Great Work by a Great Employee

Friday, October 23, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
As the General Manager of the Wilmington Plumbers at the Roto-Rooter office in Wilmington, Delaware, I am always grateful to receive letters of thanks from our customers.

Just this week a card came from Mr. Tom E. of Mendhenall, PA and it reads: "Dear Mr. Smith, I want you to know what a stellar employee you have in Steve Venditti #1258. He has solved difficult Wilmington plumbing issues for me on several occasions. He's smart & personable. I though you should know."
 
Thank you Mr. Ellis for your kind words. They are always appreciated. Way to go Steve! For first rate plumbing and drain service I hope you will call Roto-Rooter.

Name: Marty Smith, SGM

Roto-Rooter sweepstakes winners visit the Ghost Hunters

Friday, October 23, 2009 by Paul Abrams
The second prize winners of Roto-Rooter's Chilling Tales Sweepstakes just returned home to Nebraska from their visit to the Spalding Inn of Whitefield, New Hampshire. That's the inn that is now owned by Roto-Rooter of Providence plumbers and television's Ghost Hunters, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson.

Craig and Amy Mortensen of Fremont, Nebraska wrote to tell me that had a great time on the trip, which was the second prize in our sweepstakes. Lucky for them that Jason and Grant were there last weekend to host the Spalding's Oktoberfest weekend and treated them to great hospitality. Here's the note:

"We just got back and have recovered enough to send you a thank you for everything! We had such an awesome time and Jason and Grant were such gracious hosts, along with their wives. We, and some of the other great couples that we met, are already talking about next year's Octoberfest! Jason Hawes, Amy Mortensen, Craig Mortensen and Grant Wilson at The Spalding Inn

[editor's note, Roto-Rooter reserved the notorious and allegedly haunted room #38 for Craig and Amy] The room we had did not disappoint either. We had several things happen and well we didn't sleep much but wouldn't have changed anything, except staying longer!

 The scenery was awesome, the employees were more than awesome, the food was great and we wouldn't have traded it for anything! We would never have gotten an opportunity like this without Roto-Rooters help! Thank you so very much!"

- Craig and Amy Mortensen
 P,S,,, Just so you know, we are thinking, if at all possible, we would like to relocate to the area we visited, Thanks again!
 
Great letter, Craig. We're glad you had a great time. But what you saw and heard in your room may have just been a clogged drain making noise or some other plumbing problem. I'll ask Jason and Grant to check into it. Our grand prize winners will be joining Jason and Grant on a ghost hunt at Colorado's Stanley Hotel.


Pleasantly Suprised

Friday, October 23, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
I am always surprised when a customer calls telling us that they did not know that Roto-Rooter is a full service plumbing company. They think of us as just a sewer and drain cleaning company. The fact is that as Memphis plumbing companies go, Roto-Rooter is among the biggest and best in the area. If you need a skilled Memphis plumber, call us! 

A traditional sewer line excavationA customer Ms. Jones, recently had some drain problems in her home. When Roto-Rooter of Memphis service technician, Felix, came to her home and diagnosed the problem, he discovered that a simple sewer cleaning wouldn't fix the problem. Unfortunately, it was very old and entire sections of it had collapsed underground. We did a video camera inspection and showed her the problems over a TV monitor. She needed a complete sewer line replacement. No customer likes to hear that sort of news because any way you do it, a sewer replacement is expensive.

Ms. Jones was very surprised to find out that Roto-Rooter of Memphis could handle the complete excavation and pipe replacement. We do these jobs all the time and our expertise is second to none. The next day, we dug up the old pipe and replaced it with a new, modern sewer that will serve her well for years to come. 

