PLUMBING PROFESSIONAL SCORES
TRIPLE PLAY WITH GENERAL
CAMERA, DRAIN CLEANER AND CABLE.

Owners of an expensive new home in an upscale housing plan south of Fresno, CA, certainly expected their toilets to work.

But after a few flushes, the master bath line backed up. And attempts to clear the clog repeatedly failed.

Thinking it a crushed line or concrete stake, the construction company planned to jack-hammer the structure's concrete slab, also destroying the home's beautiful hardwood flooring.

They also expected the job to consume several days - until a seasoned drain-cleaning professional with the right equipment mix arrived.

CAMERA SYSTEM QUICKLY SPOTS THE PROBLEM

“They wanted me to clear debris from the sewer line after the jack hammer did its work,” Ron Oaks says. “But I wanted to solve the problem without the expense and disruption of busting the slab.”

Owner of Visalia based ART OF PLUMBING, Oaks instead proposed pinpointing the clog with a GEN-EYE™* video inspection/location system from GENERAL PIPE CLEANERS.

GEN-EYE™ systems offer plumbing and drain cleaning professionals everything necessary to trouble-shoot 2” through 10” lines, including:

The latest GEN-EYE GL™ includes a self-leveling color camera that automatically keeps pictures right side up, letting professionals and customers clearly follow the action as the camera glides through the line.

The GEN-EYE GL™ Command Module includes a 9” color monitor and DVD recorder in a padded carrying case, with telescoping handle and wheels for easy transport.

Completing system components is the GEN-EYE™ Digital Locator, offering easy and accurate camera location and instant depth finding capability down to the inch.

Oaks fed the camera through the clean-outs, and discovered a 2-in. 45° ABS fitting wedged in the brand new 3-in. line.

“Maintenance guys repeatedly snaked the line with a small cutter, temporarily breaking the blockage to produce flow,” Oaks reveals. “Back ups returned a few flushes later.”

The GEN-EYE™ also revealed that previous efforts to clear the clog simply moved the ABS piece back and forth, relocating the problem and confusing everyone.

INNOVATIVE EQUIPMENT TEAM SAVES THE DAY

Oaks then had to eliminate the 45° ABS fitting.

He initially considered pushing the obstruction downstream. But a complicated series sewer line fittings prevented that.

So Oaks proposed pushing the ABS piece upstream - toward the master bath. But another group of fittings prevented him from targeting the bathroom's clean-out.

“So I decided to negotiate the ABS piece past a 'Y' in the line through the toilet opening itself,” he recalls.

With such a delicate operation, he needed a cable machine with reliability, reach and flexibility.

So Oaks wheeled out a MAXI-ROOTER™* drain cleaner. With only a 23” profile, the GENERAL machine blends power and capacity for maximum reach on the toughest jobs.

Lighter and more maneuverable than other drain cleaners in its class, GENERAL's popular machine features a rugged chassis on 10” ball bearing, semi-pneumatic wheels with V-belt stair climbers for easier transport. Wheel brakes safely lock the machine in place during work or transport.

MAXI-ROOTER™ Power Cable Feed rates also range from 0 to 20 ft./min. - just what Oaks sought for maximum control of his tricky task.

RIGHT CABLE PROVIDES THIRD COMPONENT

Choice of cable proved paramount, too.

The high capacity, easily removable MAXI-ROOTER™ drum holds up to 125 ft. of strong, high performance 3/4” FLEXICORE® cable or 150 ft. of 5/8” FLEXICORE® cable.

Heavy duty wire tightly coiled around 49-strand aircraft type wire rope, FLEXICORE® cable offers unequalled strength and flexibility. It's so tough that it carries a one-year warranty against defect or breakage - the best cable warranty in the business.

“I couldn't afford to break a cable and create yet another obstruction!” Oaks says. “FLEXICORE® also eliminated any kinking concerns.”

Using various cutters and retriever heads, Oaks positioned MAXI-ROOTER™ downstream - and a technician with the GEN-EYE™ camera tracking his progress upstream.

Two hours later, Oaks methodically maneuvered the errant ABS fitting through the toilet opening, eliminating the costly, time-consuming headache everyone feared.

“Everyone was literally jumping for joy,” he chuckles. “I thought the homeowner would kiss me!”

“I pride myself on bringing experience and judgment to solve customer crises,” Oaks adds. “But I couldn't have permanently fixed this problem without the right mix of equipment. And that's what GENERAL provided!”