I was hanging out in the General Pipe Cleaner’s booth at the WWETT Show in Indianapolis talking to customers when I met Michael Jackson. Not the Michael Jackson, but the plumber from Indianapolis. He might not have sold as many gold records as his namesake, but after talking to him for 15 minutes I was convinced that he had talents that would make his peers green with envy. 

Back in 2005, Jackson bought a couple of Speedrooters drain cleaning machines from General. One has 100 feet of 5/8 inch Flexicore cable, the other has 100 feet of 3/4 inch. And despite being used almost every day and in every way for 15 years, Jackson still has the original Flexicore cables in his Speedrooters. This fact speaks volumes about the strength and durability of the Flexicore cable, as well as his disciplined approach to machine maintenance.  

When I quizzed him about the preventive maintenance routine that kept his cables alive and kicking for so long, I expected a secret sauce; something so truly unique and inventive that no one else had ever thought of it. I mean, 15 years is a very long time to keep a sewer snake operational. However, what he told me was even better, because it was a routine that anyone could follow to get the same results.

So here it is:

1. When clearing a clog with your machine, don’t force the cable down the drain. Think of it as a drill, not a hammer — and not a battering ram. Let the rotation of the cable cut, bore and drill though the obstruction and do the work. This practice makes it much less likely that you will kink a cable. 
2. After the job is done, position the drain hole on the back of the drum in the 6 o’clock position and lay the machine on its back. This will allow water to drain out of the drum while you’re finishing your paperwork and getting paid.
3. When the drum is as empty as it’s going to get, spray or pour Snake-Oil or some other lubricant into the drum, and rotate it for 30 seconds to cover the cable and metal drum with as much oil as possible. Effective lubrication is essential for cable longevity. Before calling a plumber or drain cleaner to fix a clog, most homeowners or business owners try a chemical drain cleaner, such as Drano or Plumber's Helper, to open the drain. This introduces caustic elements into the drain that will quickly degrade the metal in any cable. This is why it's important to lubricate the cable as soon as possible after the end of the job. If you ride your drain cleaning machine hard and put it away wet, don't be surprised to find rust and corrosion on your cable the next time you venture into the back of your truck.

So, drain cleaning machine maintenance is really as easy as 1, 2, 3. Think about how much more money your company would make if it could double, triple or quadruple the effective lifetime of its cables. Switch to General’s Flexicore cables, and then follow Jackson's example to discover how long your snakes can last.  

For more information, call the Drain Brains at General at 800-245-6200, or visit www.drainbrain.com for more information.