As pumpers, you often encounter do-it-yourselfer homeowners looking for ways to shave a few dollars off of the invoice. I imagine many...
Editorial
Is It Time to Take the Shovel Out of Your Customers’ Hands?
Entries Tagged Education/Training
Editorial
They Did What? Coping With Customers Who Behave Badly
Polite Notice: When it’s your turn, if you are talking on your cellphone, we will help the next customer.
If you make a...
Editorial
What’s the Secret to Hiring and Keeping Good Workers?
It’s a story I’m hearing a lot lately from pumpers. Well, I’ve been hearing it for years, frankly, but it’s becoming all...
Editorial
Innovation Will Make Decentralized Wastewater Treatment a Top Choice for Homeowners
Name and title or job description: Justin Wells, president and co-owner
Business name and location: Baker Septic, Ferndale, and Dano’s Septic, Bremerton, Washington; Best Septic,...
Editorial
Tips to Using Constructed Wetlands in a Northern Climate
In the past few months, I have had a couple questions about the viability of constructed wetlands to treat septic tank effluent...
Online Exclusives
How to Future Proof Your Business
If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that none of us can predict what tomorrow will bring. Lockdowns, economic unrest,...
Editorial
Designer Certification Ensures Quality Onsite Systems for Homeowners
Name and title or job description: Travis Wolfe, project manager
Business name and location: Anderson Pump House, a division of Aquifer Distribution, both family-owned Saskatchewan...
Editorial
The Sieve That Will Save Your Customer’s Onsite System
Recently I have had a few reports of effluent screens plugging with frequencies of less than a year, requiring more frequent cleaning....
Editorial
A Deeper Dive Into QuickBooks Unlocks Many Accounting Advantages
If your company’s going to grow, you need organizational processes that are streamlined and efficient. Bookkeeping is a key part of that...
Editorial
Have You Been ‘Ghosted’ by a New Employee?
The Urban Dictionary describes ghosting as “the act of suddenly ceasing all communication with someone the subject is dating, but no longer...
Editorial
They Didn’t Pay, So We Dumped It Back in the Tank!
Well, it finally happened. After years of hearing pumpers joke around about the ultimate way to punish customers who don’t want to...
Online Exclusives
Tips for Training Non-English Speaking Employees
Right now, we’re in the middle of a labor shortage. With more jobs than workers, companies are increasingly willing to hire anyone...
Editorial
An Aging Workforce Remains Our Biggest Challenge
Name and title or job description: Todd Stair, vice president. I wear all hats — master plumber restricted, soil tester, septage operator, customer...
Editorial
Pumping Should Be Required for Thorough System Inspections
About a year ago I wrote about troubleshooting some problems with system backups and mentioned it was important to periodically inspect and...
