Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings

Veteran drain cleaner John Rees’ success story provides a textbook case on how to grow a thriving business in the industry

Jul 22, 2024 | by Ken Wysocky |

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Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings — Rees poses with some members of his A1 Quality Rooter team, who he says have been integral to the company’s success. “In the end, it’s all about the team,” he says. “I owe it all to the hard work and dedication of the team behind me.”

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings — Rees looks on as Peter Orsini excavates a trench in order to lay new sewer pipe.

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings — An A1 Quality Rooter crew uses a Harben trailer-mounted jetting unit on a job. Harben has been Rees’ go-to manufacturer for jetting equipment over the years. “They can handle just about any kind of clog,” he says.

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings — After Rees’ wife died in 2011, Helen Skillin stepped into serve as office manager and has been a vital part of the company since.

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings — Joe Petitte uses a Duracable DM138 drum cable machine to snake a kitchen sink line.

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings — Rees says he hopes to keep A1 Quality Rooter in the family by handing the reins to son Johnny (left) in a few years. Rees’ grandson Nelson Rees Muniz (right) also has aspirations to work in the trades.

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings — Joey Ryzoc uses an Envirosight push camera to inspect a sewer line.

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings

Connecticut Drain Cleaner Builds Thriving Business From Humble Beginnings

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Young drain cleaners aspiring to make their mark in the industry just might find inspiration from the example set by John Rees Jr., owner of A1 Quality Rooter in Meriden, Connecticut.Rees established his company back in 1990, equipped with nothing more than a white 1986 Ford Econoline van, four cable drain machines, a toilet auger and just $1,500 in his checking account. He says he made only about $35,000 in his first year in business.Today, the 61-year-old entrepreneur employs nine people, owns a large fleet of equipment — including five trailer- or truck-mounted water jetters — and is on track

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