Need to Know, Ask RAHSCO
By Drue Ann Hargis-Ramirez, Write Right Enterprises
There are times when a contract cleaning job presents a new wrinkle. It might be a tough stain on a building which you haven’t encountered before, or you may be uncertain how to recover wastewater at a commercial building. Maybe you need clarification on which regulations might apply to a job. Or maybe you’re just getting started in the industry, and need guidance on equipment and pricing. Whatever the issue or need, RAHSCO can help you get the job done better and faster.
Here’s how RAHSCO can help.
The RAHSCO Wats
Blaster
Every month RAHSCO publishes a 36-page tabloid newspaper in catalog format. The RAHSCO Wats Blaster, which is mailed to more than 15,000 customers and subscribers, includes technical articles, helpful hints, information on specials, upcoming training classes, and facts on RAHSCO’s equipment and accessories. To subscribe to the Blaster, and receive a monthly email newsletter, simply sign the online guestbook. You can access the guestbook at http://www.dcs1.com/contact.asp.
The Blaster and email newsletter are free to RAHSCO customers. You can also view the Blaster each month online at http://www.dcs1.com/catalog/index.html. For a free copy of the Blaster, call 1 800 433-2113.
RAHSCO’s Websites
RAHSCO has two user-friendly websites for the pressure washing industry. The informational site can be found at www.dcs1.com; and the e-commerce website at www.pressurewash.com. Both sites offer an abundance of information and assistance. Google is the most popular search engine from which RAHSCO’s websites receive traffic. In fact, RAHSCO’s websites average nearly 50,000 hits per month, with more than one-quarter of a million pages touched by visitors monthly.
Site Index
While RAHSCO’s websites have helpful articles scattered throughout, you can find a listing of all how-to technical articles as well as other helpful links on the Site Index at http://www.dcs1.com/del/index.html. A few examples of the links you’ll find here include: key trade association websites and related trade magazines; Material Safety Data Sheets on RAHSCO chemicals; several helpful guides from pricing to sales techniques; past and current RAHSCO press releases; and various how-to articles. Visit the Site Index then explore.
Pressure Washing
Message Board
RAHSCO’s information website features a pressure washing
message board (otherwise known as the Main Board) for peer-to-peer networking
assistance. “This is one of the most widely used message boards in the pressure
washing industry,” says
RAHSCO offers other message boards for kitchen exhausts cleaners, window cleaners, and other contract cleaners. A listing with hyperlinks for each respective message board can be found on the Site Index (see above).
Contract Cleaners
Referral Database
RAHSCO provides a database listing of contract cleaners on its website. “If I get somebody on the phone,” Keith Kunkel explains, “we ask them where they are located and we go to this listing, find their state and city, and refer them to two or three contractors from the database. It is a free referral system.”
To view the listing by state, access it at http://www.dcs1.com/wash/index.cfm. To view the listing for all states go directly to http://www.dcs1.com/wash/statelist.cfm.
Since referrals tend to generate a substantial portion of new business, you might want to consider adding your company to this listing. If so, simply fill out the online entry form at http://www.dcs1.com/wash/add.asp.
Hyperlinks to Codes
and Regulations
RAHSCO is the nation’s leading distributor of mobile pressure power washers and wastewater reclamation systems. Its president, Robert Hinderliter, has always been at the forefront of environmental cleanup and is the current Environmental Chairman of the Power Washers of North America (www.pwna.org). With more than 32 years experience in the industry, he is well known by environmental regulators and keeps abreast of codes and regulations affecting the pressure power washing industry. To further assist RAHSCO’s customers, Robert maintains numerous articles and useful hyperlinks to codes and regulations on his informational website. You can view these at http://www.dcs1.com/regs/. Knowledge of local, regional and municipal codes will keep your company in compliance and thriving.
