Description
In 1933, Samuel Blanc developed an innovative sewer cleaning device using a small motor, roller skate wheels, and a cable to power the cutting mechanism. This machine was designed to clear tree roots from sewer lines without any need for digging. A year later, his wife, Lettie, named the device “Roto-Rooter.”
Established in 1935, Roto-Rooter has grown into the leading provider of plumbing, drain cleaning, and water cleanup services across North America. In 1980, the Blanc family sold the company to Chemed Corporation, and the headquarters were relocated to Cincinnati. Despite the move, Roto-Rooter continued to manufacture its well-known drain cleaning equipment and components at its own facility in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Today, Roto-Rooter operates in over 100 company-owned and independent contractor territories, as well as around 400 independent franchise locations, covering about 90% of the U.S. population and parts of Canada. Additionally, master franchise agreements have been set up in Indonesia/Singapore and the Philippines.