ARS Rescue RooterAir Conditioning, Heating, Indoor Air Quality, Plumbing, Drain Cleaning & Sewer Lines

1. How long have you been working in the plumbing industry?

I started with Rescue Rooter as a trainee drain cleaner more than 30 years ago. I've been a service technician, trainer, supervisor, and manager as well as being a licensed plumber in two different states.

2. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

I would say training new employees just starting their careers is my favorite part. Over the years I have had the good fortune to meet and work with a lot of great people.

3. If you could take a guess, how many homes have you visited on plumbing calls in your career?

I would have to say I've made plumbing calls to more than 10,000 homes.

4. What is the strangest thing you've ever seen damage someone's plumbing?

It was a replica Olympic Gold Medal that kids were taking turns throwing into an outdoor swimming pool diving for it. It lodged 15 feet down in a drain pipe. We saved the day with our Scour Jet high pressure water equipment.

1. How long have you been an air conditioning & heating technician?

I have worked in the heating and cooling business for more than 30 years.

2. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

I enjoy pleasing my customers by resolving their problems, even if it's not the way they were expecting.

3. If you could take a guess, how many homes have you visited on air conditioning & heating calls in your career?

I would say more than 40,000 homes.

4. What is the strangest thing you've ever seen damage someone's air conditioning and heating system?

We found a rattlesnake long enough to wrap itself around the inside of the outdoor coil before it fried the system - and was fried in return.

5. What is the biggest or messiest air conditioning & heating problem you've ever had to face?

We worked on a church where the air conditioning system picked up the candle wax in the air and vented it throughout the entire building, and it was a very large church.

6. What is the hottest temperature in an attic that you have had to work in?

I would say around 200 degrees.

7. Is there a particular tool you rely on more than others at work?

I depend on the multi-meter.

8. What is the nicest thing a customer has said to you?

The customer told me they were blessed to have me come to their home.

1. Personal Background (tell us a little bit about yourself)

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. My hobbies include golfing, participating in church activities and spending time with my wonderful family.

2. How long have you been a plumber?

I have spent most of my adult life - 27 years - working with Rescue Rooter and have been a Service Technician, Lead Trainer, Assistant Manager and now I am currently a General Manager.

3. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

I really enjoy working with our employees, training new plumbers and satisfying our customers.

4. What is the strangest thing you've ever seen damage someone's plumbing?

Once I was called to help rescue a dog out of a sewer line. It was televised nationally and the customer was so thankful she named the dog "Rescue."

5. Is there a particular tool you rely on more than others at work?

Common sense is the best tool to use when it comes to plumbing.

1. How long have you been a plumbing technician?

I am a second generation plumber with 30 years of experience in the plumbing industry.

2. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

Educating and solving problems.

3. If you could take a guess, how many homes have you visited on plumbing calls in your career?

My background is in the commercial industry, so I have primarily worked with homeowners associations, condo associations, hospitals, restaurants, and hotels. Even with that, I would say I have dealt with more than 5,000 plumbing issues in person or on the phone.

4. What is the strangest thing you've ever seen damage someone's plumbing?

Kids' toys seem to find their way into plumbing systems from time to time.

5. What is the biggest or messiest plumbing problem you've ever had to face?

One time when we were working in a biotech building we had a 30 foot by 30 foot sinkhole that created a huge mess. We had crews working around the clock to fix the problem.

6. Is there a particular tool you rely on more than others at work?

Well, when I first started plumbing 30 years ago I was always required to carry a tape measure and channel locks. Now I rely on my computer to get the work done.

7. What is the nicest thing a customer has said to you?

Thank you for working late. We can now have our birthday party for our five year old daughter. We thought we were going to have to cancel it!

1. Personal Background (tell us a little bit about yourself)

Growing up in a family where my father had his own electronics company, and then a trophy and awards company, I learned the value of knowledge and a good work ethic. It was in the United States Marine Corps that I learned the value of teamwork, along with the basics of refrigeration. It was this training that pushed me to begin my career in the HVAC industry.

