In 1933, Samuel Blanc created a funny-looking sewer cleaning machine from a 1/6 HP Maytag washing machine motor, roller skate wheels and 3/8" cable to turn the blades. The device used a combination of special blades or "knives" to cut tree roots out of sewer lines. No digging was required. A year later, Sam's wife Lettie christened the prototype the "Roto-Rooter."
Founded in 1935, Roto-Rooter is the largest provider of plumbing and drain cleaning services in North America. In 1980, the Blanc family sold Roto-Rooter to Cincinnati-based Chemed Corporation, and Roto-Rooter moved its headquarters to Cincinnati. In 1986, Roto-Rooter was spun off as a public company, with Chemed retaining majority ownership. In August 1996, Roto-Rooter again became a wholly owned subsidiary when Chemed bought back all outstanding shares.
Roto-Rooter offers an ever-expanding variety of repair and maintenance services to both homeowners and businesses. Our goal is to be the premier provider of repair and maintenance services. As always, we will continue to listen to customers and expand service offerings to meet and exceed their changing expectations.
Roto-Rooter operates businesses in more than 100 company-owned branch and independent contractor territories and approximately 500 independent franchise operations, serving approximately 90% of the U.S. population and parts of Canada. Master independent franchise operations have been established in Japan, Philippines, Mexico, United Kingdom, Hong Kong/China and Indonesia/Singapore.