What’s the secret to staying in business for over 80 years?

According to Victor “Vic” Mohr Jr., co-owner with his wife, Helen, of Red Bud Plumbing, Heating & Cooling in Red Bud, Illinois, the answer distills to a pair of simple precepts.

The first, he says, is attitude. Treat people positively, with “honesty, dignity and respect.”

And the second is professionalism. Maintain “the professional skills and tools to solve customer problems the first time — every time.”

Durable, dependable tools boost reputation

That’s why rugged, reliable drain cleaners from General Pipe Cleaners anchor Red Bud’s drain cleaning services.

“In plumbing and drain cleaning, tools make a difference. General equipment,” he says, nodding to his new Mini-Rooter XP power drain cleaner, “is all we’ve ever had!”

Mohr's grandfather Leonard founded the three-generation family business in 1941. And his father, Vic Sr., took over when Leonard retired in 1972. In 1993, Vic Jr. and Helen acquired the business from Vic Sr.

“We do it all: commercial, residential, maintenance,” Mohr says. “And when we work inside customers’ houses and businesses, we respectfully remember that we’re always ‘close to their pocketbooks.’”

General’s versatile Mini-Rooter XP from General Pipe Cleaners packs a big punch in a small package and remains one of the industry’s most popular machines for those inside tasks.

Designed to clear clogged drains from rooftop to basement — including kitchen, bath and laundry lines — the XP can handle almost any inside job. And many provide rugged, reliable service for decades.

“We’ve had several,” Mohr notes. “I’ve even compared competitive brands. And I’ve never seen anything we like better than General’s Mini-Rooter for tough inside work.”

Maneuverable, lightweight and efficient

Plumbing, drain cleaning and maintenance professionals everywhere consider Mini-Rooter XP easy to transport, maintain and use. The lightweight machine rolls easily on 8-inch semipneumatic wheels. The handle folds down to save space and locks into place to facilitate lifting and loading.

The XP’s heavy-duty frame also features roll bars to protect the motor. A cord wraps on the rear of the frame to secure the power cord and air foot switch during machine transport, loading and storage.

Mohr considers the XP very stable during operation. “The rubber feet hold it solidly in position on jobs.”

Tough design, tough cable

But he especially likes the machine’s variable speed power cable feed.

“My dad considered power cable feed an unnecessary luxury,” Mohr says, “until he actually used it!”

Operators can feed or retrieve cable at up to 16 feet per minute. The powder-coated drum holds up to 75 feet of 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch Flexicore cable. An inner drum cage helps prevent cable tangling.

Industry-standard Flexicore cables sport heavy gauge wire coiled tightly around 49-strand aircraft-type wire rope for unequaled strength and optimal flexibility. General’s unique design is so tough it carries a one-year warranty against defects or breakage.

A professional drain cleaning arsenal

Switching between cable sizes is easy, too. Users can quickly adjust Mini-Rooter XP to take 1/2- and 3/8-inch cables without special tools or additional parts.

“Mini-Rooter does the job,” Mohr says. “It’s reliable. And we’ve never had a major problem with it.”

If fact, Red Bud’s XP forms the key link between their large outdoor and small sink machines.

Clog-clearing muscle

On long, tough, outside jobs, Mohr trusts Speedrooter 92 from General Pipe Cleaners to clear clogs.

Field-proven Speedrooter 92 blends plenty of raw power with rugged reliability for optimal control, ease of use and maneuverability.

The power cable feed easily drives and retracts 3/4-, 5/8- and 1/2-inch Flexicore cables. To adjust between cable sizes, users simply turn the knob on top of the feed. No screwdriver or special tool is required.

Brawny Speedrooter 92’s durable design maneuvers easily, too. Despite the machine’s heft and power, one person can easily load it onto a truck.

Hand-held wonder

For the spot, small-line stoppages Red Bud often faces, Mohr also packs the Super-Vee hand-held powered drain cleaner from General.

Easy-to-use, Super-Vee quickly clears sink, shower, toilet and laundry lines up to 3-inch in diameter. It’s so rugged and reliable that many last for 10, 20 or even 30 years without replacement.

The chuck also automatically adjusts to 1/4-inch through 3/8-inch diameter cables. General’s quick-change cartridges let users easily switch or clean cables without delay or mess.

General’s quick, convenient slide-action chuck, engages and releases Flexicore cable with a simple push or pull of Super-Vee’s Grip-Shield, even as the cable rotates.

The bottom line

Over three decades after acquiring the business, Mohr and his wife, Helen, continue the Mohr family’s eight decades of service excellence in Red Bud. Considering that tradition, Mohr happily credits his three classes of General tools for helping cement their solid local reputation.

He then catches himself, pauses briefly, and nods to his wife. “Having a good lady behind you also makes a big difference,” he says. “My grandfather and father both appreciated that, too!”

Maybe that’s the third precept.

For more information, contact the Drain Brains at General at 800-245-6200 or by email at info@drainbrain.com. 

---

Visit the General Pipe Cleaners Storefront