Sewer mainlines ***NEVER*** back up at a good time. No one wants to NEED the service, and if you don't need it you absolutely NEVER think about it. I mean come on, when is the last time you were sitting thinking and said 'self, I think I'll have the mainline rooted just for the hell of it, it's working just fine but I feel like spending some money and taking the time and having some stranger come ream out just for the hell of it'... There is almost nothing great to say about having the sewer mainline cleared. ALMOST...Ron the Sewer Rat makes an unpleasant situation as great as it can possibly be! So my sewer line has issues with tree roots blocking it. Every few years the basement drain would back up. I'd have a different company come every time to "rooter" it. Things would be good for a year or two...rinse and repeat... Then things took a dark turn...I had a company come to do a "rooter", the tech couldn't get the rooter thru to the city connection and told me that I needed to have the entire main sewer line replaced, and it would only cost me $15,000. I wanted a second opinion and friends told me to have Ron the Sewer Rat come take a look. I figured, spend $200 bucks for a second opinion or just pop $15,000...kind of a no-brainier. I had Ron the Sewer Rat come and the technician ran the rooter, clearing some roots. Easy-peasy. Line cleared, done. I asked if the sewer line needed to be replaced like a previous company said needed to be done. They said !!!NO!!!, just have it cleared every year. So I've done that . They even send me a post card reminding me it's "that time of the year" (more than my Doctor does!) The last time the technician was here he said, 'lets do it again in 18 months rather than 12'. Today was 18 months. Frank came, I had him run a camera this time and that was really helpful to see what was going on in the sewer (yup, tree roots at about the 30' mark, and again 34' and about 38' then clean to 71' which is where it connects with the city sewer line. Amazing stuff (so I think anyway...)) He then ran the rooter, then the camera again and it mainline was nice and clean. So there. $198 to have them come and do a 45 minute preventative, vs $15,000 to replace the entire line...I think Ron is helping me get a great deal. I've had a couple different technicians from Ron the Sewer Rat come here and they all have the same great, personable, attitude. Absolutely NO up-selling. I've never used them for any of the other plumbing services they offer, but when I need help I'll absolutely give them a call. read more

I wish I could give them six stars (or eleven)! I got to work with Lee when my clients had him out to do a recent sewer inspection prior to purchasing their new home. This had been a precautionary measure that paid off when the camera ran into a total root blockage in the line. Lee's patience and skill were remarkable - as was his ability to work within a precarious situation: when the home's sellers opted to bring in the more famous name to clear the line (rather than work with the buyers' inspector, with whom they were unfamiliar) and then ran into difficulties with the company they had chosen, Lee was diplomatic and shared helpful information about what to expect from the process and how best to go about getting the work completed. Ultimately, the sellers fired the famous name and hired Lee to clear the line (after the famous name's rep tried to charge another $150/hour to do the work that hadn't been done right the previous day). Lee resolved - in 15 minutes - what had been characterized by the previous worker as a 'major deal' that was unlikely to be solved without making a repair to the line (from personal experience, I know that repair to the line involves major excavation to both yard and pocketbook). I'm making a point to share this experience due to the comparative value of my experience. Because the original product requested was a video inspection, I had the benefit of seeing first what the line had looked like prior to any work, then, what the line looked like after the famous name had charged $300+ for their work without solving the problem... and then finally, what the line looked like after Lee had done the job right (and for less than half the cost and an inverse amount of trauma for parties to the transaction). There was simply no comparison...work quality, subject matter expertise, courtesy, trust, good nature... he made me look good for having recommended him. I will be strongly encouraging sewer inspection contingencies to all of my clients going forward - and I will be specifically recommending they contact Ron the Sewer Rat, LLC, to have this work completed. read more

