Roto-Rooter Introduce
For residents and commercial property owners across Southeast Iowa, the name Roto-Rooter is often synonymous with emergency drain clearing and fast-acting plumbing service. Operating from their local base in Ottumwa, Roto-Rooter is a national brand with a local presence, specializing in tackling some of the most challenging issues that Iowa homes and businesses face, including persistent drain clogs, main sewer line repairs, and the aftermath of water emergencies like basement flooding. Their service profile is extensive, covering everything from the smallest toilet repair to large-scale water damage restoration, providing a comprehensive solution for plumbing-related crises.
The unique advantage of this Roto-Rooter location is its dual specialization in both plumbing and water cleanup. Given the heavy rains, storms, and potential for frozen pipes in Iowa, the ability to transition seamlessly from fixing the source of a leak (e.g., a burst pipe or backed-up sewer) to immediate Water Damage Cleanup and Mold Remediation is a vital resource for local users facing sudden, catastrophic events. This integrated approach is designed to restore property function and safety quickly and efficiently.
As a local provider, Roto-Rooter aims to be the go-to source for both routine maintenance and unexpected disasters, offering the Rooter Plumbing And Drain Cleaning service the company is nationally known for. While the national brand heavily advertises 24/7 Emergency Service Available and no extra charge for nights, weekends, and holidays, local users often call upon them during the most stressful of circumstances, expecting immediate and courteous professional assistance.
The Roto-Rooter service center for this region is situated at 735 Gateway Dr, Ottumwa, IA 52501, USA. This central location in Wapello County allows the team to efficiently dispatch technicians to service calls throughout the city of Ottumwa and surrounding areas in Southeast Iowa, utilizing the common (641) area code for local communication. A prompt response time is particularly crucial in a regional setting, where homeowners rely on nearby contractors to address urgent plumbing issues before they can escalate into major structural damage.
The Ottumwa address serves as the operational hub for technicians who provide onsite repair services to residential and commercial properties dealing with a wide array of problems, from simple Faucet Repair to complex Sewer Lines And Excavation. Their physical presence means that heavy-duty equipment necessary for Drain Cleaner, Video Camera Inspection, and other specialized services can be rapidly deployed to any affected area within their service reach, which is a major factor in minimizing damage from Main Sewer Drain backups or Basement Flooding.
Roto-Rooter provides an exhaustive list of services, structured around solving immediate problems (clogs, leaks) and mitigating long-term damage (water cleanup, pipe replacement). Their comprehensive offering addresses the full life cycle of a property’s water and waste systems:
- Drain and Sewer Specialization: This is the company's core offering, including Drain cleaning, Drain Cleaner application, Drain Clogs removal, Main Drain Line and Main Sewer Line servicing, Sewer Cleaning, Sewer Clogs, Sewer repair, Repair Sewer, and Septic Systems and Septic Tank maintenance.
- Emergency Plumbing and Diagnostics: Rapid-response services like Emergency Plumbing Services, Emergency Service Available, Leak Repair, Water Leaking assessment, Plumbing pipe repair, and the essential Video Camera Inspection for diagnosing hidden issues.
- Water Damage and Restoration: Crucial services for property recovery, featuring Basement Flooding Clean Up, Plumbing And Water Cleanup, Water Damage Cleanup, Water Damage Restoration, Water Extraction, Water Removal, and Mold Remediation following severe flooding or leaks.
- Advanced Pipe and Underground Solutions: Modern, less intrusive methods such as Trenchless Pipe Repair, Sewer Lines And Excavation, and the repair or replacement of Frozen Pipes—a common winter concern for Iowa residents.
- Fixture, Appliance, and General Plumbing: Routine and necessary maintenance, including Basic Plumbing services, Plumbing Installations And Maintenance, Toilet repair, Toilet Faucets service, Faucet Repair, Shower Repair, Sink Repair, Garbage Disposal Repair, Dishwasher Installation, Washing Machines hookup, Sump Pumps installation, and Tankless Water Heaters service.
- Commercial and Outdoor Service: Specialized support for businesses and external systems, covering Commercial Plumbing and Outdoor Plumbing needs.
This vast list confirms Roto-Rooter's capability as the Largest Plumbing service provider in terms of service breadth, ensuring that whether an Ottumwa homeowner needs a simple shower repair or a commercial property requires extensive sewer maintenance, the necessary expertise and equipment are theoretically available through this local branch.
