In times of economic uncertainty there is one thing you can be sure of. Drains will continue to clog up and have to be cleaned.
With this in mind, it is a good time to review your rental fleet to make certain you have the type of products that will continue to bring in revenue regardless of what the economic situation is.
Drain and sewer cleaning equipment is a perfect example of such a product. Drain cleaning equipment is non-seasonal; the weather outside has no real effect on its movement. This is a year-round rental item that will continually generate revenue and keep customers coming through your door.
And when a customer does come through your door, it is important you have the right mix of machines to secure his business. A basic drain cleaning package should consist of the following:
- Closet auger - Used only for toilets.
- Handheld manual unit - This is used for small inside lines and is a ¼-inch by 25-foot cable.
- Handheld drill unit - A 3/8-inch by 25-foot cable, this unit is used for 1 ¼-inch to 2-inch inside drain lines.
- Half-inch by 50-foot electric machine - Used for longer distance inside work on 1 ¼-inch to 3-inch lines.
- One hundred foot electric machine, sectional or continuous cable - Used on main sewer lines, from the house to the street.
Unless you want to rent both types of main sewer machines, you will need to decide if you want to carry the sectional-cable versus the continuous-cable unit.
Advantages of the sectional machine include more cleaning power for longer, tougher blockages; ease of transport; and easier cable maintenance and inspection. Another important advantage is that the user never has to handle the cable while it is rotating.
On the other hand, the continuous-cable machine is preferred in some cases because of its compact size. There are also fewer loose pieces to keep track of with a continuous cable machine.
In addition to these basic items, you may also want to consider a high-pressure water jetter. An electric jetter, for example, can be an excellent rental item and works well on a variety of blockages such as grease, sand, soap and sludge. Every restaurant and fast food outlet will have a grease blockage sooner or later. One other thing, don't miss rentals because you only have one of a particular machine. It is very common to have several of the more popular rental machines such as the ½-inch by 50-foot electric unit.
Once you have the right mix and quantity of machines, you need to focus on all the potential customers that will have a need for these products. The list is broad, following are several ideas:
- homeowners
- contractors/plumbers
- restaurants
- schools
- hospitals
- maintenance personnel
- municipalities
- mobile home parks
The list goes on and on. The point is there is a tremendous potential to rent drain cleaning equipment, which will increase your cash flow.
Help yourself by promoting the products you have in your rental fleet. In-store display centers, window posters, counter cards, and the like will tell a customer as soon as he walks through your door they've come to the right place. If you have outside salesmen, make sure they are promoting your drain cleaning equipment to area businesses. And as with all rental products, be sure you are buying the best quality available. This is a sure way to add to the bottom line.
Mark Speranza is vice president of sales for Electric Eel Manufacturing Co., Springfield, Ohio.
General Pipe Cleaners
General Pipe Cleaners J-1450 Jet-Set electric water jet is a compact and portable drain-cleaning machine designed for the rental industry. The product uses high-pressure water to clear drain lines clogged with grease, sand, sludge and ice. The overall height of the machine is 29 inches, yet remove the easily detachable 200 feet capacity hose reel and the height drops to 14 inches. It also features a slide-out handle to make it easier to roll to the jobsite.
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Electric Eel
The Eel Cam EC-200 pipeline inspection system from Electric Eel Mfg. now comes standard with several enhanced features. The control unit is constructed of a new durable molded plastic, which reduces the weight of the unit. Wheels and a pull-up handle make for easy transport. An in-line transmitter is also now standard, as is an on-screen counter with keyboard. The system is also equipped with a microphone, picture inverter, VCR and DC adapter.
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Ridge Tool Co.
Ridge Tool Co.'s line of SeeSnake video inspection systems now carries the distinguished Underwriter Laboratories listing. The following products and product components currently comply with UL standards: color SeeSnake system, monitor plus VCR; SeeSnake power pack; black and white SeeSnake system, monitor plus VCR; color video tool case; mini SeeSnake black and white system; mini SeeSnake color system; color compact SeeSnake; black and white compact SeeSnake; color FlatPack; black and white Flatpack; and the SeeSnake Cable CountIR.
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