Over the years, our customer service staff has collected tips to avoid various problems, tricks to get you out of jams, hints on the right tool for the right job, and so on. This Ask the Drain Brains blog is a selection of some of those hints and tips. You can search by category, for instance, Drain Cleaning, Sewer Cameras, Water Jetters, Cool Plumbing Tools and more.
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– The Drain Brains
Have you ever crushed or shattered old CPVC tubing while doing service work? Well, you’re not alone, and we have a fix for that! It’s a fact that CPVC gets brittle as it ages, and because of that most people assume that it’s no longer effective. However, it turns out that isn’t the case. According…
Plungers are one of those iconic tools that symbolize the plumbing profession, yet it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen one in a contractor’s truck. I think because most homeowners already have a plunger sitting behind the toilet to address clogged toilets, plumbers feel the need to lead with a more professional drain cleaner…
Sure, we all know we need a good quality pipe wrench and a well-made drain cleaner in our repertoire as we head out onto a job site. But what about those items we tend to forget that make our lives so much easier? Here are a few key plumbing & drain-cleaning accessories that every plumbing…
We sometimes like to address questions the Drain Brains at General often get asked. Today, we answer the question: How can I replace a worn cutter wheel on General Pipe Cleaners AutoCut™ copper tubing cutters. Below in this video, Dave Dunbar shows how easy it is to replace the cutter wheel to extend the life of your…
How can we make our customers’ day-to-day life easier, more efficient and more productive? When plumbing tool manufacturers are developing the next great tool—that is the question they are looking to answer. Today’s plumbing contractors have several tools at their disposal that can make their days easier and more productive—allowing them to quickly diagnose a…
Q: We maintain apartment buildings by the river. When heavy rains come in the spring and fall, the river rises, causing basement floor drains to back up. Is there a device that can prevent a major mess? A: Yes, you have two options. There are a number of water sensors on the market that will detect water…
Q: We had to deal with a lot of broken water lines this past winter. It was a pain to me and our tenants when the water had to be shut off for the whole building each time we made a repair. Is there a better way? A. Yes, you can use a pipe freeze…
In the harsh winters of Northern Michigan, rapid response with the right equipment is critical to customers with frozen metal pipes. “I have to work fast,” Steven May, owner of Steve’s Plumbing Service in Petoskey, said. “Or my customers risk substantial damage from burst pipes!” Excellent for Emergencies That’s why the 20-year plumbing veteran prefers…
These gifts might not fit in a stocking, but they will be sure to fill the drain cleaning/plumbing professional in your life (or at your company) with cheer. The newest technologies and shiny new toys top everyone’s wish lists, and drain cleaning pros are no exception. Here are three ideas… that no one will mind…
The cold weather months are upon us, and while that tends to have heating professionals running from jobsite to jobsite, plumbers know the plight of pipes once the snow begins to fall, and that heating systems are not the only mechanical systems causing emergency calls out there. Poorly insulated water lines that have been installed…
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