New to Drain Cleaning – What should I get?

Q. I’m planning to launch my own plumbing company soon. What drain cleaning tools would you recommend for someone new to the industry?

A. You’ve made a smart decision. Starting off with the right tools is key. While augers and hydro jetters are widely used, flexible drain cleaning shafts offer distinct advantages. One of their standout benefits is how quickly they can pay for themselves—often within just a few jobs. To maximize their effectiveness, consider the following factors:

The material of the pipes

The type of pipes you’ll be working with determines the ideal sewer cleaning chain.

• PVC pipes: Use plain chains to prevent damage, as aggressive chains can harm these pipes.
• Metal pipes: Opt for chains with hard metal bits to tackle tougher obstructions.

Flexible drain cleaning chains are versatile and suitable for clearing blockages caused by grease, roots, fat, tuberculation, and urine scale.

Tip: Research your area to determine whether PVC or metal pipes are more common. This insight will guide your choice of tools.

The type of drain cleaning work that you will be doing

Are you aiming to remove blockages, or descaling pipes? Or, would you like the ability to do both?

If you would like to remove blockages in pipes, the best drain cleaning chain to use with your flex shaft sewer machine would be a standard sewer chain knocker which has two hubs and individual chain links that go from one chain hub to another. Especially suitable for blockage removal are the sewer chain knockers with a drill head in the front that will obliterate obstacles in different pipe sizes. On the other hand, circular chains excel at descaling pipes since they clean the entire inner circumference of the pipe.

Domestic or commercial customers

Another important consideration is the type of clients you expect to serve.

• Residential Customers: Most residential blockages occur in toilets, sinks, or laundry drains.
  • A 6mm (¼”) flexible shaft with a mini plain chain is excellent for clearing clogged toilets. Unlike augers, which can scratch or crack porcelain, a flex shaft’s chemical- and heat-resistant sleeve protects the toilet bowl while working. It also eliminates the need to remove the toilet pan for cleaning.
• Commercial Customers: Commercial jobs often involve larger pipes and tougher challenges, such as fatty deposits, struvite, or urine scale. These tasks may require descaling and clearing blockages in communal or industrial pipe systems.

Pipe Size Considerations: Residential pipes are typically smaller (e.g., 50mm), while commercial pipes may be larger (e.g., 100mm). Choose shaft thickness and chain size accordingly.

Flexible shaft length

Most clients insist on getting the longest shaft possible. Yet, on average, most of the blockages occur within 20 meters, and most clean outs are located 25 meters apart. However, this is something that you would know more about since you have better knowledge of your specific client’s needs. When you choose one of the recommended flexible sewer cleaning shafts, please be sure to keep this in mind.

The longer your flex shaft is, the less torque is delivered to the other end, as there is a slight loss in energy passed through the flexible shaft.

Consider purchasing two shorter flex shafts with a shaft connector so that you have less to carry around on site, and when you need extra length, you could simply connect an additional shaft. In this way, you could also connect a thinner flex shaft to a thicker flexible sewer cleaning shaft to give you flexibility when needed, as well as the torque to drive the thinner shaft.

The number of bends

The number of bends in a pipe will influence your choice of shaft thickness.

• Thinner Shafts: These are more flexible, allowing them to navigate multiple bends. However, they have less torque, making them less effective for tough blockages.
• Thicker Shafts: Provide greater torque for stubborn obstructions but struggle with tight bends.

For instance, a 50mm pipe has a tighter bending radius than a 100mm pipe. A 12mm shaft may have difficulty navigating tight bends in a 50mm pipe, whereas a thinner shaft would perform better. Reducing pressure on bends helps maintain torque and efficiency.

Conclusion

By considering factors like pipe material, the type of cleaning work, your client base, and shaft specifications, you can select tools tailored to your needs. Flexible drain cleaning shafts are an excellent starting point, offering quick returns on investment and reliable performance.

As your business grows, you might consider upgrading to advanced machines like the Ridgid K9 102, K9 204, or K9 306, or popular options from Picote, such as the Mini, Midi, and Maxi Millers.

If you’re unsure which tools are best for your business or need expert advice, take a look at our YouTube channel or reach out to us at office@plumber-too.com. We’re here to help!

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