I woke up to sewer backup in my basement. I called Bxxxx for the necessary Sewer cleaning due to the membership I purchased for a previous service. I was pleasantly surprised that they had a $99 special (snake and scope). They used a snake *with one blade* which opened the drain enough to solve the backup but did not remove the roots. The scope showed one root (less than one inch thick) running for about twenty feet and fanning out into a root "bush" filling the drain. There was a small hole in the bottom of the bush likely created by the one bladed snake allowing the sewer to drain. But the job was not over. They had some suggested work to completely fix the issue. The resulting estimate for the fix included three levels of service. I think the first one was a chain auger that would clear the drain completely, Approx. $1200. They said they had to remove a wall and the concrete floor to properly access the pipe. The next service was a liner for about $14,500, if that failed, they would dig up the drain and replace the pipe for about $24K. This was with my "discount." Taken back by the large estimate and my past experience with routine service for this drain, I chose to get another estimate. I read copious internet reviews and decided to call "Ron the Sewer Rat" to re-check the drain for damage and remove the remaining roots. Jeff G showed up and used a two bladed snake. He explained, the blades are six inches and form fit to the 4 inch cast iron pipe, completely removing the roots. The scope showed no signs of any remaining roots or pipe damage. All for less than $500. We talked about the chain auger and they have that too, but he said there is no need to remove part of the floor and wall to use it. The chain auger can sit in the middle of the floor and "snake" over to the same size or smaller access hole. In fact they use it when the access is difficult. I was so impressed with the quality of service and most importantly, Jeff's honesty, I wanted to write this glowing review. Don't hesitate, get your service from "Ron the Sewer Rat!" read more

I was having water back up into my downstairs bathroom which was put in by the people that owned the house before me as a renovation project to sell the house. Unfortunately another plumbing professional was unable to help me with my problem because they didn't have the proper equipment (2 piece roto-rooter) to even get into my basement through a small staircase. Luckily Mike with Ron the Sewer Rat was able to come over that day and help with the proper tools! And what a big help he was! What at first seemed like a typical blocked main line ended up being more complex due to the way the previous owners had renovated the bathroom plumbing... Mike was able to quickly access my main line and perform the sweep of that line, but quickly discovered that was not even the problem. He didn't even charge me for that. He was kind enough to stay later beyond the end of his typical work day to help me diagnose the actual problem which was related to the way the new pipes had been hooked into an old cast iron pipe between the new bathroom and the main drainage line. Through use of their scope device Mike was able to see that pieces of pipe and debris from the remodel were actually stuck on old corrosion of the original cast iron pipe instead of being a simple issue with the water backflow trap like should have been the case if the bathroom was built correctly. He was able to clean all that debris and corrosion out or the cast iron pipe, and restore good flow to my downstairs bathroom. Ultimately Mike was a true professional in helping me find the proper cause of my plumbing issues and his communication throughout the process was superb. He charged me an extremely fair price for the work especially considering he stayed late to diagnose the actual problem and make sure the job was done properly, rather than just clean out the main line and call it a day. Thanks Mike and Ron the Sewer Rat! read more

As bad things always happen on weekends, I called another plumber on Saturday afternoon after our sewer main backed up. One of their on-call technicians was able to come out around 6pm to help us out. After discovering that our cleanout was located under a lot of dirt, we decided to pull the toilet for access to the main, and the tech proceeded to cable the drain with a 3" blade. He hit something around 65' and pulled back the cable. There were quite a few roots. The technician was unsure whether he'd cleared the line (he hadn't), suggested light water use, and then scheduled a complimentary camera inspection for Monday morning. The camera inspection showed water backed up and verified the hard stop around 63' down the line. The gentleman doing the inspection said I had two options: continue cabling by the hour with a low likelihood of success or spend $5k digging up the sidewalk, installing a new section of pipe, and two new external cleanouts. He suggested the latter. I was out $343 for a non-functioning drain and an estimate for $5k plus sidewalk repair. Needless to say, I called Ron the Sewer Rat that same morning. They'd apparently heard this story before and were fairly sure they'd be able to fix the problem. They came out promptly and cabled the line with a 6" blade. They felt a lot of resistance but were tenacious, and were able to get the cable down about 95'. After they pulled it back they scoped the line, which was in perfect condition and required no service whatsoever. They suggested cleaning the line every 3-4 years. Total cost: $334. Long story short, this company is amazing and should be your first call when you have a backup/main line blockage. I'll never go back. read more