Jon-Lise Frazier
Roto-Rooter of Memphis, Tennessee

Happy Roto Rooter Customer

Thursday, October 22, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
We received a great compliment from a new customer recently. He was very pleased when he called Roto-Rooter on Saturday and a St. Louis Plumber from our office responded immediately. Here's the testimonial he sent in:
 
"I called several St. Louis plumbing companies on Saturday only to discover that most aren't open on weekends or they just have an answering machine or a service taking calls. I didn't have time to wait a couple of hours for someone to call me back. We made an emergency call to Roto-Rooter and a real person answered the phone, listened to me explain our problem then dispatched a well qualified St. Louis plumber. 

Glen from Roto-Rooter responded within the hour, and shortly thereafter our plumbing and drain problems were resolved! Glen knew his stuff and handled the kitchen plumbing job within twenty minutes before going to work on our sewer repair. It was clogged with roots and debris and nothing was draining properly. Everything works great now though! We really appreciate the prompt response and very professional job by Glen. We will highly recommend Glen and Roto-Rooter."  

- Jim R.
St. Louis, MO

That's the kind of letter that makes our day at Roto-Rooter. I've said it before, Roto-Rooter is the "911 of the plumbing world." Emergency service is our specialty and there's not extra charge if we come out at night, weekends or holidays.

John Marhanka
Roto-Rooter of St. Louis

Quality Plumbers in Seattle

Thursday, October 22, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
For a service company repeat business, satisfied customers and referrals are essential for maintaining and growing your business. When it comes to needing a highly skilled Seattle plumber, Roto Rooter is just a phone call away. Here is what our customers have been saying for years. Lisa K. in Seattle writes:

"What a competent and polite technician you sent out! The response time was excellent and Greg was outstanding! I will recommend Roto-Rooter to all my friends and business associates who need an outstanding Seattle plumber." Steve was able to unplug our kitchen sink in no time! We had been trying to do it ourselves and ended up washing dishes in the bathtub UGH! But Steve makes kitchen plumbing jobs look easy. He was very professional and explained what he was doing and how to prevent future back ups."

Doris T. wrote to say: "When it comes to Seattle plumbing companies, I will always call Roto Rooter. You have kept my apartment buildings free of problems with a preventative maintenance program and I have no more damaged carpet due to overflowing clogged drains. Thank You!"

Toilet Vent Issues

Thursday, October 22, 2009 by Ray & Lee, Master Plumbers

When the water in a toilet bowl drops and the tank is full without leaks, it generally means you have a clogged vent.  When water enters a pipe, it has to push ahead the air inside the pipe. After water goes through a vent, it replaces the water that was lost when the toilet is flushed.

When a vent is not working properly due to a blockage, the water will leave a vacuum causing the air from the outside to be drawn into the inside of the pipe. If the outside is blocked by water in the trap of the toilet, water will also be drawn in to replace the air. Until the air in the pipe is replaced by another vent or the water is able to run level in the pipe it will be able to then refill.

An Alexandria plumber would be happy to provide further assistance, if you are in need. For Alexandria plumbing service call 1-800-GET-ROTO and a licenses plumbing specialist will be sent out at your convenience.

You can also check out the Ask the Plumber section of our Web site if you have other inquiries about this or other plumbing problems and we will get back to you with more plumbing advice.


Best plumber in Madison County Illinois

Thursday, October 22, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
Roto-Rooter is proud to announce that we were recently voted Best Plumber in Madison County, Illinois. This was a vote through The Alton Telegraph and will be published in the October 24, 2009 edition.

Our service technicians and Alton plumbers serving all of Madison County, take pride not only in in their skill but the customer service they provide. Roto-Rooter is the East St. Louis plumbing company to call for the entire region. This is yet another example of our customers demonstrating the appreciation they have for what we do. If you need an East St. Louis plumber or in any of the surrounding communities, you ought to call Roto-Rooter.

Rick Maloney
General Manager

Dealing with Sump Pump Setbacks

Thursday, October 22, 2009 by Ray & Lee, Master Plumbers

If your sump pump is starting and stopping over and over again or surging, it is most likely due to a few plumbing problems. Any Merrilleville plumber will be able to determine one of the possibilities below:

  • The pressure switch may need to be replaced.
     