Roto-Rooter is widely marketed on the promise of reliability and comprehensive service, accepting Credit cards for convenient payment of often unexpected Repair services. The key feature promoted is 24/7 availability for emergency plumbing services, providing a crucial safety net for customers outside of standard business hours.
However, potential customers in the Iowa region should approach the advertised emergency services with careful consideration, as local customer experiences have been inconsistent. While the company's reputation is built on solving severe problems, specific local reports highlight significant issues with both communication and service delivery.
- Risk of Unprofessional Communication and Discouragement: One customer reported calling for an emergency on a Sunday only to receive a "rudest, most unprofessional" response, where the phone representative "flat-out told us that a 'smart person' would wait until Monday because weekend service costs more." This contradicts the national promise of seamless emergency service and suggests potential friction between the cost structure and the immediate availability advertised.
- Service Delivery Failures on Multi-Man Jobs: In a separate, highly concerning incident involving ankle-deep basement water from a main sewer backing up, the customer reported that the company sent only one person on two different days, both of whom stated they "can't do anything without a 2nd person here." This failure to send the necessary crew resulted in "absolutely nothing" being done for four days, forcing the customer to pump out the water and hire two other plumbers to resolve the emergency.
- Disputes Over Fraudulent Billing: Following the service failure described above, the customer received a bill for $180 claiming work had been completed (a wet wipe removed and the drain fixed) when, according to the client, the plumbing was never touched. This resulted in an allegation of fraudulent billing and a refusal by the company to cancel the disputed charge, leading to a major breakdown in customer trust and an intention to file an investigation with the FTC.
These incidents indicate that while the Roto-Rooter brand offers unparalleled scope and availability in theory, local users must prioritize clear, upfront communication regarding pricing, service commitment, and the required crew size for complex jobs to ensure the professional help is delivered effectively and ethically.
For local scheduling, emergency service inquiries, or to confirm service details for their comprehensive plumbing and water restoration offerings, Roto-Rooter in Ottumwa, IA, can be contacted using the following information:
- Address: 735 Gateway Dr, Ottumwa, IA 52501, USA
- Primary Phone: (641) 682-5157
- Mobile Phone: +1 641-682-5157
These contact numbers are the primary gateway to requesting their Emergency Service Available, which is vital for Iowans dealing with urgent Plumbing Problems like Basement Flooding.
Choosing Roto-Rooter is often a decision driven by the need for powerful, high-tech, and comprehensive solutions that go beyond the capabilities of smaller plumbers. For local users in Iowa, the company’s dual focus on Rooter Service and Water Damage Restoration is a significant advantage, particularly during the region’s challenging weather events. Their ability to deploy specialized equipment for Sewer Lines And Excavation, Video Camera Inspection, and Trenchless Pipe Repair offers homeowners and businesses methods to resolve complex underground issues with minimal disruption to their property.
When a customer experiences professional, efficient service—which the national brand strives for—they receive the benefit of decades of industry experience and a technician capable of addressing virtually any issue. The sheer volume of services, from Septic Systems to Mold Remediation, means the company can theoretically manage a plumbing crisis from initial clog diagnosis through to final property cleanup.
However, local users must exercise diligence and caution. Given the critical reports of highly unprofessional interactions, deceptive billing, and failure to provide adequate staffing for declared emergencies, it is strongly advised to obtain all service quotes and scope-of-work details in writing upfront, especially for weekend or complex jobs. While the breadth of Roto-Rooter’s services makes them a potent option for severe or unique plumbing problems, clear, professional communication and confirmation of service commitment are essential steps to ensure the high-end solutions are delivered reliably and ethically. If an emergency arises, users should utilize the contact information provided to establish clear expectations from the first call.