Every year, we have Ron the Sewer Rat out to remove tree roots from our sewer line, and we're always happy with them, but this is the first time we've use their plumbing service. We were very pleased! Emanuel and an apprentice came out to replace an ancient cast iron wall-hung sink in our bathroom. The whole process was smooth, from calling to schedule to the appointment itself. The guy who scheduled the appointment (Austin?) was friendly, accommodating, and took the time to make sure he understood what we needed. Emanuel and the apprentice were also very friendly, upbeat, and did a great job. They wore shoe covers in the house, did a great job, and left everything tidy. A thing to note is that the quote was for a worst-case scenario, but the actual work ended up being much less expensive. The worst-case scenario quote was around $1200, but the actual bill was around $300. I think they would rather quote the higher amount up front than to get in there and have a job be much more expensive than they first thought it would be. With a house over 100 years old, I know it can be hard to anticipate the complications that can arise. Don't let a high quote put you off from hiring them. They're honest, and will only charge for what they actually do. In our Facebook neighborhood chat group, when someone's looking for a plumber, Ron the Sewer Rat always has lots of fans. read more

After experiencing temperatures below zero there's always the concern of your pipes freezing and causing a flood in your basement. We unfortunately experienced flooding do to a backlog caused by roots in our pipes. Add on the week between Christmas and New Years which made it even more distressful. Freaking out and unsure what to do, we reached out to a few plumbers, however a few closed up due to the holidays. Thankfully, my husband came across a post for Ron The Sewer Rat . He reached out and was able to get ahold of them right away with an appointment that same afternoon. Nick R arrived towards the beginning of the appointment window. He was very knowledgeable and friendly. He took the time to explain the piping, drainage/sewer lines, and quickly identified the issue. Living in an Asian household, I truly appreciate him wearing covers for his shoes and laying down cloth/protection to bring in his gear. He quickly resolved the problem, answered a few more questions and provided advice on how to be more proactive to prevent issues like this from recurring. Being new to Minnesota, I haven't had the best experience identifying contractors/tradesmen for our small projects, however RTSR has stepped up and is a role model for great service and pricing. Bonus to know they offer a discount for returning customers. read more

We had a fairly neglected root problem in our main drain that eventually was keeping us from any meaningful water use in our house. In the past we've called the $98 drain cleaning companies, and they're o.k., but their game is to try and upsell you into vastly more expensive drain repair services. Searching for a new solution, we were referred to Ron The Sewer Rat by a friend. I originally called thinking that we would be put on a waiting list, but fortunately for us, our service technician Trent was able to take our call that day. Trent arrived on time, gave our layout a quick look over, then pulled his equipment together and expertly got to work (all while I barraged him with questions and concerns about our situation). In less than an hour Trent was able to get the large stubborn root mass free, and then go back in for a final cleanup pass. He also reassured us that what he saw in our drain was pretty typical, and in his judgement didn't need expensive repair, just routine (far less expensive) maintenance. In closing, It feels great to have our line open again and free to use water as needed, for all of our daily consumption. RTSR really impressed us, and we feel that they're very deserving of any referrals that we give to our friends and family, as well as our own future patronage. read more

We had an outstanding experience with Ron the Sewer Rat in taking care of a main line sewer backup. A few months back we had another company out to address the sewer backup, but it came back 2 months later. Ron was recommended to us by a friend and they were able to come out the next day. My wife talked to one of the owners, Mike, about her concerns on the recurring nature of the problem. Mike came out with the technician Nick and walked through how they were going to trouble shoot the problem and made us feel very comfortable with their plan. They were very methodical and were able to show us the problem with their cameras and explain exactly how they were going to fix it. We've been homeowners in Edina for over 35 years and have dealt with a large number of companies doing repairs, appliance installation and renovations. Ron the Sewer Rat was in the top two all-time in explaining what they were going to do and why, in a non-condescending manner. They are extremely professional and you can trust that they will do what they say. I thought Ron's rates were very reasonable and we plan on having them do some other work for us in the Spring. I highly recommend Ron the Sewer Rat without any hesitation. Mark & Mary Ann G. read more