  • The expansion tank may have no air inside.
     
  • There may be a blockage of the opening of the impeller pump.

The best advice would be to do a bit of investigation on your own. Check the expansion tank to see if water is coming out of the top of the air bleed valve. If there is, this is a sign that the diaphragm, which separates the water and air has failed and the tank will need to be replaced. To test the pressure switch you will need to call in an electrician and go from there. Lastly, you may need to pull and check the submersible pump. 

Roto-Rooter's Merrillville plumbers would be happy to assist you with this or any other Merrillville plumbing problem. Feel free to contact us at 1-800-GET-ROTO or check out our Web Site.

Preventative Maintenance

Thursday, October 22, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
Being proactive about maintaining the health of your drains is the first step to avoid any messy and unnecessary surprises, like clogged drains, when you least expect it. We can help you customize a drain maintenance program that can be performed on a regular basis that will minimize the need for any emergency work whether it is residential or commercial.

The North St. Paul plumbers at Roto-Rooter can put together a preventative maintenance agreement for your house or place of business. To ensure that it is being kept up on, we will personally call to remind you when it's time for us to clean your drains and schedule your next appointment. These customers receive significant discounts off the regular rates and the agreement never expires unless you choose to discontinue service.

So, if your home and/or business are having frequent drain issues, Roto-Rooter, your local North St. Paul plumbing company, is here to assist. If you want to prevent kitchen sink clogs and keep your garbage disposer operating properly, avoid any stringy vegetables such as celery, asparagus, rhubarb, corn husks, etc. Also, avoid putting pasta down the drain and use plenty of water. LET THE WATER RUN FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE AFTER THE DISPOSAL HAS STOPPED GRINDING. The same goes for peelings from carrots and potatoes and others. Positively no grease should ever go down the kitchen sink drain. It will harden in the pipes. Put grease into a jar and throw it out in the trash. Wipe greasy plates and pans off with a paper towel before washing them. 

Use a lint trap on laundry discharge hose, use a hair snare for the bathtub and dhow drains. Only toilet paper should go into a toilet bowl, no pre-moistened wipes, feminine hygiene products, facial tissue or paper towels. Never throw dental floss or Q-Tips down a toilet.

Angie Lemke
Roto-Rooter of St. Paul, Minnesota

Great Service

Thursday, October 22, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
A customer recently sent in a nice testimonial about the good work the South St. Paul plumbers from Roto-Rooter did for her:

"Recently I had a floor drain backing up. I called Roto-Rooter and they sent over a South St. Paul plumber to take care of the issue. Technician #654 came to my house very promptly and while looking over the situation he noticed that there were multiple plumbing problems that needed to be resolved. He made his recommendations and after discussing them with me he proceeded to accomplish the tasks in a most professional manner.

We had a couple of minor kitchen plumbing jobs that he solved quickly and he also took care of a clogged drain problem. I was relieved to find out that I didn't need a sewer repair, but some of our branch lines just a good drain cleaning. I hope we never have this problem again but if we do please send technician #654 back to hour home."


- Sylvia B.
St. Paul, MN

We always like to hear from our customers. We especially like to get compliments like Sylvia's. Who doesn't? But, if we make a mistake, we want to hear about it so we can make it right.

Angie Lemke
Roto-Rooter of St. Paul

Pumpkin Carving and Drain Care

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
For many of us in the Cincinnati area, it is pumpkin carving time. Here at Roto-Rooter, your Cincinnati plumbing company of choice, we have a few key tips to avoid costly repair bills or damage from a backed up drain. The ideal scenario is to not carve directly in your sink. If you need or want to carve your pumpkin in your sink to avoid the mess, make sure you use some sort of a “strainer” device. This can be an actual drain strainer or you can use an improvised device such as newspaper laid out flat in the bottom of the sink, a large garbage bag that can work as a liner, or maybe a paper plate set over the drain opening.

