Creatively blend proven technologies with intimate market knowledge, add a dash of innovative thinking — and a business can really grow fast.

Just ask Preston Hall of All Pro Water-Flow. In less than two years, the Colorado-based entrepreneur has single-handedly revolutionized how the world cleans RV, aircraft and boat holding tanks. And that’s resulted in authorized service centers and training operations in six states – with more constantly on the way.

An RV owner himself, Hall grew seriously and personally concerned with inadequate, unsanitary chemical treatments for vehicle holding tanks. A professional plumber with 25 years of experience, Hall decided to use his video inspection equipment to check out an RV holding tank, and confirmed his worst fears.

Forget foul odors. Hall discovered that conventional chemical cleaning failed to remove the appalling risks of dangerous disease contamination. “Our cameras clearly proved that chemicals don’t do the job,” he says. “What we saw of typical RV holding tank sanitation was absolutely horrid.”

Choosing the right equipment

So he marshaled his professional and technical experience to devise a safer, more competent and thorough solution. And that launched what Hall claims is “the biggest untouched service industry in the United States in 50 years.”

Working with General Pipe Cleaners, Hall incorporated General’s proven Jet Set technologies with his proprietary equipment to found All Pro Water-Flow. General’s gas- and electric-powered water jets have long offered professional drain cleaners indispensable weapons against grease, sediment, ice and other soft blockages.

With a wide variety of Jet Set models available, Hall admired the company’s reliable, rugged technology, transportability and safety features. And when All Pro started, he chose General’s JM-2900 gas-powered water jet — the model he originally selected for his first plumbing business — as his power source.

Reliability proves critical

“At that point, we had successfully used General equipment for over 15 years,” Hall recalls. “So it was natural for us to pick products we already trusted. In fact, our very first JM-2900 is still going strong.”

An economical alternative to larger gas-powered jets, the JM-2900 is lighter and more maneuverable, yet maintains the same pressure and flow rate as other jets in its class.

That proved the launching pad for Hall’s new business. He then developed a dozen custom adapters — all patent-pending — and, in close concert with General, adapted the J-2900 for All Pro’s proprietary cleaning system.

“We employ a variety of special hoses and nozzles for various holding tank cleaning jobs,” Hall says. “But the JM-2900 is the power behind the technology we developed.”

His relationship with General also proved instrumental to All Pro’s branding efforts: uniform equipment, training, presentation and quality control.

“They’ve been great,” Hall says. “They’re right on top of everything – helping us plan and streamline equipment packages at the core of our business.”

Environmentally sound solution

With All Pro, RV owners need no longer rely on chemicals to rid holding tanks of odors and disease-causing waste material. “We’ve proven that friction from water flow, under carefully regulated pressure through our custom nozzle designs and General jets, thoroughly cleans holding tanks,” Hall says.

He also notes that harsh chemical cleansers eventually enter municipal sewage treatment plants. So All Pro’s proprietary approach makes environmental sense, too.

“Depending on holding tank size, we hydro-jet in freshwater at thousands of pounds per square inch,” he says. “And everyone knows that clean water is better for the environment than chemicals are.”

And Hall contends that simply “hosing out” holding tanks at 40 to 50 psi won’t eliminate disease-causing contamination either. “You need proper technology, equipment and training, and that’s what we provide.”

Promising, profitable potential

Hall expects continued All Pro growth, especially in the RV industry. Studies point to 30 million baby boomers potentially entering the RV market. And that’s atop 8 million “RVers” already cruising the country in mobile second homes. Add 4,500 RV dealers, 16,000 RV campgrounds and 1,500 mobile RV services nationwide and Hall’s co-op service centers pack plenty of expansion potential.

“But we couldn’t have done this without General, specifically their JM-2900, behind us,” he says. "Their equipment offered the best bang for our buck: superb durability, reliability, appearance and economy.”

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