Established in 1935, Roto-Rooter is the largest plumbing repair service in North America. The company is popular for their emergency plumbing services, but they also offer other kinds of maintenance work. Roto Rooter can fix anything from a clogged kitchen drain to blocked sewer lines. They also provide plumbing-related services like faucet installation.
Considered as one of the most in-demand plumbing companies, Roto-Rooter is also known for being expensive. But even though Roto Rooter prices are usually above the average drain cleaning cost, you get what you pay for. The question is: how much does Roto Rooter cost?
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Average Cost of Roto Rooter
The difference between an emergency plumbing company and other plumbers results to differences in drain cleaning cost. As an emergency plumbing company, Roto Rooter sends a plumber within an hour or two after a call. Plus, their services are available 24/7. This is one of the reasons why a Roto Rooter service costs more than other plumbers.
On the average, most homeowners pay $410 for unclogging a sewer main. Meanwhile, the average Roto Rooter prices can be anywhere between $100 and $800.
For drain problems, Roto Rooter can open your drain for $350. Roto Rooter also offers drain cleaning at around $230 to $600. Repairs for clogged toilets and other flushing-related components ranges from $170 to $350.
While Roto Rooter also provides other plumbing services, the company’s specialty lies in repairing pipes and sewer mains. The average range for a Roto Rooter price for a pipe repair is between $500 and $1,000.
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If the blockage is too difficult to remove or if the pipes are extremely old and damaged, it might be time for a replacement. Depending on the depth, length, and condition of the pipe, a complete sewer main replacement ranges from $4,000 to $8,000.
Aside from being available 24/7, another advantage of hiring a Roto Rooter plumber is their advanced equipment. For example, Roto Rooter offers an optional video inspection for sewer main repairs and replacement. This service uses a rod with a high-resolution camera to allow the plumber to “see” inside the pipe. A live video feed is transmitted so the plumber can evaluate the condition inside the pipe.
The price for a sewer video inspection starts at $250 and can reach up to $500. This may be steep but every dollar spent for the sewer video inspection is worth it. Using video inspection, the plumber can easily identify what damages are present and what areas of the pipe are affected. This will make digging for the damaged pipe and replacing the sewer main faster and more efficient.
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Aside from pipe repairs and maintenance, you may also call Roto Rooter to set up plumbing-related fixtures. Faucets and kitchen garbage disposal can be installed for an average range of $220 to $300.
Additionally, Roto Rooter also provides services for water softener installation. If you live in the Southwest, Midwest, and Northeast US, there’s a high chance that your water contains high mineral content. These minerals can corrode your pipes and restrict the flow due to the build-up. To prevent this from happening, Roto Rooter can install a sodium-based water softening equipment for $500 to $1000.
Cost Factors for Roto Rooter
An accurate answer to the question “how much does Roto Rooter cost?” can only be given by a Roto Rooter plumber upon initial inspection.
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But if you want to have an idea of the cost even before the Roto Rooter plumber comes over, you may consider these cost factors in your estimate:
- Pricing and location
Unlike other plumbing service providers that charge by the hour, Roto Rooter prefers a fixed pricing. This means that no matter how long a job takes, you will only pay the fixed amount.
While this may seem expensive at first glance, a fixed price can actually help you avoid additional labor costs. With hourly pricing, you may end up paying a high-priced 6-hour job instead of the cheap 30-minute rate you initially expected. But although Roto Rooter follows a fixed pricing, take note that local Roto Rooter rates may still vary depending on your location.
- Time and season
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Roto Rooter’s rates may also be affected by the time and variations in seasons. For instance, Roto Rooter receives a lot of calls during Christmas season and this could drive the prices higher.
Another example would be Thanksgiving. According to a Fox19 report, the day right after Thanksgiving is the busiest workday for Roto Rooter residential plumbers. This is due to the high volume of food waste and garbage from visiting relatives and guests. Similar with Christmas, the price of a Roto Rooter repair can go higher during this season.
- Number and difficulty of clogs
The prices quoted here are only for single clogs but sometimes a sewer main may contain several blockages. Tree roots are the usual culprits in main line obstructions but other foreign objects may also clog the pipes. The more clogs there are, the more difficult it would be to remove them, resulting in a higher Roto Rooter cost.
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- Coupons and discounts
A lot of Roto Rooter franchise plumbers offer discounts and coupons,especially for first-time customers. You can save as much as $100 with those coupons. Roto Rooter also has a company policy that provides a 10% discount for senior citizens. If you are eligible, make sure to check your final bill for a discount.
Conclusion
With 82 years in the business, the company knows the plumbing industry more than any plumber. Despite Roto Rooter’s higher-than-average prices, a lot of homeowners still prefer to hire them because of the quality of their work.
Roto Rooter plumbers are also professionally trained and are known for their promptness. Remember that Roto Rooter is called an emergency plumbing company. Their plumbers are willing to arrive at your doorstep an hour or two after your call, no matter the time or season. All these things make the Roto Rooter price worth every dollar.
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