a financial incentive to find problems and then sell the fix. Consider getting an independent mold assessment before committing to their remediation scope.
- Pricing is the most consistent complaint in recent reviews. Multiple reviewers describe costs they found excessive for the work performed, including $400+ for a shut-off valve replacement and $900 to unclog a kitchen sink. Roto-Rooter charges flat fees, not hourly rates, so get the full written estimate before authorizing work.
- This is a national franchise, not a local mold specialist. Mold remediation is a secondary service line behind plumbing and water damage. Ask specifically about the mold experience of the technician being sent to your job.
- All 10 recent negative reviews received a response from Pat Swanson, Customer Satisfaction Manager, but every response follows the same template directing the reviewer to email. None engage with the specific complaint publicly.