Archive for February, 2012

Company named a Top Home-Based Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

The American Leak Detection franchise business model has once again been named a Top Home-Based Franchise in the yet to be released April issue of Entrepreneur Magazine.

Entrepreneur Media has ranked American Leak Detection #21 in this category for 2012. The company has previously been ranked 27th, 34th and 41st in the category.

“This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to own and operate a proven business, without having to put their life savings into start-up and operating costs,” says Judy Howard, director of franchise relations at American Leak Detection. “This company started as a home-based business in 1974. The number of franchisees who remain home-based after 10 or more years and the number of new franchisees who are attracted to it for the same reason is proof that owning and operating a home-based franchise business works.”

The upcoming issue, showcasing dozens of Top Home-Based Franchises, is geared toward the important and viable home-based business segment.  According to the feature article, home-based businesses represent half of all businesses in the United States.

Entrepreneur Magazine also named American Leak Detection the category leader in Miscellaneous Maintenance Businesses earlier this year during their annual Franchise 500 Review. The corporation was also named #98 overall, compared to #104 in 2011.

American Leak Detection currently operates 140 independently-owned locations in seven countries.

For more information, visit http://www.entrepreneur.com

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A silent killer, carbon monoxide gas leaks can be deadly

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

More than 500 Americans die each year from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and thousands more are treated in hospitals for related symptoms. This odorless, colorless and tasteless gas is often referred to as “the silent killer” and can cause sudden illness or death if inhaled.

When a person breathes air containing carbon monoxide, it soon replaces the oxygen in their blood. This quickly kills off cells and starves vital organs of oxygen, according to silentshadow.org.

Common symptoms of poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. High levels of carbon monoxide ingestion can also cause loss of consciousness, coma or even death. A majority of deaths occur when people are asleep, as they inhale the CO, lose consciousness and never wake up.

The gas can be emitted from common household items such as furnaces and car exhausts, even refrigerators. Therefore, it’s likely everyone has an item in their home or office that can cause carbon monoxide pollution.

Other sources of CO leaks are non-electric furnaces, gas water heaters, generators, fireplaces and wood stoves, space heaters, gas dryers, charcoal grills, lawnmowers and cars. Carbon monoxide is a by-product of incomplete combustion. Any fuel-burning device has the potential to produce dangerous levels of CO gas.

Carbon monoxide can only be detected with a carbon monoxide detector, such as an alarm. These are available in plug-in, battery-operated, or hardware models. As a precaution, it’s best to place a carbon monoxide alarm on each level of your home.

Twenty-five states have laws requiring carbon monoxide detectors in residential buildings. To learn what your state requires, visit:

http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/environment-and-natural-resources/carbon-monoxide-detectors-state-statutes.aspx

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American Leak Detection locates massive Roseburg leak, city may rehire for future analysis

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

American Leak Detection technician Dan Schaffner spent three days diligently surveying 20 miles of pipe to locate a hidden leak causing Roseburg, Ore. to lose 1,200 gallons of treated water per minute, totaling up to 2 million gallons a day. The city’s reservoir supply had dropped so drastically, officials initially asked more than 10,000 water customers to conserve resources.

The source of the leak had stumped local water officials since Friday morning when staff made them aware of the need to pump more water. City crews spent four days trying to locate the elusive gusher with outdated maps, but they ultimately decided to call in the experts.

“This was a complicated job,” says Tony Dietrich, city water superintendent. “Our reservoirs were barely maintaining and we needed their help to isolate the systems. We didn’t have the tools or experience their techs have to locate the leak.”

Using sonic listening equipment, Schaffner discovered an unknown secondary valve to a line crossing the river. Once this buried valve was closed, the reservoirs began to fill within an hour. Although the pipes are decades old, Dietrich blames recent heavy rainfall for causing the issue. To be proactive in locating other suspected leaks, he said the city is considering hiring American Leak Detection to perform a system-wide survey.

American Leak Detection has served the entire state of Oregon and Southwest Washington since Matthew and Shari Botermans purchased the territory in 2001. They operate six trucks and employ a staff of 10 from their office in Talent. Technicians are based in Medford, Eugene, Salem, Portland and Vancouver. The city of Roseburg has utilized American Leak Detection’s services for difficult jobs since 2002.

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