Let’s hear it for the ladies

Drain Doctor Plumbing chairman Freddie Mitman (centre) presents John and Helen Rushforth with their Franchise of the Year award.

Female plumbers have it tough in an industry that is dominated by men. But if you think that’s the case in the UK take a look at this story from Egypt. Housewife Um Bassem battled against the odds to become the best-known plumber in her district of Cairo.

In the UK there are a number of female-only plumbing businesses. However, according to industry estimates there are around 160,000 plumbers in the UK of which only about one per cent are women.

According to consumer surveys householders are increasingly seeking female plumbers because they feel safer and more relaxed having them in their homes. These often include single women, the elderly and members of religious groups. It is perhaps time to encourage more women into the industry.

At Drain Doctor there are a number female franchisees out there who are doing a fantastic job running their businesses. We would like to hear from some of you about your experiences in the trade. We would also like to hear from any female technicians on the vans about what it’s like to be working in the trade.

Hopefully those experiences are positive ones that will help to encourage more women into the trade.

Mind your business

Drain Doctor prices its jobs before work starts according to a national pricing menu.

This story in The Guardian is a timely reminder to make sure that your tax affairs are up to date. David Gauke, the exchequer secretary to the Treasury, is waging war on the ‘hidden economy’.

At Drain Doctor we maintain fixed prices and no overtime is charged for evening, weekend or bank holiday emergencies and there are no call-out charges. Every job is priced before work starts, working to a national pricing menu.

We are truly on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Service requests are handled quickly and efficiently and prices are agreed before the job is done, so there are no surprises. Our constant aim is to give superb and specialised service.

Drain Doctor customers can rest assured that if they are unfortunate enough to suffer a plumbing emergency over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Drain Doctor will not charge any more than at any other time of year.

The central principle is to deliver dazzling levels of service in a market plagued by cowboy operators who are overcharging customers for shoddy workmanship. Not only that, the cowboys often request cash-in-hand payments which can cause problems for the reputation of the industry as a whole.

Related articles

• David Gauke under fire over tradesmen cash-in-hand comments (independent.co.uk)

Take Einstein’s advice – be a plumber

English: Albert Einstein Français : Portrait d’Albert Einstein (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Back in 1954 in an interview with Reporter Albert Einstein said: “If I would be a young man again and had to decide how to make my living, I would not try to become a scientist or scholar or teacher. I would rather choose to be a plumber … in the hope to find that modest degree of independence still available under present circumstances.”

If he had become a plumber he wouldn’t have been internationally famous – but he would have beaten the economic slump. As recession continues, the economic experiences of the past few years have made increasing numbers of people seek a recession-resistant business opportunity.

The Drain Doctor system is delivering solid financial results for franchisees because, even in a recession, people with a plumbing emergency still need to call a plumber. Because of Drain Doctor’s reputation and levels of service, the plumber they call is increasingly likely to be the local Drain Doctor franchisee.

Starting your own business as a franchisee, rather than totally on your own, provides a considerable level of support and assistance if you choose the right franchise. Buying into a Drain Doctor franchise, which offers a largely recession-resistant business, provides further reassurance that if you are prepared to put in the work you can expect to gain real rewards.

Drain Doctor enables franchisees to be independent operators running their own businesses but with all the back-up that comes with being part of a large national organisation. With some other franchises you are left on your own. Drain Doctor offers great contacts with insurance companies and has a national account network that will help franchisees develop and grow their business.

Drain Doctor franchisees offer a full 24 hour per day seven-day per week service with no call out charges and they give fixed-price, no obligation quotes with a full guarantee on all their work.

Drain Doctor technicians are trained not just with technical skills – including the latest techniques such as closed circuit camera drain surveys and no-dig drain repairs – but in customer care that is reflected in such things as wearing overshoes while in customers’ homes and clearing up carefully after every job.

Stripping plumber from ‘down under’

Stripping plumber Dylan Yeandle from Australia’s Got Talent. Photo courtesy of The West Australian.

This article on an Australian website caught our eye.

And it may not be all that catches the eye. The article is about a plumber appearing on an Australian TV talent show – as a stripper.

Quite how that works with a family-oriented, prime-time TV audience is just one of the questions that springs to mind.

Another, inevitably, is – which Drain Doctor staff member, franchisee or technician would you like to suggest as a TV talent show contestant? As a stripper or anything else.

Your suggestions, as ever, would be warmly welcomed. If we get a number of names, maybe we could consider a ‘Drain Doctor’s got talent’ competition at the next annual franchisee convention?

