Provider profile
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Richmond and Fort Bend County homeowners dealing with plumbing failures that lead to water damage and mold, where having one company handle the pipe repair, water extraction, and remediation under a single dispatch matters.
Best for
- Richmond and Fort Bend County residents who need a plumber and water damage crew dispatched together after a pipe burst or sewer backup.
- Homeowners who want one company to handle the full chain from plumbing repair through water extraction, drying, and mold remediation.
- After-hours emergencies where you need a live dispatcher at 2 a.m. rather than a voicemail and next-day callback.
- Insurance-covered water damage claims where you want a company that documents every stage and bills your carrier directly.
About this company
Roto-Rooter in Richmond, Texas is a franchise location of the national plumbing brand that has operated since 1935. Based at 301 S 9th St, Suite 205, this location is managed by Mike Krysa and serves the broader Houston metro area. The Richmond office handles plumbing repairs, drain cleaning, water damage restoration, and mold remediation under one roof. They dispatch 24/7, 365 days a year, with no surcharge for nights, weekends, or holidays.
The distinguishing feature here is scope. Most mold remediation companies cannot fix the plumbing problem that caused the water damage. Roto-Rooter can diagnose a burst pipe, repair it, extract the water, dry the structure, and remediate any resulting mold growth without handing you off to a second contractor. Their water damage crews use truck-mounted extractors, moisture meters, air movers, and dehumidifiers. For contaminated water events, they apply antimicrobial treatment before rebuilding. The mold remediation page references HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, and IICRC/AMRT-trained technicians.
As a national franchise, you get standardized processes and dispatch infrastructure rather than a locally owned operation with deep community roots. The plumbing license is held by Ryan Throne (M-43414, Texas Board of Plumbing Examiners). Financing is available through Synchrony Bank for larger repairs.
4.8 stars across 269 Google reviews is a strong rating for a franchise operation this size. Most of the positive reviews center on a single technician, Delvin Bautista, who handles the majority of plumbing and drain calls for this location. That concentration of praise is both a strength and a dependency worth noting.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Richmond, Texas (Fort Bend County). This location serves the greater Houston metro area across 16 counties: Montgomery, Harris, Austin, Liberty, Fort Bend, Waller, Polk, Chambers, Walker, Tyler, Wharton, Jackson, Galveston, Matagorda, Brazoria, and Angelina. That is an unusually large claimed territory stretching well over 100 miles in some directions. Confirm response time for your specific address.
Review consensus
Delvin Bautista is the standout. He appears by name in over 20 positive reviews for drain clearing, plumbing diagnostics, and customer communication. Reviewers consistently praise his willingness to explain what he finds, offer maintenance tips, and work quickly. Nick and Justin drew praise for being polite and clear. Dustin was noted for a clean toilet installation and a tub repair. William earned multiple mentions for after-hours availability and treating an elderly customer well. Edgar fixed a midnight pipe burst. Curtis, Mario, Lloyd, and Steve each received individual positive mentions. The common thread across all positive reviews is clear communication before and during the repair.
4 found across 269 total reviews at 4.8★. The single 1-star review describes a technician who arrived, spent less than 5 minutes, charged $549, refused to inspect loose pipes, and was described as behaving as if he owned the house. The owner responded with a template directing the reviewer to email a customer satisfaction manager. A 2-star review from a Local Guide with 48 reviews notes there is no physical location at the listed address. Another 2-star review details a $360 charge to adjust a water heater vent without sealing it on the roof, plus an attempt to charge $300 for relighting a pilot light that was never out. The reviewer explicitly called the pricing predatory. A 3-star review was originally 5 stars but was downgraded after the reviewer felt Roto-Rooter pushed water restoration services without first attempting to fix the original leak.
The negative reviews cluster around pricing and upselling rather than work quality. The franchise model means pricing follows a national rate card rather than local market negotiation, which can produce sticker shock for smaller jobs. Owner responses are uniformly templated, all signed by Pat Swanson, Customer Satisfaction Manager, directing reviewers to email the same address. This looks like centralized reputation management rather than the local manager engaging with specifics. One response claimed the reviewer could not be found in their system, which may indicate a record-keeping gap or a different-name booking.
Delvin Bautista (plumbing technician -- strongly positive, named in 20+ reviews for drain clearing, diagnostics, and customer communication). Samuel (restoration -- mixed, praised in original 3-star review for calming demeanor but associated with a complaint about pushing restoration services). Nick (technician -- positive, praised for politeness). Justin (technician -- positive, praised alongside Nick). Dustin (technician -- positive, praised for toilet installation and tub repair). Curtis (technician -- positive, knowledgeable and got the job done). Mario (technician -- positive, resolved issue after two prior no-shows by other techs). Edgar (technician -- positive, fixed midnight pipe burst). William (technician -- positive, multiple mentions for after-hours help and kindness). Andrew (technician -- positive, mentioned alongside William). Lloyd/Loyd (technician -- positive, praised for detail and service). Steve (technician -- positive, AC drain cleanup). Pat Swanson (customer satisfaction manager -- mentioned in all owner responses).
Request Delvin Bautista by name if your job is plumbing or drain related. Get the full quote in writing before any work starts, and ask specifically whether every line item is necessary. If your job involves water damage restoration, get a second opinion on scope before approving the full remediation plan.
Keep in mind
- Multiple reviewers report high pricing and attempts to add charges for unnecessary services. One reviewer described being quoted $300 to relight a pilot light that was already lit. Another noted the company pushed water restoration services before addressing the original plumbing issue.
- This is a national franchise, not a locally owned shop. The standardized process is a strength for consistency, but the person answering the phone is a dispatcher, not the technician who will show up.
- The service area claim spans 16 counties across the Houston metro, from Galveston to Angelina County. That is an enormous territory. Confirm actual response time for your specific address before booking.
- Most of the positive reviews name one technician, Delvin. If he is unavailable, your experience may differ. Ask who will be assigned to your job when scheduling.
- Owner responses to negative reviews follow a template pattern, all directing complainants to the same email address. They do not engage with the specifics of each complaint.