Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Solon and Chagrin Valley homeowners dealing with basement flooding who want one company to handle the plumbing repair, water extraction, and mold work in a single coordinated process.
Best for
- Solon, Chagrin Falls, and greater Cleveland homeowners who need emergency water extraction and mold work handled by a single company
- Basement flooding situations where the plumbing source and the water damage need to be fixed in one coordinated visit
- Commercial property managers who need 24/7 availability and insurance documentation handled for them
- Homeowners on well water in Geauga County communities like Newbury or Burton who also need water quality testing and filtration
About this company
Roto-Rooter in Solon is a franchise location of the national chain, headquartered at 5375 Naiman Pkwy and managed by Nick DeVries. They handle plumbing, drain cleaning, water damage restoration, and mold remediation across the greater Cleveland metro area. The Solon operation covers Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lorain, and Erie counties.
What sets this location apart from standalone mold companies is the single-provider model. When a pipe bursts and causes water damage that leads to mold, Roto-Rooter sends one team to fix the plumbing source, extract water, dry the structure, and remediate mold — no coordinating between separate contractors. Their technicians hold IICRC credentials, and they staff emergency calls around the clock including weekends and holidays. They also handle insurance documentation and work directly with adjusters.
The national brand has operated since 1935, and this Solon location focuses heavily on the Northeast Ohio problems that come with clay soil, freeze-thaw cycles, and basement-equipped homes. Their trucks arrive stocked for most common repairs.
4.8 stars across 2,252 Google reviews is a strong number for a franchise operation this size. The volume alone means the rating has withstood thousands of individual experiences. That said, the negative reviews cluster tightly around pricing and diagnosis accuracy — worth reading before you call.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Solon, Ohio at 5375 Naiman Pkwy. Covers the greater Cleveland metro area across Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lorain, and Erie counties. Named service communities include Chagrin Falls, Bedford, Brecksville, Maple Heights, Bainbridge, Newbury, Novelty, Burton, Huntsburg, and Middlefield. The four-county claim is broad but consistent with their franchise footprint.
Review consensus
Solomon stands out as the most-mentioned technician, appearing in six recent reviews for sump pump installation, drain work, and leak repairs. Reviewers describe him as someone who explains options clearly and handles complicated problems. Korey (also spelled Kory and Koley) appears in eight recent reviews, mostly for drain clearing, and draws praise for patience and a positive attitude even on difficult clogs. Vernon gets credit for water heater replacements with attention to safety checks. Andrew, Steven, and Carlo each appear once with praise for clear communication. Across positive reviews, the consistent themes are punctual arrival, clean work, and technicians who walk homeowners through what they are doing.
16 found across 2,252 total reviews at 4.8★. Pricing dominates. Sam Q was quoted $380-$499 for a clogged kitchen drain that a handyman fixed for $100. Amati Pettes paid $1,500 for a toilet replacement and names Bill as the technician. Joe Primus paid $450 for 30 minutes of shower work. Nathan paid $500 only to be told his sewer issue was the city's problem — the city fixed it for free the next day. Larry Hudson in Bedford says even city employees told him Roto-Rooter charges too much. Extra Terrestrial describes a situation where technicians pressured an elderly family member into nearly $10,000 of repairs that turned out to be much smaller than estimated, then tried to sell another $10,000 job. Chris Reid was quoted $12,000+ for a broken pipe under the basement floor — a second plumber found no break at all. Cheryl Vitko had a nearly identical experience: quoted around $10,000 for a pipe break that did not exist. Beyond pricing, no-shows are a recurring problem. G. Nicholas Mineff waited three hours with no arrival. Dave Maurer received a confirmation email but nobody showed or called. Halli Andrews was told between 3-5pm, got a call after 4pm saying they were still looking for a plumber, then was told nobody could come. Vincent Ubienski was told 8-10am but the tech arrived after 1pm because dispatch in Chicago gave the wrong window. Nothing Nn describes a technician who refused to use the outside cleanout because of snow, spent four hours making the problem worse, then called police over a credit card number instead of waiting until morning.
The pricing and misdiagnosis complaints point to a structural issue common with large franchise operations: technicians work on commission or flat-rate pricing models that incentivize higher quotes. Two separate reviewers describe being quoted roughly $10,000 for pipe breaks that independent plumbers confirmed did not exist. The dispatch problems also trace to the franchise structure — the call center operates from Chicago, not locally, which explains the scheduling disconnects. The owner responses reinforce this pattern: every single negative review, regardless of the complaint, receives an identical template directing the customer to email Pat Swanson. The response to Cheryl Vitko's 1-star review about a fabricated $10,000 diagnosis actually thanks her 'for your kind words.' This is reputation management by template, not genuine complaint resolution.
Solomon (technician — praised in 6 reviews for sump pumps, drains, leaks, and clear explanations). Korey/Kory/Koley (technician — praised in 8 reviews for drain clearing and positive attitude). Vernon/Vern (technician — praised in 3 reviews for water heater work and safety thoroughness). Andrew (technician — praised for thoroughness and kindness). Steven (technician — praised for explaining work and teaching prevention). Carlo (technician — praised for efficiency and fair pricing). Bill (technician — named in 1-star review by Amati Pettes for $1,500 toilet replacement). Pat Swanson (Customer Satisfaction Manager — responds to all negative reviews with identical template).
Roto-Rooter Solon delivers strong day-to-day plumbing and drain work — Solomon and Korey in particular have built solid reputations with customers. But get a second quote before authorizing anything over $500. Two reviewers describe being told they had broken pipes that did not exist, and the pricing complaints are too consistent to ignore. If you book, ask which technician is assigned and confirm the arrival window with the local office, not the national call center.
Keep in mind
- Roto-Rooter does both mold testing and mold remediation. This creates a financial incentive to find problems they then get paid to fix. Ask whether they use a third-party inspector for the initial mold assessment or if their own team handles both sides.
- Pricing is the single biggest complaint in recent reviews. Multiple reviewers report quotes two to ten times higher than what independent plumbers charged for identical work. Get a written estimate and compare it with at least one local competitor before authorizing any job over $500.
- Several reviewers — including Chris Reid and Cheryl Vitko — describe diagnoses that a second plumber later contradicted entirely. One was quoted $12,000 for a broken pipe that did not exist. If you receive a large estimate, pay for a second camera inspection from an independent company.
- Dispatch operates from a centralized call center, not locally. Multiple reviewers report no-shows, inaccurate arrival windows, and difficulty canceling. Confirm your appointment window directly with the local Solon office if possible.
- Every negative review receives the same template response directing the customer to email Pat Swanson. None of the responses engage with the specific complaint or offer a concrete resolution.