Mrs. Rooter Blog

Our Mr. Rooter Plumbing technicians do a lot more than unclog drains and repair plumbing fixtures. I would like to share with you Mr. Rooter Plumbing’s Top Recoveries of 2009:

1. $70,000 Wedding Ring

Mike Roberts, general manager of the Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Phoenix franchise, made national headlines in January when he recovered a $70,000 wedding ring that was accidentally flushed down the toilet.  It was an eight-hour process that included removing the toilet, searching the line with a video inspection camera, and digging up the floor to retrieve the ring. From CNN and Fox News to the National Enquirer, more than 500 stories were published, aired or posted online about this remarkable recovery. Mr. Roberts, thank you for being a world class representative for Mr. Rooter Plumbing!

2. Seven Baby Ducks

George Jessup, a commercial service technician at the Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Pittsburgh franchise, saved seven ducklings that were stuck in a storm drain in July. With the help of the fire department and police, it took 30 minutes for Mr. Jessup to safely return the baby ducks to their mother. This was a story that made headlines across the country (thank you, Associated Press and Mr. Jessup!).

3. Wedding and Engagement Rings Flushed by Toddler

Dan Kraby, a Mr. Rooter Plumbing technician at the Salem-Mass. franchise, recovered a woman’s wedding and engagement rings that her toddler son flushed down the toilet when she wasn’t looking. (What a fantastic story this mom will get to tell when he’s all grown up!) The three-hour recovery in May was featured on CNN’s Morning Express with Robin Meade. Kudos to you, Mr. Kraby!

4. A Daughter’s Diamond Ring from Dad

It was déjà vu for Mike Roberts in April when a second customer called about the same ring-down-the-toilet scenario. This time it was a $6,000 sapphire and diamond ring that was a gift from her father. Mr. Roberts dropped a video inspection camera down the ventilation pipe, and just five minutes into the search, he located the ring in a pipe below a closet off the hallway. Because of Mr. Roberts, she gets to pass this sentimental piece of jewelry down for generation to generation.

5. Secret Engagement Ring Rescue

At a Mr. Rooter shop (I can’t mention where), one of our technicians recovered a one-carat diamond engagement ring that had slipped off our customer’s finger.  She didn’t notice it had fallen into the toilet until she had already pushed the handle to flush.  Our Mr. Rooter technician made a remarkable recovery, and she didn’t have to tell her fiancé that she almost lost her ring. (Her secret is safe with Mr. Rooter!)

6. Karma the Cat

In March, Robert Plantic, a technician at the Mr. Rooter Plumbing franchise in Toronto, found a much-loved pet named Karma. (What a fitting name!) The cat was missing for hours when Mr. Plantic’s search with a video inspection camera began.  It took him two hours to find the cat, which had found its way down in the floor boards that renovators were putting down to cover up holes in the customer’s house. To make sure the scared cat came out Mr. Plantic put food by the opening and called for the cat.  Here’s a shout out to Mr. Plantic for being courteous.  

7. Diamond Down the Drain

Mr. Rooter of Central Texas plumber Jim Hauk didn’t need a video inspection camera (which is used in most recoveries) to find a diamond that went down the kitchen sink drain in Waco over the summer.  After disconnecting the drain line close to the garbage disposal, he spotted the diamond – which our customer has proudly worn in her wedding ring for the past 16 years. And because of Mr. Rooter Plumbing’s Mr. Hauk, she will be able to wear it for the next 16 years and more!

I sure do hope that none of this happens to you…but if it should, Mr. Rooter Plumbing is just a phone call away.  

Here’s wishing you a world class New Year’s!