Drain Brains

Drum-type drain cleaners vs. Sectional drain cleaning machines. What’s the difference?

Question: We use a large drum-type drain cleaner to clear tree roots. But my buddy swears by his sectional machine to do the same job. What’s the difference? And which one is better?

Answer: Heavy duty machines with large diameter cables are needed to clear tree roots. Two types of machines are available – drum-type and sectional.  Each has advantages.

Drum-type machines have the advantage of being self-contained, fast, and easy to operate.  The entire length of cable is contained in one drum and can be transported in a single trip to the job site.  A variable speed automatic feed, feeding at a rate of up to 20 ft/min, makes it easier for the operator to get the cable to the clog quickly.  It also helps to retract the cable more easily.  A 100 ft. cable can weight 100 lbs.

Sectional drain cleaners have the advantage of being lightweight.  The cables are carried separately from the machine as 5, 8, 10, or 15 ft. sections.  No need to carry the weight of 100 ft. of cable when the job only calls for 50 ft.  Once on the job, the cables are feed into the line one section at a time and coupled together as needed.  The open coil design of the sectional cable helps corkscrew the cable down the line, making it easier to clear longer runs.  And if a section is ever damaged, it can easily be uncoupled and replaced.

As you can see, each type has its advantages. The correct answer is really, the type of machine that is right for you is the one you’re most familiar with.

For more information, or to ask a question, visit www.drainbrain.com or call the Drain Brains^® at 800-245-6200.

With the versitlity to handle 1-1/4” to 4” drain lines, General Pipe Cleaners’ Root 66^® is three machines in one.

Designed to clear practically any inside or rooftop drain, the Root 66 sectional cable power drain cleaner uses 5/8″ or 7/8″ sections interchangeably. There’s no need for adapters or tools to switch from one cable size to the other!

Need to clear sinks and other small drain lines? Get the optional drum with smaller 1/4″, 5/16” or 3/8” Flexicore^® cables. Just slide onto the back of Root 66 and you’re ready to go.

A General exclusive, optional 7/8″ Proflex^® sectional cables (15R10-P) sport an inner spring. It gives the cable greater strength to transfer extra torque down the line for additional cutting power.

Operating Root 66 is easy, too. Depress the drive handle for plenty of cable torque from the 1/2 hp capacitor motor. Release the drive handle and the cable immediately stops rotating – for no additional torque build-up. A wide, four-point base adds greater stability, and an optional dolly offers easy transport over long distances.

Other accessories include cable carriers, the optional drum for small drain work, and a toolbox. Standard equipment includes a ground fault circuit interrupter, double palm leather gloves, rear guide hose, and General’s tradition of quality, performance and reliability.

For more information contact the Drain Brains^® at General Pipe Cleaners at 800-245-6200 or 412-771-6300, or visit drainbrain.com.

Protect work sites and equipment from dripping video cable reels with the new Reel Cage Cover for Gen-Eye sewer cameras from General Pipe Cleaners.

The heavy-duty, 600 denier poly canvas cover fits snuggly around General’s full size camera reels. Three times more durable than standard covers, it’s securely affixed with Velcro tabs – and easily removed for reel inspection or cleaning between jobs.

The new Reel Cage Cover now comes standard with all full size Gen-Eye POD^®, Gen-Eye X-POD^®, Gen-Eye SD^®, and Gen-Eye USB^® video inspection systems. It’s also available for separate purchase by existing Gen-Eye equipment owners – and is not intended for Gen-Eye mini-reel designs.

Easy to move, easy to use, and easy on budgets, General’s lightweight, compact Gen-Eye POD^® sewer cameras include integral Wi-Fi to record and share inspections from tablets and smartphones.

The Gen-Eye X-POD^® 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.

The Gen-Eye USB^® Premium packs potent features into a compact package. Included are a USB port, 10.4” sunlight-readable screen, waterproof keyboard, rechargeable battery that lasts up to 4 hours, and Wi-Fi capability – all protected by a heavy-duty Pelican case.

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

General Pipe Cleaners has enhanced the performance and cleaning power of its popular JM-1000 Mini-Jet™ with stainless steel braid hoses – a new supply hose and optional jetter hoses.

The upgraded supply hose now sports a durable, 10’ x 3/8” stainless steel braid design with a compression fitting for attachment directly to angle stops beneath sinks.

The optional abrasion-resistant, stainless steel braid jetter hoses smoothly traverse 1-1/2” to 3” drain lines – and easily navigate tight bends. Available in 30’ and 50’ lengths, the 3/16” Teflon^® core also reduces water flow resistance, improving small-line cleaning power.

The lightweight JM-1000 Mini-Jet clears grease, sand, and ice from small lines, sinks, and laundry drains with high-pressure, wall-to-wall water spray. The compact, powerful unit clears clogs with 1500 psi of cleaning power, yet weighs just 23 lbs. The pump and motor assembly are safely contained in a rugged diamond plate metal case.

See the Mini-Jet in action at www.drainbrain.com/jm1000, or contact the Drain Brains^® at General at 800-245-6200 for more information.