Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Services

Company Overview

During the year 1933, Samuel Blanc created a distinctive sewer cleaning apparatus crafted from the motor of a 1/6 HP Maytag washing machine, roller skate wheels, combined with a 3/8-inch cable to drive the blades. The device utilized specialized cutting blades or “cutters” to eliminate tree roots obstructing the sewer system. Excavation was not needed. The following year, his spouse Lettie named the initial model the “Roto-Rooter.”

Inaugurated in 1935, Roto-Rooter is now the leading provider of plumbing and drain cleaning services in North America. In 1980, the Blanc family divested Roto-Rooter to the Cincinnati-based Chemed Corporation, which led to Roto-Rooter relocating its headquarters to Cincinnati. In 1986, Roto-Rooter was separated into a publicly traded entity, while Chemed held the controlling interest. In August of 1996, Roto-Rooter became once more a complete subsidiary when Chemed bought back all shares that were outstanding.

Roto-Rooter provides a continually growing selection of maintenance and repair services to residential and business customers. Our aim is to be the leading provider in the field of repair and maintenance. As always, we remain committed to attending to our customers and enhancing our service options to satisfy and exceed their changing needs.

Roto-Rooter operates in more than 100 branches owned by the company as well as independent contractor areas with nearly 500 franchise operations, serving about 90% of the U.S. population and select regions in Canada.