Drain Doctor’s advice for DIY plumbers in tough times

Large image of household plungers: on the left, a toilet plunger, on the right, a sink plunger. Deutsch: Handbetriebene Saugglocken der Sanitärtechnik (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

During these tough economic times it is tempting to try to do basic DIY jobs ourselves. This includes simple plumbing and drain clearance jobs. But beware, there are pitfalls to catch out the unwary DIY plumber.

Most minor blockages can be diagnosed and dealt with easily, as long as the person doing the unblocking pays close attention to a few basics.

Don’t take the plunge

When faced with a blocked sink or toilet the first thing that most of us reach for is the plunger. This simple device removes blockages by producing an airtight seal and creating suction to remove debris.

Interestingly enough, however, many plumbers don’t count plungers as part of their tool kits, and for good reason. Not only do they create a dangerous mess by splashing toilet water around, they can also push the obstruction farther into the pipe. Augers work much better.

Take care with chemicals

Commercially available chemicals are easy to use and very effective at removing blockages but they can be extremely dangerous to health and to the environment. They should be handled with care while wearing gloves and protective eyewear in case of splashing.

Keep an eye on slow drains

There are other Eco-friendly liquids marketed for unblocking drains, including Drain Doctor’s own micro biological MS enzyme cleaner. They contain natural enzymes or microorganisms that can deal with organic obstructions in the pipe. They are intended for use on drains that begin to develop issues and are more of a preventative measure. Boiled water with sea salt can also be an effective pipe flush if done periodically, helping to avoid future messy cleanups caused by full-blown blockages.

If you are in any doubt about how to tackle a particular job then call the professionals. Drain Doctor is available around the clock 365 days of the year on 0800 3357 999.

Happy New Year – unless your toilet blocks!

Drain Doctor franchisees across the country have been busy over Christmas and the days since, sorting out emergency plumbing problems for households and businesses.  Blocked drains, blocked loos, leaking pipes – it is all in a day’s work for Drain Doctor, even over the festive holiday.

Don’t forget that Drain Doctor will also be working on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day offering the same high standard of service at the same competitive prices as it does all through the rest of the year. There are no call-out charges and no ‘overtime rates’ for working on bank holidays.

So, all of us at Drain Doctor hope you have a great New Year celebration. If a plumbing disaster does strike, though, give us a call on 0800 3357 999.

Father and son open new Drain Doctor business for Glasgow and Stirling

Jimmy and Andrew Smith have joined Drain Doctor covering Glasgow and Stirling

All at Drain Doctor would like to extend a warm welcome to Football playing father and son Jimmy and Andrew Smith. They are setting up their own plumbing and drainage business to service the north of Glasgow and Stirling as part of the national Drain Doctor network.

Jimmy describes the decision to go into business with his son as “a coincidence of timing”. He has recently retired from running his own property business (after a previous career as a publican) and Andrew has just left Glasgow Caledonian University where he studied construction management – and then stayed on for a further year as vice president of the students’ association.

The combination of business and practical skills arising from Jimmy’s experience and Andrew’s studies and post-graduate work make them an ideal team for a franchise.

Both men will initially be undertaking plumbing and drainage work themselves but they have already recruited their first technician to work with them. They aim soon to have a number of fully-equipped vans and fully-trained technicians, allowing them to devote their attention to managing and growing the business.

Jimmy says: “Things came together at just the right time as Andrew left university. I was getting bored in retirement and am looking forward to getting back into business.”

Both Jimmy and Andrew are keen footballers. Andrew was responsible for sports as vice president of the university students’ association and Jimmy is a qualified coach and referee.

Welcome our new Drain Doctor franchisee for Central London

Ian Robinson has taken on the Drain Doctor franchise for Central London.

We welcome plumber and businessman Ian Robinson to the Drain Doctor network.

Ian has taken on the Central London franchise business of Drain Doctor Plumbing  offering emergency plumbing and drain repairs in the City, Barbican, Mayfair, Chelsea and Bermondsey. He has extensive experience in general business and in the plumbing and drainage industry in particular.

Ian’s early career was in the motor trade where he spent 20 years honing his sales and marketing skills. He then re-trained and went on to own a franchise with another plumbing and drainage franchise business before leaving the industry to go into catering. Ian still owns the Orange Tree café in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Recently however Ian was looking to expand his business interests so he decided to build on the skills he had learnt as a plumbing technician. Six months ago he started his own plumbing and drainage business.

