Flexible-Shaft Drain Cleaning Technology Might Be the ‘Next Big Thing’

By Dave Dunbar, customer success specialist, General Pipe Cleaners

Business owners should aways be on the lookout for new ideas that might change your business for the better, make work easier, and pad your bank account in the process.

The question now is: What’s the next big thing in drain-cleaning in the rental industry? For drain-cleaning professionals, the hottest new technology has been flexible-shaft technology.

What is a Flexible-Shaft Drain Cleaning Machine? 

Flexible-shaft machines utilize a swiftly rotating flexible wire coil, more like a speedometer cable than a drain cleaning cable. The flexible shaft is safely protected inside a sheath so it’s easy to handle, with no spinning drums. The flexible shaft spins more than 10 times faster than traditional drain cleaning machines. At speeds of 2,000 RPM or more, the chain cutters quickly grind up stoppages and scour the walls of the pipe.
 
This creates two major advantages:
1.    Importantly for the rental industry, the sheath does not rotate, making this type of drain-cleaning tool safer and cleaner to operate than conventional drain snakes.

2.    In addition, because of the high speed of operation, these tools are very effective in clearing a wide variety of obstructions from inside a drain line. They can cut through roots, paper products, and grease, mill the pipe in preparation for a relining job, and are very good at de-scaling cast iron pipe. Contractors report that these machines are like putting a weed-whacker down the drain.

In addition to this, there are several more advantages of this type of machine that might be of particular interest to the rental industry. 

1.    These machines tend to be much lighter in weight than conventional tools such as drain snakes. This is an obvious advantage to the rental industry, where transportability is key. 

2.    As has already been mentioned, they are very safe if used properly. So long as the user remembers to insert the business end of the flexible-shaft into the drain before turning on the machine (no different than a traditional drain-cleaning machine), it becomes very difficult to hurt oneself with this equipment. Safety is an obvious consideration in the rental industry, as liability issues can make or break profitability. 

3.    They are much easier to clean after the machine returns to the shop after a rental. Because the tightly wound, flexible metal shaft that spins inside the sheath is entirely contained between the cutting head and the power source, the only thing that needs to be cleaned is the outer sheath. These sheaths are generally polymer composites that clean up quickly and well. 

4.    These machines are almost always used in tandem with video pipe inspection systems. Because the outer sheath does not rotate, the flexible shaft can be used in tandem with a video inspection camera to see the stoppage and place the drain cleaning tool in exactly the right spot to clear the stoppage. If the renter does not have their own camera system, it creates an opportunity to rent one of yours to them. For these reasons and more, flexible-shaft machines are earning a following in the drain-cleaning world, especially among contractors who specialize in pipe relining. 
'After reading this, you might be wondering why you've never heard of these devices! 

Three main reasons
1.    Flexible-shaft machines are still in the process of gaining acceptance and popularity within the drain cleaning industry. Like most novel trends, it has become entrenched regionally, and in a few other locations across the U.S., but has not yet penetrated the whole country. If you are not experiencing demand for this type of equipment, it is probably the case that the plumbing contractors in your area have not yet discovered it. 

2.    There is a learning curve for using this equipment, and until a certain level of competence is gained, the success rate will be low, and the damage rate could be high. With proper training, the damage can be mitigated. Damage usually involves snapping or kinking the flexible shaft when the chain knockers get stuck if being forced around a tight bend or in an obstruction. The good news is that you can fix General’s machines yourself in about ten minutes. Because of the ‘learning curve,’ these drain cleaning machines are not considered appropriate for mom-and-pop-style rentals. 

3.    If you purchase one of these machines, you should be committed to routine maintenance. Because of the high rate of speed in which the flexible shaft moves inside the sheath, it is important to lubricate the shaft frequently. How frequently? It depends on how vigorously the machine has been used, but most manufacturers recommend routine maintenance every month for heavy use, and quarterly for light use. Our experience at General Pipe Cleaners has been that the more you lubricate the flexible shaft, the less problems you have.

As plumbing contractors get familiar with this technology, flexible-shaft machines will become their go-to machine. These types of machines can clear all types of obstructions, and with experience, the damage rate plummets. Because of this, flexible-shaft technology is expected to be a growing trend and will become increasingly popular over the next few years. Plus, the technology is evolving, with many drain-cleaning equipment manufacturers seeking ways to make their equipment more effective and reliable.

Is flexible-shaft technology the ‘Next Big Thing’? 
We think it is, but not in the same way that inspection camera systems or water jetters impacted the drain-cleaning industry. Our prediction is that as contractors become more familiar with the technology and manufacturers continue to produce better and better versions, flexible-shaft machines will gradually take over the industry. We’ll look back in 10 years and realize that things have shifted, and the rental outlets that have kept pace with the times have been the ones to profit. 

Now is the time to start! Please educate yourself about these machines and talk to your customers about their needs. Especially talk to plumbers and contractors who you already rent equipment to, who are involved in pipe replacement and pipe relining. These will be the companies most likely to know about and appreciate flexible-shaft technology, and they are the ones you want to rent to. 

For more information, visit drainbrain.com.