Dan DeRyder, 56, of Dowagiac, Michigan, was putting in full days at R&D Plumbing, a business he co-owns with his wife, Sheryl, 58. Two years ago, they bought a pump truck and added septic pumping to the mix with the launch of Do-It-All Septic — a sideline that has quickly grown to represent a large segment of the business. The company works in a 50-mile radius of home base, and services a potential pool of a half-million residential septic and plumbing customers. The new work has cascaded into other opportunities, from septic system installs and inspections to the recent launch of a portable restroom business.
Pumper spoke to Dan and Sheryl about taking advantage of new business opportunities, working to the max and planning for retirement.
Pumper: Tell us about your work background.
Dan: I was working full-time as a machinist programming CNCs. For 15 years. I also worked as a plumber on the side. I started R&D plumbing in 2016, while still working full time.
Pumper: When did R&D become your full-time job?
Sheryl: When I first met Dan, he was working 12- to 16-hour days, and he was exhausted. I almost had to coax him into letting go of the other jobs. I told him I would stay with my job as an apartment manager, which offers insurance, and let’s see where this takes us. He took on R&D full-time in 2021, and his work time went down to 10- to 12-hour days. He never looked back.
Dan: Sheryl’s been my No. 1 supporter in anything we’ve done with the business.
Pumper: Being that busy, what made you decide to add pumping to the company’s offerings?
Dan: I was always being told by my plumbing customers that local pumpers were too busy to fit them in, and they asked if I also pumped septic. They asked that question so many times, it seemed to make sense to offer that service.
Pumper: You ordered a pump truck and became licensed soon after . . .
Dan: We got a used 2014 Freightliner, with a 3,000-gallon carbon steel tank and a Jurop pump and it arrived Jan. 5, 2025. Both Sheryl and I took the required 10 hours of credit courses with EGLE [Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy]. We started pumping under the name Do-It-All Septic in March 2025.
Pumper: Why did Sheryl become certified?
Dan: I wanted her as a backup. You never know what life brings. If something ever happened to me, she could step in and still run the company.
Sheryl: I’ve always been a hands-on girl, and I worked in construction with my dad. For Dan and me to be able to have a conversation about the septic business, I also needed to have some knowledge. I’m looking into getting my Class B license so I can drive this truck.
Pumper: Was there a learning curve to operating the pump truck?
Dan: The mechanics of the truck were quite a chore to learn. When we pumped our first septic, it was very scary — I’m not going to lie to you. It took a lot of asking questions and a lot of people helping to get me where I am today.
Pumper: How do you manage both the septic and plumbing businesses?
Dan: It can be a very long day. We try to schedule out our septics, if they’re not emergencies, for one day a week. If they’re emergencies, we’ll just work later to take care of everybody. My son-in-law, Matt Wares, used to work for us part-time, but he’s worked full-time for the past three years. He was assisting me with the plumbing business, and now he’s a big help to us in the septic world. My son, Ryan, also works with me part-time.
Pumper: How much do you promote the septic side of the business?
Dan: We’re not aggressive about it. We’re taking only the business that comes to us by request or through word-of-mouth. The septic work also brings in more plumbing work because our name’s getting out there.
Pumper: How much of your business is now related to septic pumping?
Dan: We might already be close to 40% of our business. We pumped about 260,000 gallons in our first full year.
Pumper: And septic pumping has also led to other opportunities?
Dan: We quickly expanded to inspecting septic systems and installing them in partnership with Scott Palmer, who runs an excavating company. We’re mostly installing concrete tanks with traditional drainfields using Infiltrator EZflow systems. All of these have led to more plumbing opportunities.
Pumper: Why did you expand into portable restrooms?
Dan: It was another request, this time from our big residential construction clients. I was calling Jimmie Southern, our representative from Century Chemical, for an order of Bio-Tab and told him we were getting into porta potties. Within a day, he got me hooked up with J&J Portable Sanitation, and we ordered four units to see how it goes.
Pumper: Would you like to expand the pump truck inventory?
Dan: I’d love to have two more pump trucks — maybe new ones if that’s in our budget.
Sheryl: But expanding the pump truck fleet would also require us to employ additional people, which has become quite the problem for us. We’re having a hard time finding dependable people who want to work. That’s why we rely heavily on hiring family members.
Pumper: What sort of opportunities have you taken for professional development?
Dan: I attended the 2026 WWETT Show to look at new products and find out how we could make our business better. Sheryl and I have also taken classes with NAWT.
Pumper: What are your plans for the future of the business?
Sheryl: Dan’s not always going to be able to crawl and dig under houses or get under sinks on his hands and knees. Septic pumping is such a win-win for us. As he gets older, he can transition to septic pumping, which is a lot easier on your body.
Dan: It’s been a really great adventure with friends and family. The business just keeps growing, and we want to leave our kids a company that’s even stronger than it is today.
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