Drain Brains

The Gen-Ear LE® from General Pipe Cleaners provides a simple, more economical water leak locator with stronger sound amplification than competitive systems offer. Gen-Ear LE can pinpoint water leaks in residential and commercial water lines – including problems in walls and under concrete slabs, swimming pools, and hot tubs. General’s compact amplifier fits easily in the Read more

The Gen-Ear LE® from General Pipe Cleaners provides a simple, more economical water leak locator with stronger sound amplification than competitive systems offer.

Gen-Ear LE can pinpoint water leaks in residential and commercial water lines – including problems in walls and under concrete slabs, swimming pools, and hot tubs.

General’s compact amplifier fits easily in the palm of your hand – providing noise-free amplification with built-in, preset audio filters to eliminate settings guesswork.

High performance headphones with noise cancellation also block interference from ambient noise. And when released, an amplifier safety button mutes sudden loud noises.

Gen-Ear LE’s advanced acoustic ground sensor accurately detects the gurgling or hammering of water escaping from cracked pipes under concrete, asphalt, or tile. Probe rods pinpoint problems beneath soft surfaces like grass or carpet. And the magnetic attachment locates above ground pipe or hydrant leaks.

For especially hard-to-find leaks, the Sound Amplification Module adds air to the line, increasing water pressure and amplifying leak sounds to aid precise problem location.

Two AA batteries power Gen-Ear LE for 20 or more hours. To extend battery life, the system automatically shuts down when headphones are removed. And the power light blinks to indicate low batteries.

For details, contact the Drain Brains® at General Pipe Cleaners, a division of General Wire Spring Co., 1101 Thompson Ave., McKees Rocks, PA  15136, USA.  Phone: 800-245-6200 or 412-771-6300.  Web: www.drainbrain.com  Email: info@drainbrain.com

General Pipe Cleaners has rethought high-speed, flexible shaft drain cleaners with the new Flexi-Rooter® 100 – the next generation flexible shaft machine. Rugged and reliable, Flexi-Rooter 100 offers: A stronger flexible shaft with the strength to cut through roots in 4” lines yet flexible enough to negotiate 2” lines. Integral variable speed motor with foot pedal Read more

General Pipe Cleaners has rethought high-speed, flexible shaft drain cleaners with the new Flexi-Rooter® 100 – the next generation flexible shaft machine.

Rugged and reliable, Flexi-Rooter 100 offers:

  • A stronger flexible shaft with the strength to cut through roots in 4” lines yet flexible enough to negotiate 2” lines.
  • Integral variable speed motor with foot pedal to allow you to use both hands to safely guide the flexible shaft into the line.
  • Two-part cleaning array combines unique ClogChopper® cutters with carbide chain cutters for a formidable combination.

Flexible shaft technology is faster and more thorough than conventional cable drain cleaners. The shaft spins more than 10 times faster than drum machines. At speeds up to 2200 rpm, cutters quickly grind up stoppages and scour pipe walls clean. The shaft is safely protected inside a sheath, so it’s easy to handle – no spinning drums.

Flexi-Rooter 100’s stronger, stiffer shaft is flexible enough to navigate 2” pipes – yet strong enough to cut roots in 4” drain lines up to 75 feet long. And the integral, variable-speed motor easily lets you adjust shaft speed from zero to 2200 rpm.

General’s foot pedal control further frees both hands to guide the shaft into the line. Operators can also simultaneously use Flexi-Rooter with a sewer camera system to pinpoint pipe trouble areas – and instantly inspect results.

Flexi-Rooter 100’s two-part cleaning array features General’s unique ClogChopper® cutters combined with carbide chain cutters for a formidable combination.

Revolutionary ClogChopper cutters rip through tough clogs with six self-sharpening blades that dig into encrusted debris and root masses, easily grinding up stoppages, scale, and crystallized urine. The spherical design maneuvers around tight bends and traps.

Flexi-Rooter 100’s durable metal frame includes 10” wheels and folding handle to facilitate transport to and from jobs. A safety slip clutch helps protects the flexible shaft. And if you ever do get into trouble, the shaft is field-repairable!

For additional information, contact the Drain Brains® at General Pipe Cleaners at 800-245-6200, or visit www.drainbrain.com/flexi-rooter

Drain cleaning professionals ignore new technology at their peril. As in most industries, if your competition has equipment that is better, faster, safer, and more professional, it puts you at a serious disadvantage. One need only look at the history of our industry in the past 30 years to see the truth in these statements Read more

Drain cleaning professionals ignore new technology at their peril. As in most industries, if your competition has equipment that is better, faster, safer, and more professional, it puts you at a serious disadvantage. One need only look at the history of our industry in the past 30 years to see the truth in these statements.

What is the next big thing in our industry that you need to be paying attention to? Flex-Shaft Technology! It’s like putting a weed-whacker down the drain, and you can use your camera system to give it pinpoint accuracy.

Several years ago, we noticed that plumbers engaged in pipe relining were using high speed Flex-Shaft Technology to prep and mill their sewer lines. Flex-shaft machines utilize a swiftly rotating wire coil, much like a speedometer cable, inside a flexible hollow tube or hose.  A high speed motor is connected at the back end and a cutting device, often a carbide tipped chain, is attached at the front end. Because these cutters rotate at approximately 2,000 RPM, flex-shaft machines are adept at milling, pipe prep and root removal.

