UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
                                  April 7, 2004




                                ROTO-ROOTER INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




    Delaware                     1-8351                  31-0791746
(State or other           (Commission File Number)    (I.R.S. Employer
 jurisdiction of                                       Identification
   incorporation)                                        Number)




          2600 Chemed Center, 255 East 5th Street, Cincinnati, OH    45202
               (Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)



               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (513) 762-6900











                                   Page 1 of 2






Item 5.  Other Events

             On April 7, 2004 Roto-Rooter, Inc. announced it is electing to
optionally redeem its Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2030 and
all shares of Convertible Preferred Trust securities and Common Securities of
the Chemed Capital Trust.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

                 c) Exhibits

                     (99.1) Registrant's press release dated April 7, 2004.




                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.




                                     ROTO-ROOTER INC.


Dated:   April 7, 2004               By:   /s/ Arthur V. Tucker, Jr.
        --------------                    --------------------------
                                          Arthur V. Tucker, Jr.
                                          Vice President and Controller




















                                   Page 2 of 2

                                                                  Exhibit 99.1

Roto-Rooter Inc. Announces Redemption of Chemed Capital Trust
Preferred Securities

    CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 2004--Roto-Rooter Inc.
(NYSE:RRR) (OTCBB:CHEQP) today announced that on May 18, 2004, it will
redeem all of the Convertible Trust Preferred Securities ("Preferred
Securities") of the Chemed Capital Trust for a redemption price of
$27.00 per $27.00 principal amount, plus all accrued and unpaid
distributions on the Preferred Securities to the redemption date.
Accordingly, an additional distribution of $.35 per security for the
period March 15, 2004, to May 18, 2004, will be paid to holders, for
an aggregate total price of $27.35 per security.
    Holders of the Preferred Securities retain their right to convert
their Preferred Securities into shares of Roto-Rooter Inc. Capital
Stock until 5 p.m., EDT, May 17, 2004. Preferred Securities are
redeemable at the rate of .73 share of Roto-Rooter Capital Stock for
each $27.00 in aggregate principal amount of Preferred Securities, an
exchange ratio equal to a price of $37.00 per share.
    All holders of Preferred Securities will be mailed the necessary
forms to effect the conversion, should they so choose, of their
Preferred Securities into shares of Roto-Rooter Inc. Capital Stock.
Holders who do not convert their Preferred Securities by 5 p.m., EDT,
May 17, 2004, will be paid the redemption price of $27.35 per
security.
    Approximately 518,000 shares of Preferred Securities were
outstanding as of April 1, 2004. Roto-Rooter Capital Stock closed on
April 1, 2004, at $54.16 per share.

    Listed on the New York Stock Exchange and headquartered in
Cincinnati, Ohio, Roto-Rooter Inc. (www.rotorooterinc.com) operates in
the residential and commercial repair-and-maintenance-service industry
under the names Roto-Rooter and Service America Network Inc.
Roto-Rooter also operates in the healthcare field through its VITAS
Healthcare Corporation subsidiary. VITAS is the nation's largest
provider of end-of-life hospice care services. Roto-Rooter is North
America's largest provider of plumbing and drain cleaning services.
Service America provides major-appliance and heating/air-conditioning
repair, maintenance, and replacement services.

    Statements in this press release or in other Roto-Rooter
communications may relate to future events or Roto-Rooter's future
performance. Such statements are forward-looking statements and are
based on present information Roto-Rooter has related to its existing
business circumstances. Investors are cautioned that such
forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risk that actual
results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements.
Further, investors are cautioned that Roto-Rooter does not assume any
obligation to update forward-looking statements based on unanticipated
events or changed expectations.

    CONTACT: Roto-Rooter Inc.
             David P. Williams, 513-762-6901