The History of Drain Doctor
Our Founding (1973–1988)
In 1973, Charlie and Mary Sarao moved from Houston to Dallas with a vision: to provide top-quality drain services with honesty and care. That vision became reality when they opened the first Dallas franchise of Mr. Rooter. In the beginning, it was just the two of them, Mary answered the phones and Charlie out in the field clearing drains
As the business quickly grew, they hired technicians and moved operations from their home to an office on W. Lovers Lane. In 1981, they purchased the headquarters that Drain Doctor still calls home in northwest Dallas. By 1988, Charlie and Mary made a pivotal decision to part ways with Mr. Rooter to avoid burdensome franchise royalties. They rebranded the company as Drain Doctor, proudly independent and family owned.
A Family Legacy (1988–2023)
Over the decades, Drain Doctor thrived, serving the Dallas-Fort Worth community and surrounding areas with dedication. In 1999, Mary retired to pursue her passion for inventing, while Charlie continued to lead the company. Under his leadership, Drain Doctor built a reputation for integrity, technical expertise, and exceptional customer service.
In 2023, Charlie passed away, leaving the company to his daughters, Caroline and Valerie. They are honored to carry forward their parents' legacy, committed to serving customers with the same level of care and providing a positive, supportive work environment for their team.
Modern Growth and Innovation (2023–Present)
In recent years, Drain Doctor has embraced modernization while staying true to its roots as a locally owned and family operated company. The fleet has been upgraded for safety, giving technicians the space and tools needed for advanced equipment and machinery. Dispatching has been transformed through the adoption of state-of-the-art software for scheduling, record keeping, and customer communication. But even with the updates to our system, the customer service team still takes calls personally from the Northwest Dallas Office.
Updates to our software now improve our customer communication and keep our customers updated through text messaging when our team is on the way. The system adds more convenience to our customers in taking more forms of payment and after the job is complete, they receive receipts with pictures and notes of the work completed. With these improvements, Drain Doctor is well-positioned to continue delivering honest, expert drain cleaning services for years to come.
And Drain Doctor continues to staff the team with the same quality of people their parents have over the years. Staff that are specialists in drain system issues, who provide customer service with a friendly smile.
Looking Ahead
Today, under the leadership of Caroline and Valerie, Drain Doctor remains a proud, family-owned business focused solely on drain cleaning. As the company moves forward, it remains committed to its founding values: outstanding customer service, integrity, and supporting a team of professionals who take pride in their work. Serving Dallas-Fort Worth since 1973, Drain Doctor is ready for the future—and ready to serve you.