General Pipe Cleaners

Contractors out in the field are always looking for one tool that does it all. Our ClogChopper^® is a great tool that can be connected to almost any drum, flexible shaft or sectional style machine, and cuts through obstructions in the pipe.

Our ClogChopper has four features that make it the “all-star” attachment – it is maneuverable, efficient, versatile and economical. In this blog post, we talk more about these features and how they make the ClogChopper stand out.

Maneuverable

The perfectly balanced ClogChopper automatically negotiates multiple, tricky bends – maintaining a central line position and minimizing pipe wall, elbow, connection and joint damage. The ClogChopper essentially “bounces” around the pipe to get to where the user needs it to go.

Efficient

With “all surface” cutting edges, the ClogChopper clears clogs and scrapes encrusted debris from inner walls – all in one operation. The six inverted cutting edges run smoothly, without rattling or jumping. The spherical design helps to maneuver around tight bends and traps, thoroughly and safely cleaning metal, plastic and clay pipes to make it more efficient while going through the pipe.

Economical

The ClogChopper is durable enough to handle years of demanding use in residential and commercial applications, and self-sharpens while working, making it the perfect tool for handling multiple jobs and lasting a long time for the user.

Versatile

General offers ClogChopper connectors in a variety of sizes for several brands of drain cleaning machines.

The ClogChopper has six self-sharpening blades that dig into encrusted debris and root masses, easily grinding up stoppages, scale and crystallized urine without risking pipe damage. It works in both directions, in and out lines, all in one operation. As it spins, it also self-sharpens as it scrapes along the pipe walls.

It’s available in one-inch, one-and-a-half-inch, two-inch, two-and-a-half-inch, three-inch and four-inch sizes. This drain clearing tool is also excellent for clearing stacks, downspouts and mains, as well as for pipe lining jobs to reinstate the pipe.

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

With a Cold-Shot, you don’t have to drain water lines, sprinkler systems, or hot water systems before cutting pipe or tubing. Our pipe freezing tool keeps a fully pressurized system operating while you make repairs.

The Cold-Shot pipe freezing tool freezes liquids in metal and plastic pipes ranging from 1/8″ through 2″ (10mm to 60mm) using carbon dioxide (CO₂). Dip tube-type CO₂ cylinders are available from any welding supply house.

The Cold-Shot works faster than “refrigerator-type” units, is more compact and less expensive. It’s faster and uses less CO₂ than “bag-type” pipe freezers, because the freeze head makes a better seal around the pipe. In five minutes you’re ready to go to work on 1/2″ copper tubing, and just three minutes for cast iron pipe.

For more information, visit https://drainbrain.com/en/products/cold-shot/

Being informed on the safety of drain cleaning and the dangers of it is very important when out in the field. Whether it be knowing what drain cleaning tools should be used for the job, what safety gear to wear and proper care for your equipment. In this blog post, we will discuss the dangers and safety measures that plumbers should be aware of.

Dangers in drain cleaning

Dangers can be incurred if you use the wrong tool for the job. For example, if you have too small of a cable in too large of a drain or too large of a cable in too small of a drain, you can get the cable caught and you can cause damage to the equipment.

Also, if this should happen and you aren’t using a power feed with a guide tube on it to separate the user from the cable, there is the possibility that you can get a kink in the cable and it can grab the user by the hand or the arm—which can hurt!

Operating drain cleaning equipment should be more like using a drill than a hammer. The user should leverage the rotation of the cable and the cutter to eat its way through the obstruction, applying gentle, forward pressure. Using the right drain cleaning machine can significantly reduce the risks associated with drain cleaning.

Finally, because you are using electricity in the vicinity of water flow, make sure your electrical source is grounded with a properly functioning GFCI to protect from the possibility of an electrical shock.

PPE

Two-ply, leather gloves are highly recommended when using hand tools or drain cleaning equipment, but any kind of gloves that are specifically made for drain cleaning will work. Do not use rubber or cloth gloves, as you run the risk of getting them caught in the coils of the cable. If you must wear rubber gloves, wear them underneath the recommended leather gloves. Protective eyewear is also recommended for obvious reasons. You really don’t need anything else; it’s not necessary to garb up in a hazmat suit for drain cleaning.

Emergency response plan

We like to preach that preventative maintenance is always better than an emergency response plan.

Preventative maintenance would be a plan to regularly snake out drains because you know that if you don’t, they will have the propensity to back up.

The buildup of grease is particularly a problem in multifamily units and food service facilities, which causes emergency situations. For drains that are commonly affected by grease, we strongly recommend that companies invest in small, high-pressure water jetters, which are the right tools for the job.

Grease is not a job for a drum-style cable machine—it will poke a hole in the grease, but it will not remove the grease clog. We recommend preventative maintenance, using a high-pressure water jetter in at-risk pipes on a regular basis as opposed to waiting for them to overflow and creating an emergency. Handling clogged drains, especially when dealing with tough clogs like grease and sludge, requires the right equipment. Preventative maintenance is always easier, cheaper and more time efficient than emergency management.

When investing in basic drain cleaning equipment, companies don’t have to wait for a drain cleaning contractor to come out and do the job. Facility managers can include drain cleaning equipment into their long-term preventative maintenance programs. They will often find additional ways to put the equipment to use that they hadn’t thought of before.

Safely and correctly operating and cleaning equipment and drains

The actual care and preventative maintenance of the drain cleaning equipment should not be overlooked. Every time the machine is used, we recommend that you clean it off and let the water drain out of it. Once the water has been completely drained, we recommend applying snake oil or lubrication to the cables. If you’re using a jetter, you should also clean out the hose and take proper care of the pumps.

Every 200 hours, perform routine maintenance on your equipment—check oil levels, seals, cables and drums. Five minutes of post-job maintenance on equipment will go a long way to preserving your equipment, sometimes for 10 years or more. Maintaining drain cleaning cables and tools is crucial for the longevity of your drain cleaning equipment.

Regular maintenance of your cleaning tools, from a simple sink cleaning hand tool to complex sewer cleaning equipment, ensures longevity and peak performance. Always check for debris that might have been left behind, clean out the drum, and ensure that water is properly drained after each use. Regular upkeep reduces the chances of blockages in your cleaning machine and guarantees that you’re always ready to handle even the toughest clogs.

Here at General Pipe Cleaners, safety is a top priority, which is why it’s important to understand the dangers of drain cleaning and how to perform the job safely.

Questions? Call the Drain Brains at 800-245-6200

Easily and quickly cut tubing – even in confined spaces – with the AutoCut^® family of copper and plastic tubing cutters from General Pipe Cleaners.

Offering true “one-hand” operation with no knobs to turn, AutoCut tools for copper tubing are more compact and convenient than using conventional copper tubing cutters. And, AutoCutPL^® plastic tubing cutters offer a similarly fast, easy way to cut PEX and CPVC-CTS plastic tubing.

Just close the gate over the tube and, while squeezing the gate closed, rotate AutoCut in the direction of the arrows. The hardened steel cutting wheel automatically tightens as you twist, quickly producing clean, uncrushed, square cuts in as little as one rotation.

Great for use in tight workspaces, AutoCut solutions let you cut tubing with less than one inch of clearance. Both AutoCut and AutoCutPL come in three sizes – 1/2”, 3/4”, and 1”. They fit in the palm of your hand. Carry one of each in your toolbox!

Get hundreds of cuts with accuracy and ease. The handy blade guard protects your fingers – and easily replaceable AutoCut blades – from workplace and toolbox damage.

For more information, contact the Drain Brains^® at General at 800-245-6200, or visit https://drainbrain.com/autocut