It is amazing how plumbing has evolved over the years. I remember when we first started out, how we had to dig trenches to find leaking pipes. The leak would never be near the wet spot, so we would have to keep digging to find it. Blockages were another bugbear. The plumbing snakes would only do so much to temporarily open a small hole through which water would exit before, in a short space of time, it would block up again. Yet, despite the frequent call outs to deal with the same problem, the business was hardly profitable. Today we can look back and laugh about those days, with much gratitude for the modern plumbing tools we have today.
Here are some of my favorite tools and technologies:
Trenchless Repairs: The expression on clients’ faces, when we announce that we won’t be digging up their floors, is priceless. Trenchless leak detection and repair is one of the best inventions in modern plumbing.
Pipelining: Another fantastic time and cost saver, is pipelining. Instead of having to dig up and replace old, deteriorated plumbing, we can simply line the pipes with epoxy lining and they are good to go for another 50+ years. It saves the client on high costs of repair and maintenance, and it also saves plenty in repairing damages caused by trench digging.
Hydro Jetting: Out with the old plumbing snake and in with the hydro jet! Hydro Jetting allows us to actually blast clean the pipe walls, effectively removing and washing down all the grease, debris and mineral deposits. This means that the pipes will be clear of blockages for as long as maintenance is exercised inside the building.
But we don’t only use modern technology on the job; it also forms a big part of the logistics and administration of a plumbing company. Here’s what we do:
GPS Fleet Tracking: Using GPS allows us to keep a track of our vehicles, which means that we can, in an emergency, see which truck is closest to your location. That way, we save on fuel, but more importantly, we can get someone to you as quickly as possible.
iPad Invoicing: Our plumbers are not only skilled in plumbing-related issues but also clued up on using finer technologies. Mobile quoting and invoicing systems allow them to provide you with an accurate quote on-site, saving both time and money.
Mobile Credit Card Merchant: Mobile technology enables us to after you have agreed to a quote, immediately process your credit card and get going with the job. Now you don’t have to worry about getting cash until we can repair your plumbing – it can be done right away.
Yes, plumbing sure has evolved over the years, and more fantastic advancements are made as you are reading this post.