Some of the most popular items you can carry in your store are drain-cleaning tools, regardless of the time of year. And it helps to know who your customers are so you can anticipate their drain-cleaning needs. Read on to see if your drain-cleaning inventory matches up with your customer base.
Homeowners Homeowners likely make up a large part of your customer base, but they are the least knowledgeable about drain-cleaning tools. To figure out which tool will unclog the problem, ask your customer specific questions such as "Which drain is clogged? Is it the kitchen sink? The toilet? The whole house?" If only one drain is clogged, the problem most likely is limited to a small drain, so a small hand-held or small floor model will do. If the tub, sink and toilet are stopped up, the problem likely is in the large waste line leading out of the house, so a larger floor model would work. If your customer tries to clear a large line with a small machine, the machine easily could be damaged.
Also consider whether to rent hand tools or power tools to homeowners. For smaller jobs, both types will work. Electric machines are faster, more powerful and designed to be easier to operate than hand tools. Hand tools, though, are less likely to get damaged by unskilled operators.
The best tool for clearing a clogged toilet is a closet auger because it goes through the bowl quickly and easily. For clearing a clogged or slow-draining bathtub, try a water ram. Tubs often drain though drum traps that are difficult to navigate with a cable. A water ram creates a shock wave that follows the water's path and is not hindered by tight bends and narrow lines. The shock wave travels down the line and knocks out the stoppage without harming the pipes. It also works well on mobile homes, which can be difficult to clear because they often have narrow drain lines with tight bends.
Plumbing contractors Plumbing contractors might rent drain-cleaning equipment because they have small shops without large machinery or to cover a busy period. They also prefer power tools.
Cage- and sectional-type machines are available in the large machine category. Cage-type machines are self-contained and designed to be easier to operate than sectional types. Sectional machines are lighter. Most contractors have strong allegiances to one or the other. If you are unfamiliar with drain-cleaning equipment, check with local contractors before you buy.
Some contractors prefer closed-drum machines with automatic feeds because they are cleaner and faster than open-cage machines. But advise your customers, particularly homeowners, to exercise caution when using these machines. An unskilled operator can easily get into trouble with an automatic-feed machine.
The hottest item in the drain-cleaning industry is video pipe inspection and location equipment. It is used to locate problems inside the pipe such as root blockages or broken pipes. A miniaturized television camera with a ring of LED lights around it can see inside lines from 1 1/2 inches to 12 inches in diameter. It is enclosed in a watertight casing and attached to the end of a flexible push rod, usually about 200 feet long. High-end models include a transmitter in the camera assembly to help the operator locate the camera once the problem has been found.
Many plumbers want to use video pipe inspection equipment. But they might not be able to afford the initial investment, so most will try the equipment before purchasing. Check with local contractors and plumbing supply houses to find out what the demand is in your area.
Schools, hospitals and hotels Building maintenance personnel can find many uses for video pipe inspection equipment, but most cannot justify the cost of purchasing it. That's when they will come to you. There have been interesting stories about video inspection systems. In one case, a school had a toilet it couldn't clear. A rented camera found a pager that had been flushed down the line, caught on an elbow and was acting like a flapper valve. In another case, a hotel rented a camera to find out why one room always had clogged drains. A drywall nail had punctured a waste line, causing an obstruction.
Most building maintenance personnel own small drain-cleaning tools but rent larger machines. Let them know what your store carries so they will come to you when the time comes.
Restaurants, industrial facilities Grease is the most common cause of clogged drains in restaurants. The ideal tool for clearing grease clogs is a water jet. When a snake goes through grease, the grease closes up behind the cable and leaves the line clogged. A water jet uses a combination of water pressure and flow to flush away grease that cable machines have a hard time clearing.
Most rental customers are not aware of a water jet's uses because all they are familiar with is a snake. Educate them. Send a mailer to local restaurants with a suggestion to rent a water jet every couple of months and clear the grease out of drain lines before it becomes a problem.
When buying a jet, make sure it has a pulsation device, which makes the hose vibrate to overcome the friction in the line and slide easily down the drain. Without it, the hose has a hard time getting around tight bends and often gets stuck. Your machine also should have a back-flow prevention device to prevent sewer water from getting into the fresh water supply.