This is a very professional, competent and honest company. The mainline sewer in my elderly mother's home got backed up. She asked me to help her source a contractor. I was put in touch with Ron's through my plumber. I called out and they had Nick their technician out the next day which was on a Saturday. He technician determined that they would need to use a larger piece of equipment to clear the line because of how the sewer openings were walled in by a remodeling contractor. That was going to require a separate trip. So 2 days later Ron's service sent out a second technician Jordan, with that larger piece of equipment. He ran a camera through the line and showed my mother on the screen how involved the pipes had become over the years of not being treated. Yet in just 90-minutes Jordan had the sewer lines cleared and in working order. Eureka! Both of these technicians were prompt, professional and left the work area cleaned. We were never charged for the initial visit because they said they didn't do any work on that initial call. That's how decent these folks are, and that's why I highly endorse this business!!!! read more

My experience was beyond100% perfect. My appointment was confirmed via email and text messages for a reminder the day before and the day of. Also received a brief bio of the technician assigned to me. Very professional. The technician was extremely helpful. He gave me information I needed to make a wise decision and changed the initial nature of his services. He installed a new toilet and not just a repair. His craftmanship was fabulous. The cleanup and grouting guaranteed a beautiful bathroom. I am thrilled at the appearance. He cared about his work and it showed. He also made the hot water heater pipes be in code. When he finished, it looked beautiful vs having useless, old pipes. This work also gave additional water pressure to all my faucets and toilets. Before leaving he gave me information on future work I required in the kitchen sink area. Again, knowledgeable information I didn't have before meeting him. When I am ready to improve the kitchen area, I will call RTSR and request the same technician. He was a delight and so confident. read more

We had a clogged sewer pipe and a slow drain that that both needed to be cleared. Our technician did a great job of answering my questions and clarifying what the problem was. He was professional and competent. That said, there was a glitch in the repair when a pipe was compromised as the slow bathtub drain was being addressed. The company was responsive to some resulting water damage and arranged for a mitigation company to address some carpet that got saturated as a result of the leak. I was greatly appreciative of this as the carpet pad was saturated and I wanted to head off any mold growth. I also greatly appreciated the company taking responsibility for the resulting damage which was most likely due to aging pipes that can be paper thin and result in penetration and leaks from time to time. In spite of the additional attention that was needed due to this incident, I found the plumber and company to be helpful, professional and have integrity which is a bar that many companies don't strive for or reach. read more

My downstairs bathroom shower floor drain was draining very slowly (I had water up to my ankles when showering). It also had been a number of years since I have had my main drain cleaned. I did an on-line booking on Sunday and received a call back within minutes to confirm my appointment. My tech, Nick, was punctual and explained what he was going to do and answered all my questions. He did my main drain first. He was very efficient. When he went to do my bathroom floor drain, he discovered the ball in the floor drain had fallen out of place and was blocking the water. It was not clogged. He asked if I still wanted it cleaned. As it had been years since the drain had been cleaned, I told him to go ahead and clean it. It was great that Nick first told me what the real problem with my shower drain was. It shows what an ethical and honest company Ron the Sewer Rat is. I highly recommend Ron the Sewer Rat for anyone who has any problems with their main drain or other smaller drains in your home. read more

This is my first ever online review of any business, service or product. My wife and I came home from work on a Friday night to find our basement bathroom was flooded due to a backed up drain line. I searched the internet the next morning and found Ron the Sewer Rat on Yelp and couldn't help but give them a shot due to all the glowing reviews. BELIEVE EVERY ONE OF THESE!!! They are truly great to deal with. The first tech that came out admitted another plumber would have to come out because he had the specific snake we needed because our home is on a corner lot in Minneapolis requiring a longer cable. The first tech was in our house for at least 30 - 45 minutes to make this determination............and they DID NOT charge me for his time. The second guy was out within an hour and was able to get to work right away and was done within an hour. Grand total $150!! He cleaned up and we are back in business. I LOVE RON THE SEWER RAT!! I will never use another plumber for this service again. read more

