Founded in 1935, Roto-Rooter is the largest provider of plumbing, drain cleaning and water cleanup services in North America. In 1980, the Blanc family sold Roto-Rooter to Chemed Corporation, and Roto-Rooter moved its headquarters to Cincinnati but contunied to manufacture the famous Roto-Rooter drain cleaning machines, cables, blades and other parts at its own factory in West Des Moines, Iowa. Roto-Rooter operates businesses in more than 100 company - owned branch and independent contractor territories and approximately 400 independent franchise operations, serving approximately 90% of the U.S. populationa nd parts of Canada. Master independent franchise operations have been established in Japan, Philippines, Mexico, United Kingston, Hong Kong,/China and Indonesia/Singapore.