When outfitted with the proper cutting tool, they leave the pipe in perfect condition to adhere to the material used in the pipe relining procedure. For this reason, they are used extensively in the pipe relining industry, and have also become popular with plumbers and drain cleaners whose only goal is to cut and remove root incursions.

One advantage that this technology has over snake style machines is that the outside tube or hose on the unit doesn’t rotate. This means that you can put the flex-shaft machine and a pipe inspection push rod down the pipe at the same time, giving the contractor a real-time view of the action. This ability to give you pinpoint control over the cutting process is a game changer that can save you time and money.

The only major weakness reported by users of this technology is its inability to muscle through a tough clog. But, that was before the General Flexi-Rooter®. It is a flex-shaft device tough enough to open a stubbornly clogged drain, as well as performing as a pipe prep and milling machine.

General’s Flexi-Rooter is unique because it has a stronger and stiffer flexible shaft and outer sheath than competitive units, giving it the straight-line cutting power needed to open solidly clogged drains.

Plus, the Flexi-Rooter can wield General’s unique ClogChopper® as a forward cutting tool, giving it unparalleled flexibility and the power to cut through the toughest obstructions.

The process of pairing the flex-shaft machine with a camera system is much easier to perform with the Flexi-Rooter because it has an air activated foot switch! This leaves both of your hands free to control the flex shaft and the camera’s pushrod, keeping the camera head close enough to see where the cutter is positioned, but not close enough to damage it.

The Flexi-Rooter emerges as the clear favorite for contractors searching for the best way to fully utilize this new technology in the real world!

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

Adds Portability and Versatility to Sewer Inspection Cameras The new Gen-Pack™ Battery Adapter from General Pipe Cleaners lets you operate your sewer inspection camera system in remote locations where access to power is limited. It adds portability and versatility – and makes jobs easier. Depending on battery type and system settings, you can run General’s Gen-Eye Read more

Adds Portability and Versatility to Sewer Inspection Cameras

The new Gen-Pack™ Battery Adapter from General Pipe Cleaners lets you operate your sewer inspection camera system in remote locations where access to power is limited. It adds portability and versatility – and makes jobs easier.

Depending on battery type and system settings, you can run General’s Gen-Eye POD® or Gen-Eye X-POD® camera systems up to 12 hours with the Gen-Pack. The battery adapter is fuse-protected to safeguard your investment. Battery and charger are not included.

The Gen-Pack battery adapter easily mounts to General’s Gen-Eye POD and X-POD – both full size and mini-reel versions. Just clamp it to the frame – and plug the cord into the camera power input. You’re ready for remote operation in minutes.

Add the Gen-Pack to the Gen-Eye POD®. Easy to move, easy to use, and easy on budgets, the lightweight, compact sewer camera includes integral Wi-Fi to record and share inspections on tablets and smartphones.

Add versatility to your Gen-Eye X-POD® with the Gen-Pack. It features a powerful Command Module with USB port to record video inspections on flash drives. It also includes a 7” LCD color monitor, one-touch recording, digital zoom, voice-over recording, and more.

For additional information, contact the Drain Brains® at General Pipe Cleaners at 800-245-6200 or 412-771-6300, or visit https://drainbrain.com/en/products/genpack/

Great for a wide range of heavy-duty plumbing, drain cleaning, maintenance, and rental applications, the Typhoon® trailer jet from General Pipe Cleaners blows away blockages in big lines and long runs. The Typhoon delivers 12 gallons a minute at 2500 psi to blast grease, sediment and debris from 4” to 12” drain lines up to 400 Read more

Great for a wide range of heavy-duty plumbing, drain cleaning, maintenance, and rental applications, the Typhoon® trailer jet from General Pipe Cleaners blows away blockages in big lines and long runs.

The Typhoon delivers 12 gallons a minute at 2500 psi to blast grease, sediment and debris from 4” to 12” drain lines up to 400 ft. long. And a 200 gallon holding tank carries enough water to handle remote locations where access to water is limited.

General’s brawny machine also boasts electric brakes, safety strobe light, safety cones, rear fold-down stabilizer jacks, retractable hose guide arm, and antifreeze system as standard equipment.

Its reliable 690 cc (24 hp) Honda engine with electric start and 7 gallon fuel tank ensures extended performance on stubborn stoppages. On-demand Vibra-pulse® helps slide the nozzle around tight bends – and propel the hose down long lines.

Two hose reels – a jet hose reel with 400 ft. x 1/2″ capacity featuring variable speed electric rewind, and a water supply hose reel carrying 150 ft. x 3/4″ hose – are mounted at the rear of the unit next to the pressure gauge and output valve. Engine controls, including an hour meter, are located within easy reach in the lockable tool box with slide action doors just below the reels.

General’s Typhoon trailer jet rides on rugged 15″ radial tires with modular wheels and a leaf-spring suspension rated at 3500 lbs per axle. A splash guard at the front helps protect the pump and engine from road debris. And the body is protected by a tough epoxy finish for added weather protection. The Typhoon is also available in a skid mount model.

To see the Typhoon trailer jet in action, visit drainbrain.com/en/products/jm-2512/. For more information, contact the Drain Brains® at General Pipe Cleaners at 800-245-6200 or 412-771-6300.