Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Palmyra and Lebanon County homeowners dealing with water damage that led to mold growth, where having plumbing repair, water mitigation, and mold removal handled by one 24/7 crew saves time.
Best for
- Palmyra, Hershey, Lebanon, and surrounding Lebanon County homeowners who need mold removal tied to a water damage event and want one company to handle both.
- Owners of older homes with cast iron drains and clay-heavy soil where pipe failures cause basement flooding and subsequent mold growth.
- Anyone who needs emergency water extraction at odd hours — they respond 24/7 with equipped trucks and have a track record of same-day arrivals.
- Commercial properties in the greater Harrisburg-Lancaster corridor that need water damage and mold work coordinated under one contract.
About this company
Roto-Rooter's Palmyra location is a plumbing-first franchise that also handles water damage restoration and mold remediation. It operates as an independent contractor under the national Roto-Rooter brand, managed locally by Vince and Heather Tanyer out of 1308 E Main St in Palmyra. Mold work is a downstream add-on to their water damage services, not a standalone specialty.
What stands out here is the single-source model: the same crew that fixes the burst pipe also extracts the water, dries the structure, and removes any mold that grew. They run camera inspections and hydro-jetting on drain lines, and their website describes containment, removal, surface treatment, and post-remediation verification for mold jobs. They stock industrial extraction and drying equipment on their trucks. Nothing about the mold process is unusual for a restoration company, but having the plumbing diagnosis built into the same visit removes a handoff.
The Roto-Rooter brand has been around since 1935, and this Palmyra franchise serves a wide swath of central Pennsylvania — Lebanon, Dauphin, Lancaster, Cumberland, York, Perry, Adams, Franklin, Juniata, and Fulton counties. They hold Pennsylvania HIC license PA168711 and master plumber license MP 00948. They run 24/7, 365 days a year, with no upcharges for nights, weekends, or holidays.
4.8 stars across 597 Google reviews is strong volume for a local franchise. Only 2 reviews at 3 stars or below appeared in the last 18 months. That ratio — roughly 1 complaint per 300 reviews — suggests the operation runs consistently.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Palmyra, Pennsylvania. Serves Palmyra, Hershey, Hummelstown, Lebanon, Mechanicsburg, Lemoyne, Middletown, Elizabethtown, Lititz, Ephrata, Dillsburg, and surrounding communities across Lebanon, Dauphin, Lancaster, Cumberland, York, Perry, Adams, Franklin, Juniata, and Fulton counties. Ten counties is a broad claim for a single franchise location — coverage on the outer edges may involve longer wait times.
Review consensus
Reviewers repeatedly name specific technicians who communicate well and work fast. Horace draws the most mentions — praised for water mitigation cleanup, after-hours availability, and attention to detail across at least 8 reviews. Mike gets called out for same-day drain service, camera inspections, and sending video of sewer lines. Adam and Seth appear together on water mitigation and sewer line excavation jobs, with multiple reviewers noting they explained the process before starting. Andrew handled emergency toilet overflows and drew praise for speed and friendliness. James gets mentioned for weekend responsiveness and drain work. Steve solved a problem and got a direct shout-out. Several reviewers note the team arrived within an hour of calling, including nights and weekends.
2 found across 597 total reviews at 4.8★. (2 found across 597 total reviews at 4.8★) Benjamin Berard (May 2026) gave 1 star after a drain repair in his basement. The tech unplugged his freezer to power equipment and never plugged it back in, ruining the contents. He called multiple times with no callback. The owner responded claiming the tech used an open outlet and that they tried reaching Benjamin 6 times — Benjamin edited his review to say he received no calls, voicemails, texts, or emails. The two sides directly contradict each other on verifiable facts. Brian Gosalvez (April 2025, Local Guide with 25 reviews) gave 3 stars after a tub unclogging. The plumber was friendly and explained the work well, but the tub started draining slowly again within a week. The owner responded with a template thank-you that did not address the recurring issue.
The owner responds to 100% of recent negative reviews, but the quality varies. The response to Benjamin's freezer complaint engaged with specifics and offered a factual counter-narrative, though the customer disputed every claim. The response to Brian's recurring drain issue was a generic thank-you that ignored the actual problem. Two data points are not enough to call this a pattern, but the contrast is worth noting.
Horace (water mitigation tech / cleanup lead — consistently positive across 8+ reviews). Mike (plumber / drain tech — positive, praised for camera inspections and same-day response). Adam (water mitigation / sewer line — positive, praised for communication and detail). Seth (plumber / water mitigation — positive, praised for going above and beyond). Andrew (plumber / emergency tech — positive, praised for speed on after-hours calls). James (plumber / drain tech — positive, praised for weekend availability and efficiency). Steve (plumber — positive, single mention for problem-solving).
With 2 complaints in 597 reviews, this Palmyra Roto-Rooter runs a tight operation. Ask for Horace if you need water mitigation cleanup, or Mike for drain diagnostics — both draw repeated praise by name. Watch for the conflict of interest on mold testing and remediation, and confirm any drain fix comes with a callback guarantee if the problem returns.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. A company that identifies the problem and sells the fix has a financial incentive to find mold. Ask whether they will accept a third-party mold test or require their own.
- Mold remediation is not their core business. They are a plumbing and water damage company first. If your mold problem is not related to a plumbing or water event, a mold-focused firm may bring deeper experience.
- This is a franchise operating as an independent contractor. National Roto-Rooter policies on pricing, guarantees, and service hours may not apply to this location.
- Their claimed service area spans 10 counties across central Pennsylvania. For locations on the outer edges — Fulton, Franklin, Juniata — confirm they actually dispatch crews to your area before booking.
- One recent reviewer reported a drain clog returning within a week of service. If you book drain work tied to a mold issue, ask what happens if the problem recurs.