From Sub to Prime

Jetting equipment and trained personnel ensure that Chuck’s Septic gets the first call for emergencies and routine service around Columbus, Ohio

Waterjetters are more than just cleaning tools for Chuck’s Septic Tank Sewer & Drain Cleaning Inc. They’re also sales vehicles.

Customers often call Chuck’s first because they know the waterjetters have a history of solving the problem on the spot.

“Our customers now call us even if they think the job might not require waterjetting, because they know we have the equipment and they can depend on us to get the job done,” says Charles Lang Jr., who owns the company, based in Columbus, Ohio, with his father Charles Lang Sr. “We might not have to use waterjetting, but waterjetting gets us the job. It gives customers the assurance that we can handle the problem.”

The company started in 1970 pumping septic tanks but soon expanded into waterjetting and related services and became a drain and pipe cleaning specialist. The firm added its first waterjetters 25 years ago, initially serving mainly residential customers.

Over time, the company expanded into commercial business and school districts, generally as a subcontractor to local plumbers. After about 15 years Chuck’s evolved into the prime contractor. School districts in particular just “fell like dominoes,” mostly through word-of-mouth, as their equipment list grew and their reputation for good work spread.

Sending the right stuff

If a school district, utility, or any customer calls, the first decision is what equipment to send. “Many times, the maintenance guy will call and describe what’s happening,” Lang says. “We pretty well know that if the drain is holding water, we will need a combination truck the majority of the time. If it’s full of debris, you have to get that stuff out. Vacuum the catch basin before you waterjet to clean the line.”

If there is any question what equipment to send, Lang sends a technician to do a diagnosis. “We can rely on our technicians because they are highly trained,” Lang says. “We train every technician for at least a year before they go out on their own. Every one of them can handle the waterjetting equipment, assess the situation, and determine what we need.”

When hiring, Lang looks for honest, clean-cut people. He is willing to train even inexperienced people who fit the basic profile. Training includes not just waterjet operation but safety issues and confined-space entry.

Equipped for the challenge

The company is experienced and equipped to handle everything from routine maintenance to major crises. The fleet includes

• A 2002 SafeJetVac from Vacall Industries Inc. with an 1,800-gallon water tank, 16-cubic-yard debris body and 2,000 psi/80 gpm jetter.

• A 1997 truck-mounted SRECO waterjetter with 1,500-gallon water tank and 2,500psi/ 65gpm pump.

• Two Harben trailer jetters delivering 4,000 psi/20 gpm.

• A 2007 Vactor HXX PD hydroexcavator with 2,500 psi/20 gpm water system.

• A UEMSI camera truck.

• Nozzles by StoneAge Inc. ENZ USA Inc., KEG Tech-nologies Inc., and Cloverleaf Tool Co.

• Root cutters by KEG Tech-nologies Inc.

With this equipment arsenal, Chuck’s Septic has gained a reputation for service to the major utilities in the Columbus area — often in emergencies. “In addition to hydro-excavation, we take care of their lines in the maintenance shops,” Lang says. “We clean their pits, and they have to be power washed at the inlet and outlet lines. Here we use the Harben trailer jetters.

“We have water-jetted 6- and 8-inch electric conduit lines in new installations before they put the electric wire in. Sometimes we have to clear mud out of the conduits. If there is a lot of mud, we use the truck jetter, probably at 65 gpm/ 2,500 psi.”

Help in a crisis

Lang sees little difference in serving business customers such as utilities, school districts, apartment complexes, and restaurants when there’s a stoppage. But many calls involve a crisis of one kind or another.

In a recent job involving gravel in 300 feet of 6-inch line serving a bank, Chuck’s was called in as a sub-contractor. The 10-hour job required five pieces of equipment, including the Harben and SRECO waterjetters, and the hydroexcavator. “We had to jet the gravel to a cleanout inside the building,” Lang says. “We used the Harben jetter most of the time, but also the truck jetter. We used a Keith Huber 3,300-gallon tank truck, and the hydroexcavator to suck up the gravel.

In serving seven school districts, Chuck’s cleans the smaller drains inside the buildings using cables wherever possible. “Outside, we use the waterjetters or the combin-ation truck because we’re dealing with grease, solids and tree roots,” Lang says.

When faced with backed up storm sewers, technicians use the camera truck to assess the situation. If roots are the problem they use root cutters along with the waterjetter. “For 1 1/2- to 8-inch lines, we use a Harben trailer jetter,” Lang says. “For pipe larger than 8-inch, we use the truck jetter. You need a volume of water to move material out of those lines.”

Enjoying the work

Lang enjoys all aspects of the business, but he admits finding commercial easier. “With residential, you never know what’s going to happen,” he says. “We’ll do a residential line, and it can be stopped up to where a cable won’t get it open. You have to use the portable waterjetter to bust up the sludge. When a line is stopped up for a long time, the solids build up in the pipe, and the water just runs off. Only high-pressure jetters will efficiently liquefy that sludge.”

The company’s advertising budget amounts to about $30,000 a year, primarily for telephone directories. Lang believes most of the work comes through word-of-mouth. The company also has seen favorable comments posted on Angie’s List, a subscription web site where consumers can find reputable contractors.

While traditional services will continue to drive the business, hydroexcavation is a growing segment. “We purchased the Vactor HXX for this work,” Lang says. “It’s a safer way to dig, as you don’t disturb any utilities as you would with a backhoe.” The service is especially important to utility customers. “We can take care of problems if a line shorts out underneath the ground, and we can also dig to put in poles for them,” Lang says.

As the business grows so must the accommodations. The company now has three heated garages in Columbus to store equipment. Total garage space is 13,700 square feet. Lang is proud that the company has sharp-looking equipment. The 11 service vans have red lettering, and the big trucks are all painted red.

“The jetters sell the other business,” concludes Lang. “Because we have that equipment the customers know they can depend on us to get the line unstopped. For them, it’s cheaper and less trouble than first calling someone else and then having to call us in.”



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