Ian soon realised that he would need to expand the plumbing business beyond his local area to make it work. He said: “As a one man band it is difficult to gain the large commercial accounts needed to complement the domestic work and grow the business. Health and safety also becomes an issue because many businesses now require risk assessments and appropriate health and safety standards.

“Health and safety is a minefield but as a national company Drain Doctor is able to provide plenty of support and accredited training.”

While researching various business opportunities Ian was struck by how much more support he would get as part of our large national organisation, rather than working on his own as a small independent contractor.

He said: “Drain Doctor has a proven system that offers a largely recession-proof opportunity where I can still be an independent operator running my own business but with all the back-up that comes with being part of a large national organisation.

“I looked at other businesses for sale but you don’t get the same support that you do with Drain Doctor. With some other businesses you are left on your own. Drain Doctor also offers great contacts with its national account network that will help me to develop and grow the business. ”

Ian will start the business with one van and a technician but he intends to continue to expand and plans to have another fully-equipped van and technician on the road within a month.

He will run the office with the help of his wife Fiona and, in what spare time he has, Ian will continue to enjoy caravanning and camping. He said: “I don’t think I’m going to have much time to go travelling around the country now, at least not until we get the franchise established and a few more technicians on the road.”

Drain Doctor’s tips to avoid holiday horrors this winter

Keep drains in tip-top condition to avoid emergency call outs this winter

The ‘Indian Summer’ is well and truly over. Autumn weather has set in and the clocks are due to be turned back in just a few weeks. Winter is just around the corner so you might be looking forward to long Sunday lunches and Christmas. But it is easy to forget how dependent we are on our plumbing systems so now is the right time to put a bit of effort into preparing for the winter months to ensure they are in tip-top working order. Don’t let plumbing failures spoil your enjoyment of the season. This is particularly important if you are expecting to host family or friends over Christmas. 

Kitchens, toilets, showers and baths will work a lot harder during these periods than at other times throughout the year so you have to be prepared to avoid having to call a drain cleaning expert. If you are unfortunate enough to need a drain unblocker like Drain Doctor remember that there will be no call out charges, even over bank holidays. 

In the kitchen, avoid throwing cooking fats and oils down the drain. The cold will make them set even faster. In winter a clog could be very inconvenient to deal with, even for the most experienced emergency plumbers. Pour fat into an old drink carton and put it in the bin. 

To keep drains clear and flowing to avoid a call-out it is a good idea to run some cold water down the drain before and after using it to ensure any small particles stuck to the sides of the pipes are washed away. In order to avoid any uncomfortable moments try to do the washing up when none of your guests are using the shower. 

Showers should be spread out around 15 minutes apart. Avoid family and guests taking showers one after another in order to maximise your boiler’s efficiency. You can also turn the water temperature up to ensure everyone has a nice warm shower.

 When the family is over safety comes first. Have your boiler checked. Fit smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for some peace of mind. Test these regularly and keep spare batteries to hand. If something should go wrong you will have time to react. 

Finally, ensure that your pipes are properly prepared for the winter. Frozen pipes can burst and lead to severe damage. Always know where your water main is so that you can turn it off in an emergency. Drain all of your garden hoses and lag all of the exposed pipes around your house. These simple steps can not only help make your home more energy-efficient, which will save you some money in the process, but they will also help to prevent any major damage as a result of the winter.

Rogue plumbers give trade a bad name

Drain Doctor prices its jobs before work starts according to a national pricing menu.

Recession-busting Drain Doctor Plumbing is helping householders and businesses to keep their maintenance costs under control by maintaining its price check policy. No overtime is charged for evening, weekend or bank holiday emergencies and there are no call-out charges as every job is priced before work starts, working to a national pricing menu.

‘Rip off’ plumbers can charge a small fortune just to take a look at the problem. Take this rogue plumber who was recently caught out by BBC TV’s Watchdog programme.

It’s people like these who give our trade a bad name.

We are truly on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Service requests are handled quickly and efficiently and prices are agreed before the job is done, so there are no surprises. Our constant aim is to give superb and specialised service. The central principle is to deliver dazzling levels of service in a market plagued by cowboy operators who are overcharging customers for shoddy workmanship.

Drain Doctor technicians are trained not just with technical skills – including the latest techniques such as closed circuit camera drain surveys and no-dig drain repairs – but in customer care that is reflected in such things as wearing overshoes while in customers’ homes and clearing up carefully after every job.