2. How long have you been an air conditioning & heating technician?

I have worked in the HVAC industry for 31 years - including seven years in wholesale supply where I worked part-time, running service and performing installations at the same time. I have also been a service manager and technical trainer at a major distributor/manufacturer. I have been with ARS/Rescue Rooter for 12 years now, working in several different roles such as Operations Manager, Retail Manager, Regional Training Manager and HVAC Service Manager. I am currently the General Manager in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

3. If you could take a guess, how many homes have you visited on air conditioning & heating calls in your career?

That is a tough question, but if I had to guess an actual figure, I would put it at 20,000 to 25,000.

4. What is the hottest temperature in an attic that you’ve had to work in?

145 degrees, but it is about working smart, not hard, in those temperatures.

1. How long have you been a plumbing technician?

I've worked in the plumbing industry 17 years.

2. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

I really enjoy helping customers with their problems.

3. If you could take a guess, how many homes have you visited on plumbing calls in your career?

I've worked in between 20,000 and 30,000 homes during my career.

4. What is the strangest thing you've ever seen damage someone's plumbing?

That would have to be a teddy bear.

5. What is the biggest of messiest plumbing problem you've ever had to face?

A raw sewage leak under an old occupied apartment building.

6. What is the hottest temperature in an attic that you have had to work in?

About 150 degrees.

7. Is there a particular tool you rely on more than others at work?

My head.

8. What is the nicest thing a customer has said to you?

Thank you for your help!

1. Tell us about yourself.

I started with ARS/Rescue Rooter in April of 1995 as a drain cleaning service technician. I worked my way up, going from a Trainer to Supervisor, then Assistant Manager. I transferred to Indianapolis to manage the Rescue Rooter service center. I attended and graduated a four year apprentice program, and I'm now a licensed plumber in both Indiana and Ohio.

2. What is the nicest thing someone has said to you after you fixed his or her plumbing problem?

I had a customer who was having their sewer cleaned every six months. Our company was called and offered a free inspection camera with the service. The sewer had heavy root infiltration so we offered to replace it. The homeowner did have the sewer replaced and called me back after two years and thanked me for taking care of the problem and not just putting a band aid on it.

3. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

Solving plumbing problems for business and homeowners.

4. What is the most common plumbing problem you've encountered?

Water leaks from older plumbing systems.

5. Is there a particular tool you rely on more than others at work?

The inspection camera has become the best tool for accurate diagnosis.

6. If you could take a guess, how many homes have you visited on plumbing calls in your career?

I personally would guess that I have been in about 10,000 homes.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I enjoy hunting, fishing, and really any type of outdoor activity. I graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Business Management and Economics. I started working in the HVAC business in 1981. I worked as an installer in my early years and developed my career path towards management. Currently I am a General Manger for ARS/Rescue Rooter in Durham, NC.

2. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

A more than satisfied customer.

3. What is the most common air conditioning & heating problem you've encountered?

The lack of maintaining the equipment. This usually results in inefficient or inoperative equipment.

4. Is there a particular tool you rely on more than others at work?

Listen to what the customer has to say. The information a customer gives you is very important.

5. What is the hottest temperature in an attic that you’ve had to work in?

I would estimate 130 – 140 degrees. The key to working in these conditions is to drink plenty of fluids.

1. Personal Background (tell us a little bit about yourself)

I like to hunt, fish and spend time outdoors. I also enjoy antique and classic performance automobiles and motorcycles, and love to travel. I have always been an animal lover and have raised many different breeds of animals in my lifetime. I currently raise flying performance roller pigeons and participate in competitions worldwide.

2. How long have you been a plumber?

I have worked in the plumbing trade for over 20 years. I am a General Manager for ARS/Rescue Rooter and have been an employee for over 18 years. I have been involved in the licensed trade professions most of my life. I am State President of Associated Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors of Texas (APHCC) and have served on the Executive Board of that association for over four years.