If all of your precautions “go down the drain”, sorry but I couldn’t resist, there are a few actions you can take to try and help yourself. If you have pumpkin “guts” go into your disposer DO NOT run the disposer, it can make matters worse. Give us a call and we will send one of our trusted Cincinnati Plumbers out to clear the unit for you. If the “guts” just go down a drain, run as much water as you can to force the debris down the line. The last thing you want is a clogged drain.

Remember to run the water for an extended period of time, you are trying to get it all the way out of the house, not just out of that sink drain. If your drain starts to back up during this process immediately shut of the water and give us a call, you are probably clogged and in need of an auger to clear your clog. A little caution and advanced planning will help keep the “treats” flowing and avoid the “tricks” of a clogged drain! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Name: Rob Tally

My Furry Blog

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
Here in Denver we get wild weather from time to time as I'm sure everybody does. Working for Roto–Rooter in the field gets me up close and personal with mother nature. I recall several weeks ago going out to a Denver plumbing call, it was perfectly sunny although thunderstorms were in the forecast. Although I'm a licensed Plumber I started my career clearing drains. When the opportunity to clear a clogged drain presents itself, as unfortunate of a situation for our customers as it is, I enjoy getting to return to my roots (sometimes literally roots are in the pipe).

On this day I was clearing several clogged drains at a home in the Denver metro area. After passing I cable through the Main sewer line I discussed with the homeowner our ability to perform a camera inspection and get video of the specific problems within the sewer pipe. The homeowner felt this was a good idea to have it done so I made the call to our friendly neighborhood Roto-Rooter camera guy and he was on his way. While we were waiting for him to arrive I could see the weather begin to change, lots of wind and cloud cover. That's when I noticed a dog wandering down the street. I always get concerned when I see dogs walking around by themselves on public streets as its dangerous for them. Not to mention any driver attempting to miss a dog in the street may end up driving off the road and into a tree or a house. The weather worsened getting cold with lightning flashes.

I had just finished doing a free Denver plumbing inspection of the home. Now the dog was coming up to me, obviously frightened. He tried to follow me into the house but I was able to get a hold of his collar. I asked the homeowner if he recognized the dog, he did not. Our camera inspector had arrived and was getting his equipment ready with the rain pouring down at this point as the dog tried to hop into his van. I thought I would let the dog sit in my van to keep dry and I would attempt to call the phone number I could see on his collar. Luckily, this was a number specifically for lost pets. They contacted the dog's owner and shared my number. Within a half hour I received a phone call from the owner and I drove him home. He lived a few blocks from the location where I was working.

Once I got close to the house the dog became excited so I knew he recognized his home. The door to the house opened and the dog darted inside pausing briefly as he passed through the entrance and looked back at me in silence. I could see another dog inside as well so I am sure there was going to be a canine expression of the adventure he had with the Denver Plumber from Roto-Rooter that day. Ready to move on I shook hands with the dog's owner as she thanked me for returning her furry friend. I smiled and told her it was my pleasure. Handed her one of my Roto-Rooter business cards just in case she needed some  help and drove off into the storm.

Name: Denver Plumbers

Another Satisfied Customer

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
Here is part of a letter we received from a satisfied Roto-Rooter customer:

"The service technician was very pleasant and took the time to explain what he was doing. Our plumbing problem was resolved quickly by the Minneapolis Plumber from Roto-Rooter. He really did a great job on our kitchen plumbing jobs and suggested bathroom plumbing solutions at a fair price. Roto-Rooter has never disappointed us in all the years we've been using them. They will continue to be our Minneapolis plumber of choice."

We first serviced this customer back in 2001, with the most recent call in mid-2009 we were able to send the same service technician as the last time and the customer seemed to appreciate that. Not very many Minneapolis Plumbers are able to send the guy back out so many years later but if our customers find a plumber they like, we try to foster that relationship. It keeps everyone happy.

