Key takeaways:
Roto-Rooter ranks first among Baltimore plumbers: 91 years in business nationally, a 9-county-plus-DC service area, no extra charge for nights, weekends, or holidays, and financing through Synchrony.
The list covers 10 rated, established plumbing companies serving the Baltimore metro area, from single-location independents to multi-location operators.
Rankings weigh Google rating and review volume, years in business, licensing, service area, and fee transparency.
Roto-Rooter tops this list of the best plumbers in Baltimore, with a 4.8-star Google rating from an impressive4,102 reviews and 91 years of national experience. Roto-Rooter covers nine Maryland counties plus Washington, D.C. The other nine companies below are real, established local plumbers, each with its own strengths and a smaller service footprint. Every entry lists the company’s current Google rating, how long it has operated, and what makes it worth calling.
How We Ranked Baltimore’s Best Plumbers
Five factors determined this ranking: Google rating and review volume, years in business, state licensing, service area size, after-hours availability, and transparency about fees. A high star rating means little without enough reviews to back it up, so review count carries real weight here. Licensing and insurance matter just as much.
Before hiring anyone for a major repair, confirm that the technician is properly insured and that the company publishes its license number. For a broader rundown of what to check before booking a job, see our post on the things to consider when choosing a plumber.
1. Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Google rating: 4.8 stars (4,102 reviews)
Roto-Rooter has operated in the U.S. since 1935 and serves the Baltimore area from its office at 516 N Charles St. Its service area covers Baltimore City and County, plus Anne Arundel, Howard, Prince George’s, Montgomery, Harford, Calvert, St. Mary’s, and Carroll counties, along with Washington, D.C. That makes it the widest coverage area of any company on this list. The company holds an A+ BBB rating and is licensed in Maryland (#19631), D.C. (#PC1000420), and through WSSC (#PFG-82685). It is also listed among Baltimore’s top plumbers by ThreeBestRated.
Roto-Rooter charges the same rate for nights, weekends, and holidays as for a standard weekday call and offers free on-site estimates. Homeowners who need to finance a larger repair, like a sewer line replacement, can apply for financing through Synchrony Bank.
Services include drain cleaning, sewer line repair and excavation, water heater repair and replacement, leak detection, water damage restoration, sump pump installation and repair, and commercial plumbing, all available 24/7. Learn more about what to expect from a service call.
2. Catons Plumbing, Drains & Water Cleanup
Google rating: 4.7 stars (601 reviews)
Catons has served the Baltimore area since roughly 1952 and operates from multiple locations across Catonsville, Baltimore, Ellicott City, Annapolis, and Towson, with a fleet of more than 40 vehicles. Beyond standard plumbing work such as drain cleaning, leak detection, water heater installation, and sewer repair, Catons operates a dedicated water-damage line that covers extraction, drying, mold remediation, and structural repair.
The company holds an A+ BBB rating, charges no extra fee for nights or weekends, and states a 30-minute emergency response goal. It’s a Baltimore Ravens small business partner and serves more than 40 towns across seven counties.
3. Ensor Plumbing
Google rating: 4.7 stars (978 reviews)
Roger L. Ensor Sr. founded this Towson and Owings Mills-area plumbing company in 1961, and it has been running for 65 years. Ensor is led by a master plumber (Maryland license #7565) and specializes in well-water and filtration systems alongside standard residential plumbing work. The company carries an A+ BBB rating, though it is not BBB-accredited.
4. W.A. Gambrill
Google rating: 4.7 stars (16 reviews)
W.A. Gambrill has operated in Towson since 1945, 81 years in business. The company handles full-service residential, commercial, and industrial plumbing and heating work. Its Google rating is thin, just 16 reviews, so treat it as a smaller sample than the other companies on this list. The company holds an A+ BBB rating without accreditation.
5. Chesapeake Plumbing & Heating
Google rating: 4.8 stars (299 reviews)
Based in Pasadena and serving Glen Burnie, Chesapeake Plumbing & Heating has been in business since 1990. It has been BBB-accredited since 2016, a step beyond the A+ rating alone that several competitors carry. Its technicians hold backflow certification, and the company backs underground and sewer line installs with a 5-year warranty.
