Roto-Rooter

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While the work was completed, it was far from satisfactory. I called Roto-Rooter to unclog the main sewer line of the house my fiance and I just purchased. As it turned out there was a break in the line, which was made of orangeburg. A 50 year old pipe with a 50 year life expectancy.



The two plumbers they sent out, one from Roto-Rooter and one contracter running the excavator, were lethargic in their work pace. It was warm sunny day and my father who is a Stone Masson and Forman in Northern Virginia was there with me to make sure no corners were cut. These two plumbers should of had the work done by 2 or 3 o'clock. but they didn't finish until 6 o'clock. It took them 9 hours to dig a whole and glue 8 pieces of pipe together. I spent half of the day watching one of the two stand and look at the work to be done rather than working on it. The other half I spent handing them tools, materials, changing saw blades for them and doing most of the leg work. They didn't even have the tools and materials needed to complete the job. I let them barrow my WD40, Sharpie, Zip Ties, Chop Saw, Hammer Drill, 2x4, and rebar. When one of the plumbers nicked himself with his angle grinder, I had to administer first aid. It is OSHA's requirement that he has a first aid kit in his van. I could of called OSHA and had the whole project shut done. OSHA is very serious about safety.



Since they were too late for the inspecter to check the work, he had to return the next day. Which caused me to miss work again and wait until 5:30pm for them to back fill the dirt. According to the inspector and common sense, they were supposed to cover the pipe with gravel, remove the debris which included the old sewage pipe full of bacteria and you know what goes in there, 2x4's and old bricks. Then leave a two foot crown so the dirt can settle naturally and not leave a dip in my yard in two weeks.



When I told them what the inspector had said, The excavator argued with me, back talked me like I was his misbehaved child. This is not the level of respect I assume when paying six thousand dollars for work. Then he proceded to not cover the pipe with gravel, not remove the debris including the nasty sewage pipe now in my yard, and not leave a crown of dirt on top.



Now if I tell the county inspecter this, he'll make them redo the work. A general manager for Roto-Rooter is coming out to inspect the work, but is considering this a job well done with minor performance flaws. This is unacceptable. The work was not done to code and therefor unsatisfactory. The following day will determine the resolution of the issue and if I need to have the work redone. The county Inspector has the final say, but I know he won't be happy either. It's a shame to pay premium cost for half grade work that isn't to code because of laziness and cutting corners. I will never work with or through Roto-Rooters again.

Crooks and thugs. Everyone from the dispatcher to the "master plumber" lied to me on multiple occasions and charged me $2500 (about $800 too much, by another plumber's estimate) for the work they did. Don't use them unless you want to be ripped off.

While I hope I do not run into plumbing issues in the future, I would call Roto- Rooter up without a second thought if I do. Quality of work is important to me, but just as crucial to me is the quality of customer service. Cliff arrived during the allotted appointment time, quoted us a price, explained the work he would be doing and went to work quickly. No one wants to feel fleeced or talked down to and Cliff Brooks does not do that in the slightest. He explained what he did and exactly how our home drainage was working. He gave me a written guarantee and said that they stand behind their work and wants us to call them back if we have any issues. I give Roto-Rooter and their technician, Cliff Brooks, a two thumbs up.