Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Galveston Island homeowners dealing with storm flooding or pipe failures who want plumbing repair and water damage restoration handled by one company in a single call.
Best for
- Galveston and Galveston County homeowners who need mold remediation tied to a plumbing failure or flood event and want one company to handle everything from pipe repair through restoration.
- Homeowners dealing with storm damage, sewer backups, or burst pipes who need same-day emergency water extraction before mold can take hold.
- Commercial property managers across the Houston metro who need a single vendor for plumbing, water damage, and mold work with insurance documentation included.
- Buyers who want a nationally backed company with 24/7 scheduling and financing options through Synchrony Bank.
About this company
Roto-Rooter in Galveston is a franchise location of the national plumbing chain, headquartered at 2101 Mechanic St. Their primary identity is plumbing and drain cleaning, not mold work. Mold remediation is one piece of a broader water damage restoration service they offer alongside emergency water extraction, structural drying, and sewage cleanup. Mike Krysa manages the Galveston office.
What sets this location apart from standalone mold companies is the plumbing-and-restoration combination. When a burst pipe causes water damage that leads to mold, Roto-Rooter handles the pipe repair, water extraction, drying, and mold remediation with one crew instead of requiring separate contractors. Their website states crews follow IICRC and AMRT standards and use HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and antimicrobial treatments. They also work directly with insurance companies on documentation and claims.
The Galveston office operates 24/7, 365 days a year, and serves 16 counties across the greater Houston metro area. Ryan Throne holds the plumbing license (M-43414). The location carries a BBB A+ rating and belongs to the PHCC and Houston Apartment Association, which signals commercial property management relationships.
4.8 stars across 137 Google reviews is strong for a franchise plumbing operation. Most of the praise goes to individual technicians by name, which suggests the Galveston office has built a stable crew rather than cycling through short-term hires.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Galveston, TX at 2101 Mechanic St. The Galveston office claims to serve 16 counties across the greater Houston metro area: Montgomery, Harris, Austin, Liberty, Fort Bend, Waller, Polk, Chambers, Walker, Tyler, Wharton, Jackson, Galveston, Matagorda, Brazoria, and Angelina. That is an enormous geographic footprint stretching over 100 miles in some directions from Galveston Island, so confirm response times for your specific location.
Review consensus
Reviewers consistently name individual technicians. Kevin draws praise across at least five reviews for fast diagnosis, clear explanations, and efficient work. Felipe earns vivid descriptions of his tenacity on difficult drain jobs, with one reviewer calling him "a gentleman and a warrior." Stevon gets repeat callbacks and multiple reviewers specifically request him by name, praising his thoroughness and ability to remember customers across properties. Chris receives praise for same-day water heater replacements and late-night plumbing calls. Joaquin clears clogs quickly and explains sewer issues clearly. Multiple reviewers note same-day or same-evening scheduling, shoe covers when entering homes, and fair pricing.
5 found across 137 total reviews at 4.8★. Elle Ette asked for a quote over 15 times and never received one. A technician then showed up unrequested the next morning and told the elderly tenants the property owner was broke and would not make repairs. James Andrews left a one-line review saying he could not get anyone to tell him what was repaired. Marisa Tong reported that a drain repair from March caused a pipe break and leak three months later, and she had to find the leak herself. Susan Cook waited four hours for a technician who arrived only to say he could not service the faucet because the supply warehouse had already closed. Francisco Cabello, a Local Guide with 182 reviews, called for an estimate and was told the visit would cost $99 despite the website advertising free estimates. When he pointed out the contradiction, the representative hung up on him.
The franchise structure creates a split between field technicians and phone/office operations. Nearly all praise goes to named technicians who show up and do the work. Nearly all complaints involve what happens before or after the visit: quotes never sent, unclear billing, unrequested return visits, and a phone representative who hung up on a caller. The owner response pattern reinforces this split. Pat Swanson, the Customer Satisfaction Manager, responds to 100% of negative reviews with nearly identical template text directing reviewers to email. The response to Marisa Tong's 1-star complaint is copy-pasted from what was originally a positive review thank-you, thanking her for "kind words about Chris" on a review where she says she would not recommend them to her worst enemy.
Kevin (technician -- praised in 5 reviews for fast diagnosis and clear communication). Felipe (Tech #2001 -- praised in 4 reviews for tenacity on tough drain jobs). Stevon (technician -- praised in 5+ reviews, repeat customers request him by name). Chris (technician -- praised in 4 reviews for water heater work and after-hours calls). Joaquin (technician -- praised in 4 reviews for fast drain clearing). Josh/Josh A (technician -- praised in 2 reviews). Curtis (technician -- praised for late-evening drain work). Steven (technician -- praised for working around schedules). Lloyd and Jason (technicians -- praised together in one review). Dustin (technician -- praised for fast fix). Juan and Cesar (technicians -- praised for shower leak repair and water damage check). Louis (technician -- praised for knowledge). Sterling (technician -- praised alongside Joaquin). Benjamin, Jay, Cesar, and Eric (technicians -- praised together). Floyd and Matt (technicians -- praised for speed). Alex (technician -- praised alongside Stevon). Pat Swanson (Customer Satisfaction Manager -- named in all owner responses). James (phone representative -- named in one complaint for quoting $99 fee and hanging up).
The field technicians at this Galveston office are the strength. Ask for Kevin, Felipe, or Stevon by name if you can. Get your quote and scope of work in writing before any technician arrives, because the office communication has let multiple customers down. If your mold issue stems from a plumbing failure or flood, the one-company approach saves time. If you need standalone mold work with no plumbing component, a dedicated mold remediation firm will likely give the job more focused attention.
Keep in mind
- Mold remediation is not their core business. Roto-Rooter is a plumbing company first, and mold work is an add-on to their water damage restoration service. If you need standalone mold remediation unrelated to a plumbing or water event, a dedicated mold company may be a better fit.
- Multiple reviewers report communication failures after initial contact. One reviewer asked over 15 times for a quote and never received one. Another could not get information about what work was performed. Confirm pricing and scope in writing before work begins.
- The website advertises free estimates, but at least one reviewer was told the visit costs $99 (credited toward work). When the reviewer pointed out the discrepancy, the phone representative hung up. Clarify the fee structure when you call.
- All five recent negative reviews received the same template response from the same customer satisfaction manager directing the reviewer to email. None of the responses engaged with the specific complaint, which suggests reputation management rather than problem resolution.
- They claim to serve 16 counties across the Houston metro. Galveston is on an island roughly 50 miles from central Houston. Confirm the Galveston crew specifically will handle your job rather than a Houston-area team with a longer response time.