6. Mike’s Plumbing & Heating
Google rating: 4.8 stars (495 reviews)
Mike’s Plumbing & Heating has served the Essex and Dundalk area since 1984, 42 years in business. The company has been BBB-accredited since 1997 and holds an A+ rating. Its service area covers Baltimore City and County, as well as Harford County.
7. Empire Plumbing & Heating
Google rating: 5.0 stars (89 reviews)
This Dundalk-based, veteran- and family-owned company has been operating since 2017. Empire won a 2022 Best of Baltimore award and carries an A+ BBB rating, though it isn’t BBB-accredited. Its perfect star rating comes from a smaller review pool than some of the longer-established companies on this list.
8. Wes Plumbing, Heating & Drain
Google rating: 5.0 stars (328 reviews)
Serving White Marsh and Perry Hall, this family-owned company has been in business since 1982(44 years in business). Its staff brings a combined 75-plus years of experience, and the company holds Maryland license #5922.
9. Stokes Plumbing & Mechanical
Google rating: 5.0 stars (43 reviews)
This family-owned company in Northeast Baltimore has operated since 2017 and combines plumbing with HVAC services, handling everything from drain cleaning to AC installation. Its review count is small enough that the perfect rating should be weighed accordingly.
10. Mahon Plumbing
Google rating: 4.9 stars (277 reviews)
Mahon Plumbing has operated out of Curtis Bay since 1994, 32 years in business. The company brings trenching and backhoe capability to sewer and water line work, along with video line inspection to diagnose problems before digging. It carries an A+ BBB rating without accreditation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a plumber cost in Baltimore?
The job, the company’s pricing model, and how urgently you need service determine cost. Some Baltimore plumbers price by the hour, while others use flat-rate pricing, quoting a single price for the entire job before work starts. Ask for a written estimate before any work begins, and confirm whether diagnostic or trip fees apply.
What’s the difference between a licensed, journeyman, and master plumber in Maryland?
A journeyman plumber holds a state license earned after an apprenticeship and exam and can perform plumbing work independently. A master plumber holds a higher-level license that generally requires more years of experience, and in Maryland, a master plumber must pull permits for a plumbing business. Before hiring for major work, confirm the licensed plumber on the job holds an active Maryland license.
How much do emergency plumbers charge for after-hours or weekend calls?
Rates vary by company. Some Baltimore plumbers add a premium for nights, weekends, or holidays, while others, including Roto-Rooter and Catons Plumbing on this list, charge the same rate no matter when you call. Ask about after-hours pricing before booking an emergency plumber for a same-day issue.
What should you look for when choosing a plumber?
Start with the Google rating and review count together. A high rating with only a handful of reviews carries less weight than a slightly lower rating backed by hundreds or thousands of reviews. Beyond that, confirm state licensing, BBB standing, and whether the company’s service area actually covers your address. Ask about warranty terms on any repair before work begins.
Do Baltimore plumbers charge a service call or trip fee?
Practices vary by company. Some plumbers charge a service call or trip fee to cover dispatching a technician, though this fee is often waived if you move forward with the repair. Roto-Rooter offers free on-site estimates instead of a trip fee. Confirm the fee structure before booking to avoid a surprise charge.
Should you choose a national plumbing company or a local one?
Both can do the job well, but they solve different priorities. National companies like Roto-Rooter bring standardized training, broader financing, and service areas spanning multiple counties. Local independents on this list often build decades-long reputations in one neighborhood. Homeowners who want 24/7 availability across a wide area and financing tend to prefer the national option.
Choosing the Right Plumber for Your Baltimore Home
All 10 companies on this list carry real reviews, verifiable licensing, and years of operating history in the Baltimore area. For most homeowners, Roto-Rooter’s combination of a 4.8-star rating across more than 4,000 reviews, a service area covering nine counties plus D.C., and fee transparency (no extra charge for nights, weekends, or holidays) makes it the strongest overall pick. It’s also worth reviewing what to look for in a plumbing company before you commit to any provider, national or local.
Ready to book a plumber in Baltimore? Schedule service with Roto-Rooter today.