My basement flooded unexpectedly but also unbeknownst to me on Super Bowl Sunday afternoon. I had run one load of laundry but didn't go to move the items to the dryer until later. Unfortunately it was long enough for the water to soak into any rugs in that area of my basement and puddle elsewhere. I immediately called RTSR and they couldn't fit me in on Monday but were able to schedule me for first thing Tuesday. The technician (Kyle) called me when he was on his way, showed up on time and allowed me to hover and ask questions as he worked. He was able to clear the roots out of the drain and tested it to be sure it was clear. He then offered to scope the inner main drain which was something I hadn't heard of before. Happily that drain was in good shape so his work was done. If you have problems with your main drain clogging due to tree roots I highly recommend you contact RTSR. They are reasonably priced given the work they perform and they use a color scope to view and review while working. read more

Our main sewer line backed up. We had Hero Plumbing initially come out to clean our line. Their CAMERA showed our line was 130' long... their machine only went up to 100' (which cost about $2000) but they needed to dig up our driveway for the remaining 30' (which would cost an additional $8000 plus we have to pay to fix the blacktop that they needed to tear up).  While waiting for Hero to come back out to finish the job, we were recommended Ron the Sewer Rat. We are EXTREMELY thankful for that. They came out and told us we were given incorrect information. Our line is only 105' long (I verified with the city and they agreed)!! Hero said their machines were top of the line for cleaning and that's why they are so expensive but Ron the Sewer Rat's did just as good of a job. We had to pay the cost of doing the whole 105' but it was only $268. They also uploaded the after video in a short period after completion. We will use them in the future from now on. read more

In the process of purchasing a home, over 100 years old, in Saint Paul. The Home Inspector had some concerns regarding the pipes to the street and any potential issues I may face after settlement. The team at Sewer Rat scheduled me immediately, which was greatly appreciated since I'm only in the negotiation stage for a limited remaining time. The day of the pipe inspection Frank F. showed up on time and, given Covid19, wearing a mask. It's the small details which help to define the type of company one is dealing with... both the technician and his van had a clean, professional and presentable appearance. Frank F. was great and got to work directly with the inspection and evaluation. Greatly appreciated his knowledge and efficiency. And the inspection results were all good news. I would definitely recommend Frank F and the team at Ron The Sewer Rat to friends and family. Thank you Ron The Sewer Rat! Don B. III St. Paul, MN read more

Jordan J. was our technician, representing Ron the Sewer Rat. This was our 2nd time we used "the Rat" -- 1st time was about 18 months ago when they had to "fix" a poor root removal job done by a competitor; this 2nd time was a day ago for a main sewer line inspection and video, because we are having a liner installed to fix several defects in our 100 year-old line. Jordan was very courteous and efficient; first cleaning the line of any roots and then video-ing the 84' of sewer line. Received a copy of the video later that day to send off to the liner people. Jordan identified in a written report the defects and their location in the line. Needless to say very thorough -- but that's what I would have expected from a top notch service that goes by the name of "Rat", and we have never been disappointed. After we have the liner installed we won't be calling them up to come to our rescue anymore . . . and that makes me sad : ^ ( read more

Honesty, Integrity & Great Work = Ron the Sewer Rat! We had an amazing technician, Lee, come out to our home on Friday (2/12). Lee was very professional, experienced, and you could tell really knew what he was doing. He actually cares about his customers. I would recommend him to anyone. Long story short, we had another plumbing company come to attempt cabling / snaking our basement's mainline sewer pipe. They came out twice, and had three different technicians try fixing our pipe. They were unsuccessful, and told us they needed to dig up our front yard to fix the pipe. It was going to be $5,000. I called Ron the Sewer Rat for a second opinion. He came over the same day! He successfully unclogged the pipe, gave us a DVD and now has a customer for life. I can't begin to say how much I appreciated Lee and this company! We paid a few hundred dollars and money well spent. Thank You, Ron the Sewer Rat! read more