RAHSCO is renowned for its training classes, with students enrolling from around the world. These are hands-on classes taught by contract cleaning professionals working in the field. RAHSCO’s university extension offers a five-day pressure power washing school that covers all aspects of the industry as well as focused classes from awning to kitchen exhaust cleaning. Additionally, marketing classes are also offered as well as environmental and maintenance seminars. For current information on RAHSCO’s schedule of classes, visit http://www.dcs1.com/RAHSCO-university/ or see pages 28, 29, 30, & 32 of this issue of the Blaster.
RAHSCO also offers its customers a variety of training videos, all of which are currently being updated from VHS to DVD to improve quality. For customers who previously purchased VHS videos, the DVDs are available at reduced prices. For a complete listing of videos and prices, visit RAHSCO’s website at http://www.dcs1.com/del/videos.html or see pages 31 of this issue of the Blaster.
Kitchen Exhaust
Cleaning Online Manual
The International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association (www.ikeca.org) contracted with Robert Hinderliter to compile an online kitchen exhaust cleaning manual for contract cleaners and regulators. The manual went live on January 2004 and contains over 700 pages including a section on OSHA codes. You can view this online manual at www.ikeca.com.
Online Ordering
RAHSCO’s customer service representatives are always available to assist you with orders, most of which are shipped in one day. Online ordering, however, is available to make your shopping easier, faster and more convenient. And it can be done at any time during the day (or night) through RAHSCO’s secure transaction server. Simply visit their online store through the e-commerce website at http://www.pressurewash.com/catalog/.
It only takes a few minutes to create a new account, and your login is simply your email address. Create a personalized password in the new account form; RAHSCO’s administrator will not know your password. (Your credit card will not be stored on the server for protection purposes.) Once your new account is created, simply place your order. If there is something you want from RAHSCO’s catalog but can’t find it online, indicate the item you need to purchase in the comment section, and RAHSCO staff will contact you to confirm before placing the order for you.
If you forget your password, simply call Keith Kunkel, RAHSCO’s Net Administrator. He’ll create a temporary generic password, which you can later change.
Technical Support
& Field Repair
RAHSCO has been in the pressure power washing business for 32 years and most of its technical support staff have 10 to 20 years experience in the industry. If you’ve encountered a problem on a job or with your equipment, RAHSCO’s technical support staff will discuss the problem with you and together you can find a way to tackle it efficiently and economically. There is no charge for RAHSCO’s technical support for its customers and students.
To further assist you in reaching its technical staff, RAHSCO recently upgraded its phone system to provide toll-free 800 numbers. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. central time.
Here’s a table to help you reach the right RAHSCO representative for your needs.
|
Representative |
Industry Experience |
Toll-Free No. |
Local Phone No. |
Area of Focus |
|
Robert Hinderliter |
35 years |
800 211-0286 |
817 529-6601 |
Environmental Issues |
|
Larry Hinckley |
24+ years |
800 211-0287 |
817 529-6602 |
Maintenance & Pricing
Guidance |
|
Jerry France |
12+ years |
800 338-2554 x113 |
817 529-6613 |
Maintenance |
|
Mark Austin |
3+ years |
800 211-0290 |
817 529-6607 |
Pricing Guidance, & New
Business Start-up |
|
Abie Khalil |
6+ years |
800 338-2554 x111 |
817 529-6611 |
Hazardous Materials |
|
Keith Kunkel |
6+ years |
800 211-0288 |
817 529-6603 |
Web/Internet Issues &
New Business Start-up |
For a complete listing of RAHSCO staff, visit their listing at http://www.dcs1.com/bios/, or see page 34 of this issue of the Blaster. RAHSCO has staff that speak both Spanish and Arabic to serve you better.
Don’t forget RAHSCO is a full-service repair company too. The
field service technicians come to you. RAHSCO has repaired equipment as far away
as
RAHSCO’s Showroom
Don’t forget to visit RAHSCO’s showroom at
Whatever your needs, RAHSCO can help. Just ask! And as RAHSCO’s Senior Technical Advisor Larry Hinckley says, “the only wrong question is the one you don’t ask.”
9-16-05
Drue can be reached by email at WriteRightEnt@aol.com.
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