Name: Angie, Roto-Rooter of Minneapolis

Another Satisfied Customer

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
We are always pleased to hear about a job well done such as this one perfomed by two of our Wilmington plumbers on Sept. 29, 2009:

"Extremely polite and thoughtful workers. Your Wilmington plumbers worked non-stop all day at my home and didn't even stop for lunch, as far as I could tell. They fixed the plumbing problem and left a minimal mess behind, taking the time to clean up after themselves. Bravo! I know which Wilmington plumbing company I'll be using from now on.

- Ilene S.

We're thankful to Irene for taking the time to give us feedback about her local plumbing job. We know she could have called any Wilmington plumber but we're grateful she chose Roto-Rooter. We handle all plumbing problems, clogged drains, sewer repair and more.

Name: Roto-Rooter of Wilmington blogger

Solved every problem I had!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
Here is another customer testimonial of which we at Roto-Rooter in Glenview, Illinois are very proud. We love satisfied customers but we especially love customers who take the time to write us about their service experience.

"I had several choices in the phone book for choosing a Chicago plumbing company. I called the phone number listed for Roto-Rooter Plumbers in Chicago. A very pleasant person listened to my concerns and assured me that a Chicago plumber from Roto-Rooter would be arriving within 2 hours. Less than 15 minutes later I got a call saying a plumber was on his way.

My second good fortune was the Chicago plumber they sent to my house, Tiab. He listened to my concerns and assessed EVERY one of them. He began by attacking the most urgent plumbing problem right away, my leak! I was very impressed with the professional and compassionate way he took care of my concerns. Each plumbing problem was solved, just as I requested. He even checked to make sure I didn't have any drain clogs and that everything else was working properly. I want to express my gratitude and satisfaction to all involved. Roto-Rooter will be my regular Chicago plumbing company.

- Pearl J. Chicago, IL

Now that's the kind of feedback we enjoy getting after a service call. If you don't feel good after your plumber leaves your home, maybe you ought to call Roto-Rooter next time.

Name: Glenn W. Roto Rooter Plumbers, Glenview IL

No more water wasting.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
There are some things in your house that you don’t know about that may be costing you a lot of money. It has a lot to do with wasting water. Roto-Rooter's Norfolk Plumbers can give you some helpful tips to indicate if you are wasting money and water. 1. Leaking faucets are a leak culprit. One drip per second ads up to 20 gallons wasted per day. A small steady stream can waste up to 30,000 gallons a year!

Faucet parts are easy to replace and you can find them at almost any local hardware store or you can call the professionals at Roto-Rooter, your reliable Norfolk plumber and we can repair your faucet for you. 2. “Running toilets." You may not always hear or see your water running in your toilet but to make sure that you don’t have this problem you can put a few drops of food coloring in a tank and wait 15 minutes. If colored water appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak.

3. Locate your water meter then turn off all the water in your house. Read the meter and write down the numbers. Wait an hour without using any water and then check the meter again. If the numbers have changed then you have a leak somewhere in your house that’s costing you money. Call your neighborhood Norfolk Plumbers at Roto-Rooter and we can come and fix your problem anywhere in the Hampton Roads area. We hope these tips will help you save money, if you cannot make repairs of your own call us. You will recover the repair costs on your water bill in no time!

Name: Norfolk Plumbers

HAPPY CUSTOMER

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
Recently, we received a call at the Roto-Rooter in Memphis from Ms. Wilson. She was searching for a Memphis plumber who could also handle sewer repairs. She had to have her sewer pipe replaced but she didn't want to use just any old Memphis plumbing company. She was looking for specific expertise.

She was hesitant to have the digging done as the plumber would have to do some major excavation in her newly landscaped front yard. Roto-Rooter gave her several options, including trenchless excavation, which leaves almost no sign that any work was being done below ground.