3. Have you ever encountered any wild animals when working on someone's plumbing?

Back when I was a service technician, I was called to a job to clear the main building drain at a residential home. There happened to be a holiday party going on that evening and the eggnog was flowing freely. The men were quite interested in watching me and several had entered the bathroom to talk and ask questions while I worked. I quickly cleared the blockage and began retrieving my cable. When the cable popped out of the pipe under the toilet, there was a full-grown squirrel completely intact on the other end, and it started to sling through the air. All these “macho” men who were offering suggestions a few minutes earlier were actually falling down and crawling over each other to get out of the bathroom before they were attacked by this creature. It was hilarious and I will never forget it!

4. What is the nicest thing someone has said to you after you fixed their plumbing problem?

Will you marry me?

1. How long have you been an air conditioning & heating technician?

I started out as an installation helper in 1995 after being laid off of my job as a police officer during some economic cutbacks. I progressed to lead installer, service technician, Comfort Specialist, Comfort Advisor, Department Sales Manager, General Manager of our Tampa location, and now I'm Sales Manager of our largest branch in Houston, TX.

2. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

One of my favorite things has always been meeting and helping people. The HVAC industry is similar to law enforcement in that you see people every day who need your help resolving issues. It's great to know that I'm the guy who can take care of their needs.

3. What is the strangest thing you've ever seen damage someone's air conditioning and heating system?

A bow hunter shot an arrow through his condenser after using it as a stand for his life-like target. He wanted it fixed in a hurry before his wife got home and saw it!

4. What is the hottest temperature in an attic that you’ve had to work in?

The hottest attic temperature that I ever recorded in an attic was 144 degrees. It was brutal. When I came down I looked like I had been in a swimming pool. It's very dangerous, and you have to work smart and drink plenty of fluids.

5. What is the nicest thing a customer has said to you?

I have heard all kinds of nice remarks, but my favorite is the customer who sends me a Christmas card every year. I haven't seen or talked to her in three years but every year she has sent me a card like I was part of the family!

1. How long have you been an air conditioning & heating technician?

I have worked in the HVAC industry for 22 years. I began my training at 15 working summers at my uncle's HVAC business. I also took an HVAC course in high school. I continued working as an HVAC helper during summer breaks as I attended HVAC school. I first worked as a helper in the installation department. I began my career with ARS/Rescue Rooter in Dallas about 10 years ago as an HVAC Service Technician. I worked my way up, and I'm currently the Manager of HVAC Operations for the Dallas, TX branch.

2. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

It's great to know I can help someone by resolving a HVAC issue.

3. If you could take a guess, how many homes have you visited on air conditioning & heating calls in your career?

I would have to say that I've worked in more than 5,000 homes.

4. What is the hottest temperature in an attic that you’ve had to work in?

I'm guessing around 150 degrees plus.

5. What is the nicest thing a customer has said to you?

I was out to dinner with my wife. One of my clients came out of nowhere, hugged my neck and said, "You saved my husband's life." She then explained to my wife that she was without air conditioning, her husband was coming home from the hospital, and I came and fixed the problem and got their house cool again.

1. Personal Background (tell us a little bit about yourself)

I enjoy sports, swimming, fishing, hunting and anything that involves working outside or with old cars.

2. How long have you been an air conditioning & heating technician?

I have been working in the HVAC business for 16 years. I began my career as a helper in the installation department. I am currently employed with ARS/Rescue Rooter in Indianapolis, as the Assistant General Manager of HVAC Operations. I have been employed with ARS/Rescue Rooter for 11 and a half years.

3. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

It means a lot to me to know that I am able to help someone or solve their problem.

4. What is the most common air conditioning & heating problem you've encountered?

The most common problem I have come across is lack of maintenance. In this "on the go" society we live in today, people just do not take the time to, or even think about, keeping their HVAC equipment maintained. I think almost every technician would agree that over half the service calls we answer are due to lack of maintenance.

