ARS/Rescue Rooter is one of the largest home-services companies in the United States, and it works differently from the franchise brands people usually compare it against. Understanding that difference is most of what a homeowner needs before calling.
Company-owned, not franchised — and why that matters
ARS describes itself as a nationwide network of company-owned locations. That is the opposite of the franchise model used by Mr. Rooter, RooterMan and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, and it changes two practical things.
First, the business on your invoice is American Residential Services itself, so the guarantees below are corporate promises rather than a franchisee's. Second, a complaint escalates inside one company instead of stopping at an independent owner.
The catch is the name on the truck. ARS grows by acquiring established local contractors, and many keep their original names. A February 2026 company announcement describes a 25-brand portfolio across 55+ markets. You can be dealing with ARS without ever seeing the letters ARS — so if brand matters to you, ask directly who the legal entity is.
What they publish about guarantees
ARS publishes a named Exceptional Service Guarantee. In their words:
- Service work: “If you are not satisfied within one (1) year of the date of original invoice, we will either make it right or cheerfully refund 100% of your money.”
- New equipment: the same one-year term, with the option to remove the equipment and refund in full.
- Sewer replacement: “We will warrant our workmanship for up to ten (10) years following the date of the original invoice.”
That ten-year workmanship warranty on sewer replacement is the strongest thing they publish, and it is the one worth asking them to put in writing on the estimate — it is also the job where it matters most.
There is no on-time guarantee. If that is what you want, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing publishes one.
What they publish about price — and what they do not
ARS does not publish repair prices or ranges. Their sewer and water line page promises an upfront, written estimate before work begins, which is the right thing to insist on.
The only dollar figures on their site are membership plans: a Pro Service Plan at $15 or $20 a month depending on tier, offering priority scheduling, two maintenance visits a year, a reduced diagnostic fee and 10–15% off repairs.
Note what that implies: a diagnostic fee applies to non-members, and its amount is not published anywhere. Ask what it is before you book, and ask whether it is credited against the work if you go ahead.
Drain and sewer capability
Full stack, in-house: drain cleaning, hydro jetting under their own Scour Jet name with a one-year warranty, fiber-optic camera inspection, and trenchless sewer repair by both pipe bursting and relining.
They also sell a preventative drain maintenance product. Worth knowing that a maintenance treatment and a blockage are different problems — see our guide to enzyme treatments for where that line sits.
Two things on the public record
Ownership is in flux, as of August 2026. GI Partners has been majority owner since 2020, with Charlesbank Capital Partners and management retaining stakes. In March 2026 Reuters reported that GI Partners was exploring a sale valued above $3.5 billion. No completed sale had been announced at the time of writing. Ownership of a national service company rarely changes what happens at your house, but it is a fact worth having if you are signing a ten-year warranty.
A 2012 consent judgment in Arizona. The Arizona Attorney General announced a $395,000 judgment against American Residential Services in April 2012 over what the AG's office described as “false, misleading and deceptive sales tactics involving older consumers”. It was resolved by consent, with no admission of wrongdoing, and the terms required written contracts before work begins and factually based safety claims. It is fourteen years old and we include it because a guide that only quotes the marketing is not a guide.
Need someone to actually look at it?
Tell us your town or ZIP code and what is happening. We route the call to an independent contractor covering that area.
Call (888) 855-8790Questions people ask
Is ARS a franchise?
No. ARS operates company-owned locations, which is unusual at this scale — most national plumbing brands franchise. The business you contract with is American Residential Services itself.
Why does the truck say something else?
ARS grows by acquiring local contractors, and many keep their existing names. Their own February 2026 announcement describes a 25-brand portfolio across 55+ markets. Ask who the legal entity on the invoice is if it matters to you.
How many locations do they have?
We are not going to give you a single number, because there is not an agreed one. Their majority investor's page says more than 70 service centers across 23 states; their own 2026 announcement counts 55+ markets and 25 brands, which is a different unit of measure entirely. ARS does not publish a location count on its own site.
Do they charge a diagnostic fee?
Yes — their membership plans advertise a reduction on it, which confirms it exists. The amount is not published. Ask before booking, and ask whether it is credited against the repair.
Do they do trenchless sewer work?
Yes, both pipe bursting and pipe relining, plus camera inspection and hydro jetting. Availability by location is not published, so confirm for your address.
What is the ten-year warranty exactly?
ARS publishes a warranty on their workmanship for sewer replacement of up to ten years from the original invoice date. Workmanship is not the same as materials or ground movement — ask them to write the scope on the estimate.
Is ARS the same as Rescue Rooter?
Yes. ARS and Rescue Rooter are the same company, usually written ARS/Rescue Rooter.
These are published third-party figures, not our prices and not a quote. We do not set anyone's rates and cannot price your job — only the contractor who sees your line can. Figures as published by each named source, last checked August 2026. Prices move; re-check the source before relying on a number.
Other guides
All drain cleaning services → · Cost guide →
Trademark notice. All brand names on this page are the property of their respective owners. DrainDispatch is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or otherwise connected to any company named here. This page is independent editorial written to help homeowners compare options, and nothing on it should be read as a claim of association.