General Marks 90 Years of Drain Cleaning Industry Leadership

About the Company

With nearly a century of expertise in market needs and superior equipment reliability, General Pipe Cleaners has built a robust reputation for transforming "good ideas" into "great products" for decades. Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2020, the company is driven by customer satisfaction, trustworthy tools, creative solutions, and continual product improvements. Founded in 1930 by Abe Silverman, General Wire Spring Company began as a manufacturer of metal springs before expanding into drain cleaning cables. In the 1940s, Abe patented the Flexicore cable—a heavy-duty design featuring a braided wire core wrapped in spring wire, which became the industry standard for strength, flexibility, and kinking resistance.

Performance-driven innovation has been a cornerstone of General’s success. The company introduced the Sewerooter™, its first power-driven drain cleaner, and later pioneered hand-held cable machines, water jets, and integrated sewer camera and audio inspection technologies. Today, General Pipe Cleaners serves plumbing, drain cleaning, maintenance, and rental professionals with durable, high-performance tools like the Handylectric®, Super-Vee®, Sewermatic®, and Speedrooter®. Many customers report using General equipment across multiple generations, citing its legendary longevity and reliability for enhancing productivity and return on investment.

Product Highlights

• Flexicore Cable: The industry-standard drain cleaning cable, known for its strength, kinking resistance, and flexibility.
• Super-Vee®: A hand-held drain cleaning tool derived from the 1940s Handylectric®, ideal for unclogging small-diameter lines in sinks, showers, toilets, and laundry drains. Known for its durability, with some units lasting over 30 years.
• Speedrooter XL®: Clears tough clogs in 3" to 10" lines up to 200 feet. Features variable speed cable feed, interchangeable drums for different cable lengths/sizes, and raw driving power for long, challenging jobs.
• Mini-Rooter Pro®: A portable drain cleaning machine designed for inside drain lines from rooftop to basement. Combines rugged reliability with built-in wheels and a folding handle for easy transport and storage. Praised for its compact footprint and durability.
• Jet-Set® Water Jetters: High-pressure water jetters for clearing grease, sludge, sand, sediment, ice, and other sticky stoppages. Available in electric, gas, and trailer models for various applications, including restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and sports arenas.
  • JM-1000 Mini-Jet™: A compact, 1500 psi water jetter weighing only 23 lbs, designed for one-man operation and easy transport.
  • Gas-Powered Sewer Jetters: 3000 psi machines for larger jobs, featuring electric start, reliable engines, puncture-proof tires, and Vibra-pulse® technology for navigating long runs and tight bends.
• Gen-Eye® Sewer Camera Systems: Integrated video and audio inspection technologies for quickly and accurately diagnosing stoppages. Includes models like the Gen-Eye X-POD® and Micro-Scope2® with features such as self-leveling cameras, Wi-Fi, one-touch recording, and USB ports for flash drive storage.
• Gen-Ear LE®: Advanced water leak location system for pinpointing problems with speed and accuracy.
• Hot Spot® Digital Pipe Locator: A highly accurate tool for inspecting and tracing sewer lines, drain lines, septic tanks, and buried utilities. Features easy-to-read screen icons, IP65 rating for durability, and resistance to workplace abuse. Eliminates guesswork and reduces labor time.
• Kinetic Water Ram®: A hand-held drain cleaner that uses compressed air to clear clogs in sinks, toilets, and tubs. Safely removes rust, grease, sediment, and scale from lines up to 4" in diameter. Directs 98% of force down the line, minimizing pipe damage. Ideal for fixed-rate commercial contracts.
• ClogChopper®: A multi-function root cutting tool with six self-sharpening blades and a spherical design for grinding up encrusted debris, roots, and scale without damaging pipes. Compatible with most drain cleaning snake brands and excellent for clearing stacks, downspouts, and mains.