Ms. Wilson was so happy with the work our plumbing technicians (Bret and Dan) did on her Memphis sewer repair but she was also thrilled with the good condition in which we left her yard!

Its always great to hear from a happy customer who says they will recommend Roto-Rooter to her friends and family!

Name: Jon-Lise Frazier
Roto-Rooter Memphis Branch

A happy customer is a repeat customer.

Monday, October 19, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
Last week a customer called the Sunnyvale, California Roto-Rooter office to compliment the level of service we had provided her. She mentioned it was really hard to find honest Sunnyvale plumbers. She had called another plumbing company and was quoted and exorbitant amount of money to solve a plumbing problem she didn’t really have.

She decided to get a second opinion and looked for another Sunnyvale plumbing company. She called Roto-Rooter Plumbing of Sunnyvale, California and we had a plumber at her house within the hour. When the plumber arrived he noticed there was a problem and proceeded to call a camera technician to inspect the clogged sewer pipe to help diagnose the problem. After all was done we gave her a quote for a sewer repair at a fraction of what the other company quoted. She called the very next day and she said, “I want to thank your plumbers for the excellent service they provided, for being honest and for not trying to rob my wallet.”

She has since had us do the work and is a happy and satisfied customer. We hope she'll be a good customer for years to come, whether she needs a bathroom plumbing solution, kitchen plumbing jobs or just help with a clogged drain. The Roto-Rooter Plumbing Sunnyvale office is proud to have experienced Sunnyvale plumbers that strive to give the highest level of service and ensure every customer is satisfied.

Name: Erandy Gonzalez

Very professional staff!

Monday, October 19, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
It's always reassuring to get a complimentary letter from a satisfied Roto-Rooter customer. This one from Barbara H. of Grayslake, Illinois made my day.

"We had a sewer backup in October, so we called the local Roto-Rooter office in Glenview, IL to schedule an appointment for the plumber to come to our home. We didn't know any particular Grayslake plumber to call but when we saw the ad for Roto-Rooter in the phone book, we recognized the name and took a chance.
They were very fast and the staff was very professional. We learned that not only does Roto-Rooter clean drains and sewers but they can also do sewer repair work and they are a full service Grayslake plumbing company. Fortunately, our problem wasn't that serious. Thank you!"
- Barbara H. Grayslake IL

We've now provided plumbing service and sewer cleaning for this customer three times. Our local office in Glenview, IL prides itself in providing fast, professional and courtious plumbing service to its customers for all thier plumbing and drain cleaning needs. We at the Roto Rooter Plumbers Glenview office thank our customers for their feedback. We're here to offer sewer cleaning, sewer repair, bathroom plumbing solutions and any kitchen plumbing jobs you may have.

Name: Glenn W. Roto Rooter Plumbers, Glenview IL

Todd D.

Monday, October 19, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
We recently received a nice compliment from a customer after his plumbing service call. It's gratifying to hear from satisfied customers like this one:

"I would like to express my gratitude at your extraordinary level of service. I had been experiencing leaky solder joints on the copper water supply pipes, which prevented water flow in my home. Your Springfield, Virginia Plumber, Denzel, arrived at my home in Springfield on a Sunday morning, a mere hour after my initial phone call. He repaired the pipe joints quickly and with a great attitude.

Both Denzel and the Roto-Rooter dispatchers deserve to be commended. They solved my plumbing problems quickly and they were excellent communicators. I like to know what is going on when someone is working in my home. Because of their level of service , Roto-Rooter will be the only Springfield plumbing company I'll use from now on. We have old sewer pipes and have had trouble with tree roots for years. Now that I know Roto-Rooter can handle sewer repair work of all kinds, I know I'll call you when it's time to finally do something about the sewer.

- Todd D- Springfield, Virginia

Name: Roto-Rooter bloggers of Springfield, Virginia