Roto-Rooter Athens: Making It “Roto-Rooter Right”

Roto-Rooter is a name we all recognize, and their jingle is one that has stuck with me since I was a kid: “Call Roto-Rooter, that’s the name, and away go troubles down the drain, Roto-Rooter!” What set them apart was what was known as the “Roto-Rooter machine,” which went after all kinds of stuff stuck in your drain, including tree roots. During the Great Depression, the company was able to offer franchises and work for many in the Mid-west, and managed to continue to grow until it became a national corporation.

David Tierce brought the Roto-Rooter name to Huntsville in 1963. He expanded it to other locations in the Tennessee Valley, and the franchises have always been family owned and operated. In 1991, David and Deborra Byrd purchased Madison County, AL, and Lincoln County, TN from Mr. Tierce, keeping it in “in the family,” so to speak. In the early ‘90s, the Limestone County franchise sold locally to the George Ford family. In January this year, David and Deborra purchased the franchise in Athens-Limestone County from the Ford family, and wish to thank the previous owners who brought and maintained this service to our area over 50 years ago. The Byrds understand the value of commitment and loyalty to the community, which comes from honest relationships and hard work.
Over the years, Roto-Rooter has expanded into a full service plumbing service, and will take care of plumbing problems, sewers, drains and septic systems. They are able to give same-day service, and there is no extra charge for service calls made after hours. They are available 24/7, and with the advent of new technology, are literally now “one click away.”

I spoke with Valerie Mannarino, who is the marketing and IT manager for the local Roto-Rooter, and as a transplant from Miami, she and her family are discovering just what makes Athens so special. I could tell that she cared about the quality of the product that she represented, and so I asked her why, when I have choices, should I choose Roto-Rooter.

“First of all,” she said, “every tech is trained in house by experienced master plumbers.” The techs go through an intensive two year training program, and they are all licensed, bonded, and have had extensive background checks. In other words, they are safe folks to have in and on your property.

Valerie also said that “The customer is ALWAYS first,” and no matter what your business, over-the-top customer service is at the core of our existence. Roto-Rooter is legendary for how it takes care of its clients. She also mentioned that the guys make a point of keeping everything clean: their uniforms, their vans, and their tools. They wear booties when they are in your home or business, and when they leave, you can’t tell they were there, other than that the problem has been solved to your satisfaction.

Valerie also says that the local Roto-Rooter is top in the industry with regard to the utilization of technology to better serve its customers. Customer records are stored in a data base by address, and histories can be easily accessed. Service personnel are dispatched via GPS tracking, and communication is recorded and tracked through Garmin.

All Roto-Rooter services can be accessed through the mobile app on your smart phone or tablet, and the desktop site is extensive and informative. In addition to the jingle with which I grew up, now they also say, “Eliminate your troubles today, we are only a click away.” Additionally, a part of the service package is a follow-up call within 48 hours.

Roto-Rooter takes care of residential, commercial, and industrial clients, and some of things that they promise under their “100% satisfaction guaranteed” banner are:

• Quality—only quality materials are used, and only quality professionals are employed
• Price- Roto-Rooter’s goal is to be the best, and wants customers to be assured that their price is competitive for the quality of work performed, and the guaranteed price will stand firm.
• Inspections- Their work is permitted and inspected by proper officials, and it’s licensed, bonded, and insured.
• Guarantee- Their guarantee or warranty is their bond. They will be here tomorrow to stand behind the work they do today, 24/7/365.

In addition, if your drain is clogged, their service is same-day, and emergencies within the hour. They use underground cameras and TVs to figure out what needs to be repaired. They will take care of water heaters, tankless water heaters, will jet drains and sewers, and are certified in backflow prevention testing.

One of their services which I found interesting is that as plumbers, they are food service specialists. They know what the health department expects in any restaurant, and will see to it that their work is compliant. They are skilled in leak detection, excavating, re-piping, and servicing septic tanks, field lines, sump pumps, and grease traps.

The commitment of the entire staff at Roto-Rooter is to “deliver superlative service at the best value.” That’s called doing and making things “Roto-Rooter right.” If this is what you are looking for in a long established, all-inclusive, trusted plumbing service, then call them today at 256-232-0254, or go to www.rotorooterathens.com, and make your appointment.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner