OK, so the economy stinks! You've still got to get out of bed each morning and go to work because your family and your employees are depending on you to keep the business alive. What can you do?
Consider this: Drains clog! No matter what the economy, no matter what the season, drains clog. An American Rental Association survey reported that drain cleaning equipment was one of the top five rental items.
Look at your customer base. Plumbing contractors, who in a good economy had been doing new home construction and remodeling, are hurting for work in this sour economy. They turn to drain cleaning to supplement their income until things turn around. Instead of buying their own equipment, they'll come to you. Homeowners and local businesses that are tired of paying the plumber or can no longer afford to will come to you as well to rent a drain cleaner so they can do it themselves.
For homeowners
Homeowners are probably your best market. Homeowners always have clogged drains; from the diaper flushed down the toilet to tree roots from the old willow tree in the front yard. It's best to have a selection of tools on hand to meet each application. Using the wrong tool could damage it or injure your customer.
For the tree roots, get a 100-foot snake with a 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch cable in it. Make sure the cable has a tightly wound inner core so it can handle the torque required for heavy duty stoppages. Some areas of the country prefer sectional machines rather than continuous cable. Check with the plumbing contractors in your area to see what they are using. But for homeowner use, the continuous cable snakes are much easier to operate.
For mid-range drain lines like small floor drains, roof vents and stacks, you should rent a 50-foot or 75-foot-by-½-inch snake. Be sure to check that the line to be cleared does not have tree roots in it. Half-inch cables cannot handle the torque required to cut through this heavy stoppage and will likely kink or break instead.
For clogged sinks and laundry tubs, get a 25-foot-by-5/16-inch snake. These smaller cables are able to negotiate tight bends in the smaller lines. The electric models are easier to use and get the jobs done faster. However, if you are uncomfortable with some of your customers using power tools, there are manual models available.
The ideal tool for clogged toilets is the closet auger. It's flexible enough to get around the tight bends of low flow toilet bowls. Be sure to get an inner core cable on this one too. The tight bends in the toilet will kink a hollow cable.
Plumbing contractors
One hundred foot snakes are the most rented item for the plumbing contractor market. Most plumbing contractors have a small hand-held drain cleaner but may not have the large machinery because they do mostly new home construction or remodeling. But when the economy heads south, they turn to drain cleaning to supplement their income. Or, when the economy grows again in the future, they'll need more equipment than they have on hand to meet the demand. Survey the plumbing contractors in your area to see what they need. You can provide a valuable resource of equipment they really need but can't afford right now.
Some contractors have been considering big-ticket items such as video pipe inspection systems but have been unwilling or unable to buy them. A good system can cost $7,000 or more. Many rental centers catering to the construction industry have successfully added camera systems to their line. Talk to your customers to see what tool they wish they had and ask if they would rent it from you if you had it in stock.
Local businesses
The businesses with the biggest need for drain cleaning equipment are restaurants. Their drains clog with grease from the kitchen at the most inopportune times — on a busy Saturday night when the dining room is full and the line is out the door. Though you're not likely to be open on Saturday night, you can rent the restaurant manager a tool to prevent this problem and become his hero.
Water jets are the ideal tools for just this situation. The high-pressure water cuts through grease blockages much faster and more thoroughly than snakes. Snakes just whip up the stoppage but don't actually clear it because of the self-healing properties of this type of clog. When you pull the cable out of the clog, the grease closes up the line again. The high-pressure stream of water from the tip of the nozzle cuts through the grease and then flushes it away.
The restaurant operator won't know to ask for a water jet. He'll ask for what he knows — a snake. You'll have to advertise to him, telling him, “Don't wait for your drains to clog on a busy Saturday night, rent a water jet from me on a slow Monday once a month and flush your problems away.” Other local businesses such as meat processing plants and farms will appreciate the water jet too.
Request clean returns
Here's a suggestion: Leave the cleaning of your snakes up to your customers. Make it clear at the time of the rental that there will be a charge if the machines come back dirty. Provide instruction on how to clean the machines: The open cage machines are easy to clean. Just hose them off. It's helpful to oil the cables to prevent rust and corrosion. Some manufacturers sell a “snake oil” that not only lubricates the cable, but also includes a rust inhibitor and a deodorizer.
If you're still concerned about messy cables, consider the water ram. Instead of using a drain cable, it uses compressed air to break up the stoppages in clogged drains. It's simple, clean and easy to use. Just pump it up with the self-contained air pump, place the tip into the drain, and snap the trigger. The shock wave it creates travels down the path of the water and breaks up the stoppage nearly instantly. It's an ideal tool to recommend to customers with slow draining tubs and showers, or trailer homes with lines that are too tight for a snake.
Just as investment advisors suggest you purchase stocks that perform better in a poor economy, you should stock the equipment that rents well in a poor economy — drain cleaners.
Marty Silverman is marketing manager for General Wire Spring Co., McKees Rocks, Pa.
Electric Eel
The Model K from Electric Eel effectively cleans 1 1/4- to 3-inch lines up to 100 feet. A large crank handle gives the operator room for a good comfortable grip. It features self-aligning bearings and a nickel-plated cable cage that rotates freely and easily. A reinforced frame gives added durability.
www.electriceel.com • 800/833-1212
RS # 158
General Pipe Cleaners
The Mini-Rooter is designed to clear clogged drain lines, including kitchen, bath and laundry drains. The unit weighs 60 pounds and carries 75 feet of 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch flexicore cable in a zinc-plated cage with integral inner drum and distributor tube to prevent cable tangling under load. Flexicore wire rope center cables have the strength to prevent kinking and breaking, and carry a one-year warranty against breakage.
www.drainbrain.com • 800/245-6200
RS # 159
Goodway
The SDC-500 drain cleaner from Goodway is a compact main line cleaner. It features a 1/3 horsepower belt drive electric motor for smooth, quiet operation. The unit is available with either a 1/2-inch by 80-foot or 100-foot cable and four cutter blades. Designed for removing blockages in pipes 2 to 4 inches, the unit has two built-in electric outlets, GFCI circuit and safety toggle switch, 6-inch semi-pneumatic tires and angled stair glides and foot switch activation.
www.goodway.com • 800/243-7932
RS # 160
Ridge Tool
The SeeSnake compact video pipe inspection system is small and lightweight for easy transporting and storage. It allows the user to quickly and easily view inside drain lines and other types of piping in order to determine the exact cause and location of problems. A lighting system along with a push-rod assembly navigates through 1 1/2-inch to 4-inch lines with up to 100 feet of push cable. The 1.2-inch camera head, which features 24 infrared LEDs, maneuvers through right angles and P-traps. An integrated in-line transmitter is standard equipment and allows for easy location with any 512-hertz locator.
www.ridgid.com • 800/769-7743
RS # 161
