This industry is filled with hardworking, talented individuals who are proud of our industry, and we enjoy sharing their work with you.
Every month installers share their best advice, industry insights, the craziest questions homeowners ask them, and the challenges they face on the job. We hope you enjoy reading these stories, to learn from others in the industry and glean tips and tricks to implement in your own business.
We rounded up some of the more memorable quotes to share with you again.
Historically, the wastewater industry was often undervalued compared to the HVAC and plumbing industries. However, there has been a notable shift in perception, with many professionals in the field becoming highly educated and skilled. I anticipate that over the next two decades, we will see continued advancements in technology, improved products, and a growing recognition of our critical role in the trades.
– Wade Loggins, L&L Enterprises; Milner, Georgia
If we would all just come together and elevate this industry, we’d all be doing better. That’s what we talk about with our employees. I know my guys help competitors at the dump sites who maybe don’t know how to offload trucks. They’re out to help others.
– Tanya Wilson, HomeField Onsite Environmental; Gilbert, Arizona
If I had it to start all over again, the best advice I can give is take good care of your equipment. And don’t worry what the competition is charging, charge what you have to to take care of yourself.
– Gene Bassett, E.C. Bassett Construction; Edgewood, New Mexico
For every customer we service, working at their property, we try to do our best and make sure they’re pleased with our work. If they’re not happy with what we did, we will correct it at no charge. That has a domino effect — they will tell their neighbors, their friends. That’s the best advertising. We get the most calls from people who are repeat customers or referrals.
– Scott Search, Search Septic; Bailey, Colorado
We always invest heavily in good quality equipment. I don’t like downtime, so I want to make sure our guys have the tools they need and can rely on. … It keeps morale up when you have something you can just grab and know it’s going to work.
– Brian Koski, Septic Check; Milaca, Minnesota
What I can give customers is the statewide knowledge I have acquired, so they have peace of mind that they’re dealing with a professional. I make sure I’m more than an installer. I’m a source of support for people on septic systems.
– Kyle Nix, S&M Nix Enterprises; Depauw, Indiana
There is always something new coming out, and we need to stay current with industry trends. We’re researching different products to use that could be easier to install, better price-wise and better in general for our customers. That research includes watching videos, reading magazines, and attending industry events such as the WWETT Show.
– Jennifer Mrdalj, Allied Waterproofing & Septic; Manteno, Illinois
We had this hairbrained idea to do a full lake aeration system for a large lake, something outside our normal scope. The more we got into it, the more we realized we were in a situation where there was no guarantee of success. Thankfully, another supplier won the bid. The lesson is, if you’re really good at one thing it’s probably best to focus on that.
– Jared Willey, Advanced Onsite Services; Colchester, Vermont
I want the work to be done efficiently, but the quality has to come first. If it takes us four hours to do a two-hour job to make sure that that job is completed perfectly, that’s fine with me. I know that when we cover it up, we won’t have to dig it back up again.
– Cody Young, Septic Pumping & Maintenance by Cody Young, Kingsland, Texas
It’s very competitive here, there are a lot of local people in the business. Our differentiator is that when you hire us, you get a full team. Not a person answering the phone while they’re on a job site digging a hole. We have office staff, managers, drivers, operators, laborers and mechanics.
– Jason Anderson, A&A Construction and Septic; Chatsworth, New Jersey
The three musts of running a small business are getting the work, doing the work and getting paid for the work. They all are equally important. Without one, the others don’t matter. The other part of that equation is this: Running a business is as much managing personalities as it is getting the work done.
– Carol W. Ohm, Apex Engineering; Newport, Delaware
We try to post more than a picture of a pile of dirt and a piece of pipe in the ground. Our time-lapse installation posts do well because we show pictures of the tank being dug, pictures of the tank hung up in the air and getting lowered into the hole. … Attention to detail is important in septic installations, and it’s important on social media. We make sure to take good pictures, where there’s not a bunch of tools lying around, or one guy working and four guys standing around. You have to be sure the verbiage on the post paints a picture, since most readers aren’t in the industry. Above all, you have to paint yourself as a real person.
– Josh Munson, Premier Sewer & Septic Service; Sandwich, Illinois
As business owners it is important that we take care of our health so we can keep up with the workload. We often wear many hats and work long hours. I try to eat well, exercise and go to bed early. This sets up a great platform so I am able to attend to the considerable workload with flow.
– Glenda MacAskill, Island Vacuum & Portables Ltd.; Boularderie East, Nova Scotia
A grader a long time ago told me there’s a large pie out there and everybody should get a piece of it. That’s really stuck with me. I try not to be combative with other people’s jobs. I don’t want to do a job if I know somebody has already bid it.
– Miles Holden, MHI Contractor & Septic Services; Mills River, North Carolina
