Heard two old school sweeps arguing about rotary vs manual cleaning at a trade show in Columbus

One guy swore rotary tools save 30 minutes per job but the other said he's had to fix more damaged liners from them in the last 5 years than in his whole 20 year career before that. I started with manual but switched to rotary about 2 years ago and I'm torn on which way to go. The manual guy said he charges an extra $50 per job for rotary but his customers complained about noise. The rotary guy laughed and said he gets 3 more calls a week because he's faster and cheaper. Has anyone else seen damage from rotary tools that made you think twice?

2 comments

2 Comments

betht321mo ago

Lean into the manual guy's argument and make it fun. That cracked liner story is a nightmare, and honestly, I'd rather take an extra 20 minutes than gamble on a repair that wipes out a whole week's profit. Plus, nobody wants to be the reason someone's dog needs therapy, lol.

oscarh161mo ago

Stopped using rotary after I cracked a liner on a 30 year old system last fall. Customer was not happy and I had to eat the cost of a full replacement. Manual takes me longer but I ain't had a callback for damage since. The noise complaint thing is real too, one lady told me her dog hid under the bed for two days after I ran the rotary in her basement. I'd rather lose a few jobs to the faster guys than deal with that headache again.

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