3 Reasons to Break Into Septic Pumping

Sick of handing over pumping work — and profits — to someone else? Check out three simple reasons why expanding your menu of services could pay huge dividends.
3 Reasons to Break Into Septic Pumping
338 Model truck chassis from Hino Motor Sales U.S.A.

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Expanding your menu of services is no simple task. If you’re solely an onsite installation service provider, perhaps it’s time to consider adding septic pumping and maintenance. 

Some contractors might argue pumping is not a profit-boosting endeavor, but it remains attractive in several ways — a steady source of revenue and another way to attract customers for installations and repairs. 

Eugene Bassett of EC Bassett Construction in Edgewood, N.M., installs onsite septic systems and provides regular maintenance and pumping. “We do maintenance on just about any product that’s installed in the ground,” Bassett says. Maintenance work makes up 60 percent of his business, with installations and pumping rounding out the remaining 40 percent. 

He entered the pumping side of the business from the maintenance end to remove the hassle of calling other industry professionals to complete a job. “I can take care of it and never have to involve anyone else.” 

Bassett also says he would have had a better understanding of overall system installation and design if he had added pumping from the get-go. “I wish I had got into pumping years ago because you can actually see how a system operates,” he says. “And from there then you can add designs to it to try to make systems last longer.” 

So if you’re on the fence about adding septic pumping to your menu of service offerings, here are few advantages of making the investment. 

1. Additional jobs

Customers don’t like to hear ‘we don’t do that.’ Investing in additional services lets you tell them ‘yes.’ They are looking for a one-stop shop that offers installation and follow-up maintenance work. Don’t miss out on additional clients and potential profits because you don’t think there’s room to grow. 

Les Harris, owner of Mr. Ed’s Advanced Septic in Grants Pass, Ore., saw an immediate — and lucrative — increase in overall jobs when he took the leap and added pumping. 

“Having the pumper truck gives you first contact with your customer,” Harris said in a 2012 article in Pumper. “It’s a service we provide that refers work back to us to keep our excavators busy.” 

Ralph Hobbs, owner of Cape Ann Septic Service in Gloucester, Mass., can also attest to the business-building advantages of adding pumping services. “One of the assets of pumping is that you have a foot in the door for repairs, maintenance or installation of systems,” he said in the Pumper article. “When you show up on a job and there is a problem, you have the opportunity to correct it.” 

2. Less downtime

Depending on where you’re located, pumping season may run opposite repair and installation season, which means less downtime time in the winter months when installation work slows. Adding pumping can keep your business busy year-round and even out cash flow. 

Brian Miller of Brian’s Septic Service in Tallahassee, Fla., is a third-generation installation and pumping contractor.  “When it’s slow, there is always pumping,” he said in the article. “The profit margin on a pumpout isn’t real good, but it pays off if you can keep busy.” 

3. More money

There’s money to be made! The bottom line for expanding your menu of services is simple: more money. Kevin Loukes, owner of Charlton Septic Service in Charlton, N.Y., says adding — and promoting — pumping services can drastically increase revenue streams. Charlton’s business volume breaks down to 50 percent septic pumping, 30 percent septic system installations and 20 percent portable restrooms (mostly seasonal special events). 

“We get a lot of repeat business from inspections,” Loukes said in a 2012 article in Pumper. “We have established many relationships with local real estate brokers who refer us. Once we complete an inspection, nine out of 10 times the new homeowners will call us back for a maintenance pumping or other repairs. 

“It’s more of a convenience for the customer, but it does generate additional revenue — and helps customers keep us in mind when they need a pumping.” 

Since Harris invested a vacuum truck in 2011, it has added about 5 percent in new revenue with two or three pumpouts every day. “In the first 18 months, our installing and repairing has gone up 20 percent,” he said. 

If you’re ready to increase revenue and add more work to your onsite installation operation, here are several vacuum trucks, trailers and tanks to help you put a truck on the road to take care of your customers: 

The 4,000-gallon aluminum Matador septic/grease vacuum tank from Amthor International comes standard with a 5/16-inch-thick side shell and floor, full head baffles and no external rings. It is available as a dumping tank with or without full-opening rear doors, as well as with off-road construction options for various applications. 

Vacuum trucks from Best Enterprises are built on a 2014 Kenworth chassis and using a 4,000-gallon stainless steel tank. Features include a 6-inch dump valve with heated collar; two stainless steel toolboxes; a 20-inch stainless steel manway; a 36-inch rear stainless steel manway; strobe lights; and a heated coil in the water compartment. 

The HV55 HydroVax from GapVax is constructed from ASTM A572-Grade 50 steel, and has a 12.5-cubic-yard debris body and water tank options ranging from 400 to 1,400 gallons. Features include a positive displacement vacuum pump rated at 5,250 cfm with 28 inches Hg, prolonging the life of the filter bags and eliminating the threat of material entering the vacuum pump.

MRK6000 Series aluminum vacuum trailers from Imperial Industries come standard with a 6,000-gallon aluminum tank (6,300-gallon units are available). They feature full-length aluminum hose trays, external ribs, three topside 20-inch aluminum manways, a 12-inch primary with a 4-inch air line, and a 4-inch intake and 6-inch discharge. 

The 3300 combo unit from Ledwell features a choice of vacuum systems, along with a large number of options. It features an ASME/DOT 412 rating, full-opening hydraulically operated rear door, a 20-inch top manway with ladder and platform, a three-stage hydraulically operated front tank hoist, a 6-inch air-operated rear discharge, and a 4-inch rear-mounted intake valve. 

The 338 Model truck chassis from Hino Motor Sales U.S.A. is suited for vacuum service applications at a gross vehicle weight of 33,000 pounds. It is equipped with a Hino 8L J08 engine rated at 260 hp and 660 ft-lbs of torque, and backed by a five-year, 250,000-mile warranty with three years of free roadside assistance. 

Mid-State Tank/Arthur Custom Tank manufacture aluminum pressure/vacuum trailers in various capacities. A popular model is the 7,600-gallon tri-axle unit with airlift on the rear axle, available with or without a pump. Units can be manufactured to satisfy a variety of vacuum requirements. 

The MD3200 steel service module vacuum truck from Satellite Industries features a PTO-driven vacuum system for pumping waste, with a four-way valve for pressure off-loading and unplugging lines. Its right-angle gearbox, Woods-style coupler and driveline keys help prevent drivetrain damage in case of overflow or pump failure. 

Industrial vacuum trucks from V & H Inc. feature Sterling chassis and 2,500-gallon Imperial Industries steel tanks with a Masport 350 cfm HXL15 pump and 3- and 6-inch brass lever valves. The discharge is mounted on a four-bolt flange, which makes it easier to change to piston valve with air cylinder. 

For complete product listings and manufacturer contact information, visit www.onsiteinstaller.com/editorial/2013/12/pumping_and_onsite_system_maintenance.



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