Editorial Articles

An untried pipe-bursting machine enables a New York contractor to renew a sewer while a community continues to function normally during the process.

Tales of extremely challenging cleaning jobs can help contractors learn valuable lessons, avoid mistakes, and improve customer service.

Global positioning systems (GPS) are becoming standard and indispensable management tools for businesses that operate service and delivery fleets.

Cab-over service trucks owned by Pipe Wrench Plumbing are as productive on the inside as they are attention-getting on the outside.

Drain-cleaning contractor American Minutemen gets aggressive with branding and with Internet, direct mail and media advertising.

At age 87, Arnie Schweiss still keeps long hours in his own drain-cleaning company — while staying competitive with investments in better technology.

Know the difference between false and real conflicts — and know how to act quickly to resolve the real ones.

Louisville residents still remember the Friday the 13th sewer explosion in 1981 that destroyed some 13 miles of lines and left 38-foot deep craters.

Southern California Jetting and Plumbing Co. wins and keeps commercial accounts with quality equipment and reliable performance.

A variety of common mistakes can keep you from meeting your financial goals and supporting the lifestyle you want for your retirement years.

The death of a 52-year-old worker in a trench collapse underscores the importance of protective measures.

There will always be competitors who cut prices and cut corners. Smart contractors fight them by focusing on customers who demand value.

A new composite cutting blade and a hydraulic ram enable a California contractor to replace corroded pipes without disrupting a factory’s production line.

Business owners vouch for the value of contracts as a way to display professionalism and protect both company and customer.

A waterblasting equipment maker looks at how standoff distance, traverse speed, rotation speed and other factors affect surface preparation.

Drain Doctor Plumbers in central Florida gains high performance and productivity from its fully outfitted Dodge Sprinter cargo van.

A contractor in British Columbia believes there is a single opportunity to make a first impression on a customer — and that starts with the service van.

Three distinct divisions help Expert Plumbing Service keep a steady flow of business in a competitive market around Chicago.

Business owners and employees alike can take lessons from the experience of a U.S. Navy skipper who turned his destroyer into a top-flight outfit.