5. What is the biggest or messiest air conditioning & heating problem you've ever had to face?

The biggest mess I have encountered happened when a customer's home filled with carbon monoxide due to their chimney being blocked. It was early fall, and the customer had just turned on the furnace for the first time that season. After determining what was causing the blockage and talking to the customer, they informed me that they recently had a new roof installed. What I found next, I could not believe! When the roofer removed the wooden shingles from the old roof, he did not dispose of them properly - instead he put them down the chimney. To make a long story short, we removed five, 50-gallon trash bags of wooden shingles from the customer's home that day.

1. How long have you been a plumbing technician?

I am a master plumber with more than 21 years of experience. Since I have been in this field I have done everything from commercial semiconductor plants to residential repairs.

2. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

It is very rewarding to feel that I am truly helping people.

3. If you could take a guess, how many homes have you visited on plumbing calls in your career?

I have been in literally thousands of homes.

4. What is the strangest thing you've ever seen damage someone's plumbing?

That would have to be when a raccoon was stuck in a toilet when it tried to crawl up out of the sewer.

5. What is the biggest or messiest air conditioning & heating problem you've ever had to face?

There was a city main stoppage and it caused a geyser of sewage water to erupt from a customer's toilet. The water was so strong it was hitting the ceiling and had accumulated around six to eight inches throughout her house.

6. What is the hottest temperature in an attic that you have had to work in?

I would say about 170 degrees.

7. Is there a particular tool you rely on more than others at work?

My main tools are a channel lock and a screwdriver.

8. What is the nicest thing a customer has said to you?

That I reminded her of her grandson.

1. How long have you been an air conditioning & heating technician?

I have been in the industry 35 years since I started to school at Oklahoma State Tech’s Air Conditioning Department. I have assisted a team of engineers in energy use reduction, I have managed service companies, owned my own air conditioning/refrigeration business, and been a trainer and senior tech for 12 years for ARS.

2. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

It’s a tossup between a.) Getting to the bottom of a challenging customer comfort or reliability issue and b.) Training the junior technicians when you see it starting to all come together for the newer techs.

3. What is the most common air conditioning & heating problem you've encountered?

Dirty systems not maintained or tuned for years

4. If you could take a guess, how many homes have you visited on air conditioning & heating calls in your career?

Can’t even guess but I have been in homes in 3 major cities Dallas, Orlando, and Omaha in addition to Schools, Universities, Office Buildings, Hotels and manufacturing facilities all over the US.

5. What is the strangest thing you have ever seen damage someone's air conditioning & heating system?

Weather related damage after hurricanes result in air conditioners hanging from wiring or copper tubing off the edge of roofs, and the indoor system filling with ocean water which results in a smelly mess when the water recedes, due to all the microorganisms that are in sea water.

6. What is the nicest thing a customer has said to you?

It was in a restaurant grand opening one night and I got a standing ovation from the whole crowd for fixing the air conditioning and cooling them off. I have been told many times after we got to the bottom of a tricky situation that they were so glad they sent me out to take care of the problem. I loved living in Florida where they would load me up with fresh grapefruit and oranges from their backyard trees in extra appreciation for fixing their problem.

1. How long have you been an air conditioning & heating technician?

I have been in the heating and air conditioning field for 35 years (15 installations, 5 management, and 15 sales).

2. What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

I enjoy helping people fit into a system that is right for them. I also find it rewarding to solve hard heating and cooling areas and to work with new sales people, helping them understand our systems.

3. If you could take a guess, how many homes have you visited on air conditioning & heating calls in your career?

I've been in around 200,000 homes.

4. What is the strangest thing you've ever seen damage someone's air conditioning and heating system?

There was ice damage from a water leak, and the basement was full of water eight feet deep.

5. What is the biggest or messiest air conditioning & heating problem you've ever had to face?

The messiest was fire damage that made it hard to breathe. There was powder dust everywhere. The biggest was a vent you could walk in for a commercial application.

6. What is the hottest temperature in an attic that you have had to work in?

I'm not sure, but I'm guessing around 120 degrees. I am glad I don't have to do that any more.

7. Is there a particular tool you rely on more than others at work?

Common sense is what it takes 80 percent of the time...and a flashlight!

8. What is the nicest thing a customer has said to you?

You are a saint from God.