Roto-Rooter Services
Plumber
- Drain cleaning
- Plumbing pipe repair
- Sewer repair
- Toilet repair
- Basement Flooding Clean Up
- Basic Plumbing
- Commercial Plumbing
- Dishwasher Installation
- Drain Cleaner
- Drain Clogs
- Drain Fields
- Drains Drain
- Emergency Plumbing Services
- Emergency Service Available
- Faucet Repair
- Frozen Pipes
- Garbage Disposal Repair
- Largest Plumbing
- Leak Repair
- Main Drain Line
- Main Sewer Drain
- Main Sewer Line
- Mold Remediation
- Outdoor Plumbing
- Plumbing And Water Cleanup
- Plumbing Installations And Maintenance
- Plumbing Leaks
- Plumbing Problems
- Plumbing Service And Repair
- Repair And Replacement
- Repair Sewer
- Rooter Plumbing And Drain Cleaning
- Rooter Service
- Septic Systems
- Septic Tank
- Sewer Cleaning
- Sewer Clogs
- Sewer Lines And Excavation
- Sewer System
- Shower Repair
- Sink Repair
- Sump Pumps
- Tankless Water Heaters
- Toilet Faucets
- Toilet Repair
- Trenchless Pipe Repair
- Video Camera Inspection
- Washing Machines
- Water Damage Cleanup
- Water Damage Restoration
- Water Extraction
- Water Leaking
- Water Removal
Roto-Rooter Details
Offerings
- Repair services
Payments
- Credit cards
- Credit cards
Roto-Rooter Photos









Roto-Rooter Location
Roto-Rooter Reviews
pricesewercallbasementdraingentlemanmorningaugerfrustratedbusiness days
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1We had an emergency on a Sunday (and only one bathroom), so we called Roto-Rooter expecting help. Instead, we got one of the rudest, most unprofessional responses I have ever experienced. The guy on the phone flat-out told us that a “smart person” would wait until Monday because weekend service costs more, and then said we would be charged for his travel time since he was 30 minutes away. What made this even more ridiculous is that dispatch told us he was already out working, so why would we need to pay for his travel time? 🤥Regardless, it was clear he had zero interest in actually helping us. When you're dealing with an emergency, the last thing you should get is attitude and disrespect. This was not just unhelpful, it was insulting. We hung up feeling disrespected and stunned by how little they cared about our situation.Roto-Rooter made it very clear they do not value their customers. Do yourself a favor and call literally anyone else before wasting your time with them.
August 19 · Bree BartlettI will be opening a deceptive practices investigation with the FTC due to this business and fraudulent billing. They sent a single person out on two different days and both of the men showed up separately and said, "I can't do anything without a 2nd person here. We'll be back." No work was ever done and none of the plumbing was actually touched. I had mud in my toilet and bathtub and ankle deep water in my basement from the main sewer backing up after a storm. I had to pump out the water myself and hire two other plumbers to actually get something done, since Roto Rooter did absolutely nothing after 4 days without functioning plumbing. Well, lo and behold, I get a bill for $180 stating the first guy they sent out "removed a wet wipe and fixed the drain". Funny, because, as stated, nothing was ever touched by Roto Rooter as it was deemed a 2 man auger-job(by Roto themselves) and they never sent out 2 people at the same time. They are now refusing to cancel the bill that has fraudulent work billed on it. You cannot bill for work that was not done!
August 05 · Chris QuinnI called two places in Osky first, one ignored me the other wouldn't schedule me. Roto rooter scheduled me no problem and the two men who came to fix my sink did a great job.
May 11 · Kyle Marshall2 gentlemen came to the house today and did a super job! Very polite and friendly. They knew exactly what to do to fix our sewer problems. Would recommend them again if needed. The office girl that took our call was very polite as well.
November 13 · Debbie JackI've personally always went through Roto Rooter for all of my Plumbing needs.. I've sworn by you guys, until this year. On 4 different occasions earlier this year your guys came to work on my sewer, complete fail situation as I just Replaced the entire sewer system a month ago. BUT a new toilet that your guys installed was leaking. We had a recall about it, they said it was pressure from the sewer back up, toilet was fine. Okay, sewer is fixed and toilet is still leaking. To the point it's rotted out an entire floor and wall so light now shows through both and the mold damage is tremendous. Costing me further money on top of the $1000 I paid for your guys to not entirely not fix the problem. Waste of my time and money and I won't be a return customer. Thousands of $$ I've invested into your company only to feel like Roto Rooter is only a bandaid because none of my issues were fixed, they only caused further damage. Extremely disappointed (as I was) going to call and have your guys come replumb my entire basement as I did with my previous house. (It's in your records) and husband flat out said absolutely not because of the damages caused by neglectful work and lack of accountability in fixing the entire issue, afterall you're the professionals.. Busy or not, day to day customers should always come first.
November 19 · Holly Kempf
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